[Question] Increasing amount of curved lights

[Princess Victoria]

For the last few years, I've noticed an increase in the use of curved lights in California Adventure. Sure, there were some there from when the park opened, but they seem to be a favorite of the current Imagineers and designers. What are these lights called beyond "curved lights?" Is there a significance to them? They seemingly transcend different time periods and can be found all over DCA and a bit around Downtown Disney. I see the value in them lighting signs and such from above, but I do wonder why there are so many of them lately.

Here are just a few examples:

Buena Vista Street


Paradise Pier


Cars Land


La Brea Bakery

[Werner]

Re: Increasing amount of curved lights

That's a very interesting observation -- good eye! I hadn't really noticed how many of them there were. I'm not sure about the reasons behind their ubiquity, but now you've got me curious!

[MrsMonroe]

Re: Increasing amount of curved lights

i would have never noticed. wow good eye

[brenden]

Re: Increasing amount of curved lights

I think it's a simple answer. They curve out like that to illuminate signage properly.

[Liquidspaceman]

Re: Increasing amount of curved lights

From the Lagoon of Liquidspaceman...
I think it is just what was used back in the day. It's a time period thing.

...Liquidspaceman, over and out!

[calsig31]

Re: Increasing amount of curved lights

It just looks more period specific and gives it a sense of style

[Steve DeGaetano]

Re: Increasing amount of curved lights

They are called "gooseneck" lamps.

[planetsix]

Re: Increasing amount of curved lights

I think it's a simple answer. They curve out like that to illuminate signage properly.

Yep. If you notice all of them curve to light the words on the signs at night.

[Mr Wiggins]

Re: Increasing amount of curved lights

^ What Steve and calsig said. You'd see them from the 1920s through 50s on gas station signs, roadside cafe signs, above the entrances to machine shops, auto repair garages, warehouses, bars and pool halls; at the rear of stores above delivery entrances, above entrances to military barracks, etc. Made for incandescent bulbs, with the interior painted white to reflect the light. When used above doorways, they create a "pool of light" look seen frequently in film noir.

[CoasterNut]

Re: Increasing amount of curved lights

Yep, each one of those lights is illuminating a sign, the boardwalk games sign, the buena vista street sign, Carsland sign and the La Brea Bakery sign.

[JMazz]

Re: Increasing amount of curved lights

"goose neck"
"shepard's hook"
"hook"
"candycane"

As other's mentioned, they are period designs used by the imagineers to emulate a certain feeling in various areas. Back before the mid-20th century, it was the most cost effective way to light up a sign. In-ground up lights were more expensive (up-lights are another way to light signs). These up-lights were also a bit impractical too, esp in high traffic areas.

Take a look at billboards on the side of the freeway today at night. They use up-lights now, usually near/along the bottom on the catwalk. This is what is most common now along with a streamlined variation of down lights This was due to the advent and mass availibility of very cheap florescent lights in the 60s and 70s. Very ugly IMO...

Back to the hook lights, there was a mid-century trend to move away from these for various reasons... one of which was neon. The transition from hook to neon for signs in design history was noticed by imagineers I'm sure... another wonderful detail at DCA if you know what I mean!
Good eye (as others have said). I find design history very interesting.

[Princess Victoria]

Re: Increasing amount of curved lights

Thanks everyone for contributing.

[Princess Victoria]

Re: Increasing amount of curved lights

As a follow-up, I think that these gooseneck lamps are quite fashionable right now. As pointed out earlier, they installed some on the revised La Brea Bakery in DTD. I was in Visalia in central California over the weekend, and I noticed that many new buildings (all modern in design), feature these lamps. I personally really like them, and it's neat to see them being used once again.

[Quentin]

Re: Increasing amount of curved lights

I see those on a few of the Billboards used in the real world too. Most are lit from below though.

[Mom kissed Walt]

Re: Increasing amount of curved lights

I think they're great and I love how that era did things simply and did them right IMO. "Form follows function"