In the beginning, around 1967, there was darkness and bands performed in dark smoky cellars, then came the light, in the form of the liquid wheel. Developed in America from shows using clock glasses on overhead projectors, the liquid wheel has proved to be the most enduring projected effect. Unfortunately this proved a little boring for my band (D’Arcy Spice), and I then came across the Sarex Wheel, made by Colin Cadle of Andromeda Spiral Lighting in Blackheath, London. The Sarex was hand made with a mixture of glass paint and glue, and gave a very psychedelic effect. However this too became boring after a while and so Orion Lighting was first set up around 1967 to make lighting for my band, and supply local DJ’s with lights for the “new” trend of mobile disco. It also provided the hardware for my Dr Who Lightshow, which toured the North Essex area for 10 years or so. The band originally used a primitive sound to light unit from Dabar Electronics, with home made spot light boxes. I then purchased a liquid wheel and projector, which was great, very psychedelic! Unfortunately the wheels were very expensive and much of a muchness, so I turned my photo experience into making a new flavour of wheel, the graphic wheel was born. The first ones were simple dots and stripes, and then I had the idea of using a mask and real slides, of Crystal Palace dinosaurs actually. This was a winner, and it led the way to the concept of a continuous panoramic design. A visit to the famous space artist, Dave Hardy (responsible for many of the paintings and illustrations in Sir Patrick Moore’s books), produced the original panoramic wheel, the Space Panorama. This wheel was a huge success, and soon copied by others. At the same time I had another artist draw a cartoon design, his name was Steve Maher, and the design was the Streak Wheel. It was first made in black and white, and hand coloured, but the colour printing techniques used on the Space Panorama, rapidly led to colouring the Streak master and saving hours of time! Steve is also known for his creation of the Band Aid logo, you know, the image of Africa with the guitar neck pointing up. He is also responsible for countless T shirt transfer designs, and comic book artwork. He is still around and living in Australia, thanks Steve. Many other designs followed, another by Dave Hardy (War of the Worlds), and most of the remainder by Steve Maher. For a change I had a few done by other artists. The Medieval, Roman Orgy and Dinosaur were painted by Maggie Gould, and the Wild West by a well known artist who used to draw a western comic strip for the newspapers. Unfortunately I can not remember his name, and I suspect he is no longer with us, as he was already retired in 1976.

Whilst I was busy making new designs, other companies were also busy such as Optikinetics, Pluto, Solar Prism, Compar, Project and Light Fantastic. Optikinetics are still going strong with a range of 50 wheels, the Pluto designs are also still available on line. The remainder are no longer around unfortunately. I also used to make the wheels for Solar Prism Lighting from his (Dave Hone) designs. They were all graphic wheels designed in intricate shapes in Letraset, along with a vast range of 2” slides. I suspect Dave kept Letraset in business all by himself! There was at least one other wheel manufacturer, but I never managed to find them, I seem to remember a rumour of an Alice in Wonderland design by them that I never got hold of. All my designs were test run by my mobile lightshow, the Doctor Who Lightshow, which performed at a number of venues in Essex, lighting up all the main acts of the day. The show had 6 x Tutor 2 projectors, a couple of slide projectors, numerous UV, strobes, spots etc, all rigged on an 8ft by 8ft lighting rig. My wheel box had just about every known wheel, along with a selection of test wheels.

As projected effects faded a bit, electronics came to the fore, and I came up with the first affordable 10 way light sequencer. This was followed by a matrixed version, the Spirochaser. Finally we devised the Galactic Controller, which had many features not yet seen today.

It all came to an end in 1981 when Orion finally succumbed to the recession. The equipment was sold off, and all that remains are my artworks, proof copies of wheels and 1 Tutor 2 projector.

Larry Wooden
19th April 2009

The images on this site are purely to illustrate the wide range of wheels available from 1968 to now for the benefit of those interested in 1970’s effects lighting. Orion Lighting was closed 30 years ago, and this site does not sell discotheque lighting or effects wheels, and is only here to illustrate a slice of history. Links are provided to known sources of those wheels still available. You are welcome to email for information of assistance. If you have images or details on any wheel or manufacturer not shown, I would be happy to hear from you. If you hold the copyright on any of the wheels shown, and wish them to be removed, please email me.