Fast Facts : Searchlights
- Share via
* Companies that rent searchlights in Los Angeles: All American Search lights and Messersmith Searchlights
* Types of lights: Traditional single-beam carbon- arc light and quadruple-beam xenon-bulb Sky-Tracker
* Xenon bulbs: $2,000 each
* Bulb life span: 2,000-3,000 hours
* Lights to be used at 1996 Academy Awards: 8 Sky-Trackers
* Power: Carbon-arc light produces 1 million candlepower from 4-foot-long, half-inch diameter carbon rods.
Sky-Tracker produces 1 million candlepower from four 40,000-watt xenon bulbs.
* Visibility: Five to 15 miles, depending on weather, for both searchlights
* Cost: $10,000-$30,000 for carbon-arc light
* Cost: $65,000 for Sky-Tracker
* Rental charge: $100-$150 per hour, three-hour minimum
* Restrictions on use: Cannot be deployed near airports or in flight paths
More to Read
Inside the business of entertainment
The Wide Shot brings you news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.