As examples of two types of creative work in areas far removed from conventional electronics, I present  work done for a 1970's Disney  travelling show and electronic devices done for the famous pianist "Liberace".  At the time, the technology was state of the art as there were thousands of tiny light bulbs (LEDs were not invented yet) which had to operate day in and day out while in Disney's case, subject to frenetic dancing, dancers sometimes walking on them in the dark as they changed costumes and an operational lifetime of about 500 performances.  The systems were operated on rechargeable batteries and were radio controlled from backstage from a console capable of generating patterns of all types on the costumes according to the desires of the producers.  We discovered that there was a bet among some at the show that our design wouldn't last 5 performances as the wires were being flexed constantly by the dancers and the radio receivers and battery packs in the back were always subject to rivers of sweat! ( Do not short change creative engineers!) When I heard they were sailing up the Amazon in Brazil where they had been sold to a company, they were still working after the required 500 performances with minimal maintenance!
This project required the design  of  highly reliable  light strands  far removed from anything  used  today, and a special  injection mold for  unbreakable housings.

            (Click to read article)



The 23 costumes (including Sleeping Beauty's dress) were controlled from this console where any lamp could be controlled in some way. Often they were dimmed, brightened and patterned together with other costumes for unique effects. No one else had ever done any of this  at the time, and today with the wide variety of LEDs we have there are many other applications for such ideas.  Start thinking and then contact us and we will get moving on your projects in this or any other area!




Liberace was a special case as he was always looking for a unique idea and was willing to fund unique systems that promised to give him what he wanted.  I met him at a performance and showed him a piece of "electronic jewelry" I had been developing that generated light patterns in the dark.  Liberace asked if a coat could be made to operate like that, and the first of several coats was delivered a few months later.  There was a considerable amount of technology as these were also operated from backstage via radio and the final suit jacket had 4000 light bulbs in three colors which generated patterns on the coat and all operated from a small rechargeable battery pack about the size of two cigarette packages .  Needless to say, the batteries didn't operate too long between charges (but long enough!) We had considerable publicity at that time about the projects for Liberace as you can see in this example.  (Click picture to read article.)

Once again a totally new series of devices in a new area of application had been created and  Young Ideas had been drawn into a new area of expertise.  It is kind of a unique "high" to be given a job to do that no one has ever done before, but is is also a great feeling knowing the client has confidence in you and that you can do the job!