ILLUMINATION OF THE PANAMA-PACIFIC 



INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION 



By W. D'A. Ryan 



Abstract of Paper 



In this paper the author, who was Chief of Illumination 

 for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Fran- 

 cisco, describes the system of lighting adopted for the Exposi- 

 tion, which was generally conceded to have initiated a new 

 era in the art of illumination. From a narrow engineering 

 point of view the lighting would liave been regarded as m- 

 efficient, but the object striven for was to suppress high 

 intrinsic brilliancy, while bringing out the architectural 

 beauties of the Exposition structures in the most effective 

 manner, bathed in a harmony of color. Many beautiful effects 

 were obtained by the various installations which are 

 described, and one of the most original features was the suc- 

 cessful effort to preserve the curvature and detail in rehef 

 by the use of lights of different strengths and colors thrown 

 from different or opposite directions upon the same object. 



'T^HE illumination of the Panama-Pacific International Expo- 

 -■- sition was finally classed by the International Jury of 

 Awards as a "decorative art," largely because it appealed to the 

 imagination and feelings of the masses, and carried a message 

 much the same as painting or music, as demonstrated by the 

 happy enticing effect of the heraldic banners on the Avenue of 

 Progress, the deep mystery of the Court of Abundance, the 

 grandetir and uplifting effect of the great candle-fountains in 

 the Court of the Universe, the quiet peaceful illumination in the 

 Court of the Fottr Seasons and on the Palace of Fine Arts, the 

 Alladin dreams and fairy-Hke suggestions of the illuminated 

 towers, flag?, reflections and other features which made up the 

 lighting as viewed from the South Gardens. 



In this connection I wish to quote Edwin Markham's im- 

 pressions gained on try-out night, February 15th, 1915: 



"I have tonight seen the greatest revelation of beauty that 

 was ever seen on the earth. I may say this, meaning it liter- 

 ally and with full regard for all that is known of ancient art 



Note : The colored illustrations in this issue of our Bulletin were 

 contributed with the compliments of Mr. W. D'A. Ryan, Illuminating 

 Engineer and the Illuminating Engineering Laboratory, Schenectady, New 

 York, to whom the Academy of Sciences is greatly indebted tor this 

 beautiful donation. We are also indebted to the American Institute of 

 Electrical Engineers of New York City, which has kindly allowed ab- 

 stracts from Mr. Ryan's paper to be copied from Volume XXXV of its 

 Transactions. 



It is well known that Mr. Ryan's plans and designs for the lighting 

 of Broadway, Los Angeles, were accepted and within a few months that 

 avenue will be one of the most beautifully lighted in all America. 



S. J. K. 



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