Laserium Ends at Griffith,
Starts Anew with Cyberdome

By David Lytle

It was the end of an era, and perhaps the start of a new one. Crowds thronged Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles last month to mark the occasion, with automobile traffic so thick that police closed the steep roadway leading to the city's landmark Griffith Park, site of the Observatory.

Even the man who was at the center of the commotion had trouble getting past security guards. "They closed the park and wouldn't let me in until I showed them my business card," said Ivan Dryer, who launched a new era of art and entertainment at Griffith Observatory when he premiered the first Laserium show there in November of 1973.

The 45-minute long laser light shows drew crowds through the decades of the 70's, 80's, and 90's, until Laserium became the longest running theatrical attraction in Los Angeles.

In the process, Dryer's shows paved the way for laser displays around the world and inspired countless artists and technicians to become laserists themselves.

The shows came to an end last month when the entire Griffith Observatory facility was closed for a $66 million renovation. When the observatory reopens in three years, a state-of-the-art Zeiss-Schneider laser video projector will be used for the planetarium's science shows‹but no laser entertainment shows are planned. That fact didn't dampen the enthusiasm of crowds that packed the front lawn of the observatory and filled all of the planetarium's 600 seats for Laserium's farewell performance. Dryer introduced the final show to a standing ovation, announcing that viewers would first see The Blue Danube, a selection from Laserium's original show in 1973.

Although a wake of sorts was held after the final show, (with about 100 VIP guests attending), Dryer, 62, was not dwelling on the past. He is excited about an upcoming show with the Los Angeles Philharmonic that features Laserium's Steve Shapiro.

Seated on stage in white tie and tails, Shapiro will provide live laser imagery for Scriabin's Prometheus, a tonal poem that specifically calls for the projection of colored lights during the performance. It's the first time, Dryer said, that a laserist has been seated on stage with a classical orchestra. Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen was an enthusiastic backer of the idea and treats Shapiro like a professional musician. "It's terrific to be included at that level," said Dryer.

A bigger project is in store this spring, when Laserium plans to unveil its new Cyberdome venue that will combine live music, lasers, theatrical lights, digital video projection and a host of other special effects.

Cyberdome will be far different from the planetarium shows and will emphasize a more immersive environment. "We had a great run at the planetarium, and now it's time to reformulate Laserium for the new millennium and introduce elements that will push the boundaries way outside the box‹maybe even create a new box," he said.

The new box will take the shape of a 90-foot dome brimming with interactive features that create visual and auditory effects in response to the crowd. The audience will be given freedom to move around, sit, or even lie down‹but there will be no chairs to get in the way.

Laserium will use the Cyberdome to host "morning meditations, dance parties and regular evening performances with a live musician who plays digital music through a hands-off infrared interface." Dryer predicts that the audience will have a "mind blowing, overwhelming experience." Longtime Laserium fans hope for nothing less.