"A truely unique and
magical
Christmas Display featuring a new Walt Disney based theme
each year and accompanying Light and Sound Show".
2007
Theme:
Aladdin |
 |
| What
is the Christmas Display? |
| The Christmas Display features
many
thousands of coloured fairy lights, in my front garden, as one would
expect from any Christmas Display. However this display is much more than
lights. Every year it features a new Walt Disney animated film as its
theme. Each of the Disney characters from the chosen film are created
by hand, and presented in the garden. It is a display created and produced
from initiative - by hand, not purchased. It contains depth in the way
a new theme is produced every year. You can see this in the photos and
even more so in the display itself.
To further the display's
uniqueness, a 15min Light and Sound Show, is delivered at the commencement
of each evening. Here the characters tell their story. The voices are taken
from the actual motion picture. All coloured fairly lights are switched
on at the ending of this show, as the display enters its normal viewing
mode.
People often comment that
they have searched the state for the best of displays, and can't find anything
comparable to what is found in East Bentleigh.
|
| Where? |
84 Parkmore Rd.
Bentleigh East
Victoria, Australia |
| When? |
2007 dates:
Wednesday 12th
December - 25th December
The Light and Sound Show
commences at: 9:15pm
Lights & Animation
On: 9:30 - 10/10:30
Note: The ending of
the Light and Sound Show triggers the actual display (lights, animation
etc). And the display runs every night, weather permitting.
|
| Size
and Scale |
| Many thousands of people
visit the display each year. It is estimated that at times crowd sizes
reach over 200 people. This is certainly no ordinary display. Since this
is the only house in the street displaying lights, this indicates the popularity
and scale of this stand alone display.
Spectators:
|
| The
Light and Sound Show |
 Each
night begins with a 15 minute unique light and sound show, after my short
speech. This show is based on the theme of the year. In it, the character
figures in the garden, tell their story, with the assistance of theatrical
style spot lighting. Since the show is based on the original Disney films
themselves, it is quite dramatic, incorporating smoke, 20" mirror ball,
and bubble machine. As the story draws to an end, it breaks into the music
of the theme's finale, building to a climax ending. A final boom then sounds,
with the some 5000 coloured fairy lights, spectacularly lighting up. The
display is then in normal viewing mode. Click
here for more. |
| Lights
& Animation |
| The Christmas Display contains
5000 coloured fairy lights, static and animated hand-made Disney
theme based characters figures. These are some of the elements that form
the actual display, which is active after the light and sound show.
The display contains many
lighting effects, including moving light projection units, stage lighting,
coloured flood lights, bubble columns (1m clear pipes filled with water
and bubbles). The display also incorporates a large fish pond with mini
waterfall, fountain, pond lighting and pond fogger. Remote/computer controlled
systems (using X10) are also used to automate smoke, bubbles and lights
throughout each nightly display.
|
| Promoting
a Compassionate Society |
| The Christmas Display, I
believe has a positive impact on society. It shows that not everything
has to be for profit. I do not seek monetary gain for my efforts, I seek
only the satisfaction and self purpose it gives me.
Since 2001, I have also made
attempts at offering a hopeful message in my introductory speech proceeding
the light and sound show. During this time of Christmas we exhibit special
acts of kindness, a thought for others, a period of sharing. What we would
like to see, is more of this during the rest of the year, when it really
matters. A tolerant, compassionate, fairer society is one that benefits
all, and one that we can all be a part of ensuring. It starts with equality
in opportunity through access to quality education and adequate healthcare.
A concerned society will also look after the planet. This is thinking in
terms of us together, not us alone. Combining our efforts, to serve all
our interests, not just some. No longer can we leave it up to others, or
assume that it will be alright, it won't. This isnt about what we are,
its about what we can be; the betterment of mankind. We are all equally
human, equally Australian, ideally equal members of a fair and just society.
|
| In
the News |
| Pictures of the display
will likely appear in a book to be published in 2006; in 2004 images of
the display were briefly featured on A Current Affair, Channel 9; in 2000
the display was featured on the front page of the local 'Leader Newspaper'.
Click
here for more. |
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