The Art of Stage Lighting by Frederick Bentham (1976, Book, Illustrated)

I have been building up the whole series of Fred bentham's tome [as I lecture in Lighting Design and its history] . It was the 1964 reprint that got me interested in pursuing a career in stage lighting, and I am just about to celebrate 40 years in the 'business', hence my lecturing.

The book itself gives excellant information not only on how to use light, but as Fred was an R&D man for Strand Electric, and designed many iconic pieces of lighting equipment, his book [and all it's many reprints] also encompasses the history, and development, of stage lighting in the UK.

Being an R&D wallah, he also goes into great detail in the areas of dimming control, lanterns, basic electricity and the nature of light and colour. This has produced a stunning reference book for people interested in the 'nuts and bolts' of stage lighting. It can be a bit daunting at times, his detail in all these matters. but it's still readable! True, his own lighting design concept is based on the Professor Stanley McCandless principals - which is often considered 'old hat' with today's thinking - but it still provides a good starting point for lighting realisations.

I'm always on the lookout on e-bay, and Amazon, for any print editions I am still missing - if only for the photographs....This 1976 edition is also in a larger format too, which means the photographs are bigger. I have to say that 90% of the books I have bought, either on e-bay or Amazon, classed as 'used' have been in excellent condition...

Jim Woodley
ALD #202