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LIGHT SHOWS

 

“Photographing the Joshua Light Show (1968)

In 1968 two former legitimate Jewish theaters in New York’s East Village began presenting psychedelic rock concerts—the Anderson, and Bill Graham’s Fillmore East. They were located around the corner from the offices of The Rat, the underground newspaper that I was photographing for. I remember my first concert. Anyone would. It was a new world of fabulous sound, music- filled air, friends everywhere sharing joints, and an incredibly synchronized Joshua Light Show…

The Joshua Light Show was a liquid light show which served as a lighting backdrop behind many live band performances in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Backstage, film and slide projectors, color wheels, watercolors, oil colors and crystals were used to project imagery and produce dazzling psychedelic art and color effects. I was very inspired. It changed my life. I had to take pictures.