Vintage Lighting Kliegl Performance console looking for a good home.

[SweetBennyFenton]

Hello all.

Through some strange stroke of luck and hoarding, I have recently become the proud owner of a Kliegl Performance lighting console. Problem is... I have no place to put it. The choice was either my garage or the dump and I couldn't just let a piece of old lighting history get thrown out. This console has been in storage for some time but I am told was once part of a local lighting museum. I was told that it was donated by Gordan Pearlman as he has many connections to local theaters here in Portland.

The console is not in awful condition given its age. It is quite dirty and the wood laminate has peeled off the particle board structure but I believe it could be restored with relatively little work.

Before considering more extreme measures, I wanted to see if anyone wanted to give it a good home. I don't suppose anyone knows of a museum or private collector who might want it? I would much rather see it given to a good home than slowly rotting in my musty garage.

Here's an image from the Kliegal website. If anyone is curious, I can post a few pictures of the actual unit.

Any takers?

 

[STEVETERRY]

Hello all.

Through some strange stroke of luck and hoarding, I have recently become the proud owner of a Kliegl Performance lighting console. Problem is... I have no place to put it. The choice was either my garage or the dump and I couldn't just let a piece of old lighting history get thrown out. This console has been in storage for some time but I am told was once part of a local lighting museum. I was told that it was donated by Gordan Pearlman as he has many connections to local theaters here in Portland.

The console is not in awful condition given its age. It is quite dirty and the wood laminate has peeled off the particle board structure but I believe it could be restored with relatively little work.

Before considering more extreme measures, I wanted to see if anyone wanted to give it a good home. I don't suppose anyone knows of a museum or private collector who might want it? I would much rather see it given to a good home than slowly rotting in my musty garage.

Here's an image from the Kliegal website. If anyone is curious, I can post a few pictures of the actual unit.

Any takers?

Is the console still working?

Actual photos would be helpful.

ST

 

[Jay Ashworth]

Lemme talk to a guy.

 

[Amiers]

Would love to see actual pictures.

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

Anyone else notice the irony of this being in Portland OR?

 

[SweetBennyFenton]

Thanks for the interest.

I tried powering it up this morning. I don't have a monitor or any dimmers to test it with. When I turned the key to "local" several displays lit up with with a bunch of "F"s and it began beeping.

Here are several photos including the displays I was talking about.

Oh, and Bill... I think I'm missing the irony. Of course, being from Portland, I'm immune to irony.

 

[Amiers]

Wow , that thing has seen many days. I think you might of under sold it with just the laminate needs work.

Looks like a fun project though.

 

[derekleffew]

Anyone else notice the irony of this being in Portland OR?

Gordon Pearlman just happens to live where EDI was located? He might have done a little work for them around 1975.

Something not quite right here. Blue tape says "Kliegl Performance - Harrah's L.V. - Believed to be the first unit shipped." But Harrah's didn't become Harrah's until 1992; known as the Holiday Casino from 1973-1992. Console would have been installed 1978. Of course, there's not enough room on the tape for all that.

 

[Van]

Oh MAN! I wish I had room for that, I'd take it off your hands..... I'll do some asking around too.

And rough, yeah, but if it lights up and doesn't catch on fire the rest is just cosmetics!

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

Gordon Pearlman just happens to live where EDI was located? He might have done a little work for them around 1975.

Something not quite right here. Blue tape says "Kliegl Performance - Harrah's L.V. - Believed to be the first unit shipped." But Harrah's didn't become Harrah's until 1992; known as the Holiday Casino from 1973-1992. Console would have been installed 1978. Of course, there's not enough room on the tape for all that.

Nothing to my knowledge to do with EDI, but Gordy worked for Kliegl, and along with Steve Carlson created the Performance. Check out the Wiki here or just google "Kliegl Performance Pearlman".

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

Man - it would be a labor of love to restore that puppy.

 

[SweetBennyFenton]

I think the actual history of this unit is quite muddled. The sources I have for it are 3rd or 4th hand. I'm trying to find more info on the museum listed on the tag.

The former student who gave it to me was told by someone that this unit was the original LS-8 from "A Chorus Line." The unit had been in the storage facility of a local children's theater company. They were cleaning out their storage and needed the space. A Kliegl Performer II was also thrown out as part of the cleaning.

This is turning into an interesting little mystery.

 

[Van]

I think the actual history of this unit is quite muddled. The sources I have for it are 3rd or 4th hand. I'm trying to find more info on the museum listed on the tag.

The former student who gave it to me was told by someone that this unit was the original LS-8 from "A Chorus Line." The unit had been in the storage facility of a local children's theater company. They were cleaning out their storage and needed the space. A Kliegl Performer II was also thrown out as part of the cleaning.

This is turning into an interesting little mystery.

Yeah, I have a horrible feeling that the Colortran board that Gordon gave to ART years ago <serial number hand written 0000001> has probably been thrown out by now as well. Kids have no respect....




P.S. I just messaged Gordon on FB and asked if he could provide any info about it.

 

[derekleffew]

... The former student who gave it to me was told by someone that this unit was the original LS-8 from "A Chorus Line."

Wrong, of course, but not as wrong as one might think.

I would have grabbed the Performer II in a Las Vegas second.
-----

Yeah, I have a horrible feeling that the Colortran board that Gordon gave to ART years ago <serial number hand written 0000001> has probably been thrown out by now as well. Kids have no respect....

Are you sure it was a Colortran? https://www.controlbooth.com/threads/your-first-memory-lighting-console.6739/page-6#post-158006
[EDIT: Sorry I was confusing ART with ACT. But we still may be talking about the same console.]
-----
In any case, unless Fred already has one, the Performance console belongs in Middleton, WI. Forward the shipping bill to @avalentino.

 

[Van]

...Are you sure it was a Colortran? https://www.controlbooth.com/threads/your-first-memory-lighting-console.6739/page-6#post-158006
[EDIT: Sorry I was confusing ART with ACT. But we still may be talking about the same console.]
[/USER].

Yeah, the one I was just referencing was similar to a "Panache". Gordon had given it to "Artists Repertory Theatre" in Portland. They brought it from the "YWCA" performance space when they moved int their current location. The Alder street theatre in the current location was built as a test-bed/showpiece for "Rosco/ET" IPS dimming and Horizon console. So this old console just got left in a back corner of the booth. Every time someone mentioned tossing it i said no.

 

[Van]

Just received message back from Gordon,

"Van,
It's the first Performance Console that was originally at Harrah's in Tahoe.
The LS-8 from Chorus Line belongs to the Computer Museum in San Jose. He should
check with ETC they have a very good collections of old consoles and may want it."

Matthew, do you know anyone at ETC? I have a couple contacts and would be happy to start a Dialogue with them.

 

[SweetBennyFenton]

Thanks Van. I would appreciate any contacts you have.

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

Matthew, do you know anyone at ETC? I have a couple contacts and would be happy to start a Dialogue with them.

Do you mean other than the first person to reply to the thread? I think you're probably already covered.

 

[Footer]

Thanks Van. I would appreciate any contacts you have.

@STEVETERRY will probably be sending you a truck. From what it appears Fred does not have one of these in his collection.

 

[Amiers]

I remember my first trip to Middleton and walking down the Vintage aisle. It was a very interesting walk and nice to see the evolution of the lighting console.

If one thing I wish they would do is to have each console work and have a light show running showing the consoles working.

Would be a great addition to show newcomers to the industry how much we have done over the years.

But I digress.