Retina Circus

I was a member of Retina Circus starting in 1968.

Retina Circus was founded in 1966 in San Francisco by Bob Carr and Conrad Keeler, shortly thereafter moving to Seattle, becoming the resident Light Show at the Eagles Auditorium until 1970.

Members then included Bill Duncan, John Moehring, Doc Eskenazi, Gary Christenson Clark Higgins, and myself.

The Eagles was Seattle's "Fillmore", so all the bands who played the West Coast circuit played there.

We did outdoor shows for the Seattle Pop Festivals and Sky River Rock Festivals.

Retina Circus also did gigs for other than rock concerts, including special presentations for a Seattle Mayor's inaugural party, the Seattle Art Museum's 50th anniversary, the US introduction of the Mazda automobile, performances of the Joffrey Ballet, and a special self-contained Quad-sound Multi-Media show called the Journey Through Inner and Outer Space we presented around the Pacific Northwest (See Poster below).

We used 3 Beseler Transpaque overhead projectors (with the front surface parabolic mirrors) with 1000 watt bulbs, 4 Carousel slide projectors modified to 900 watts with external fans (required glass mounted slides)
powered by 1000 watt variacs, a kaleidoscope projector (1000 watt), a Bell& Howell 16mm projector with Marc 300 xenon lamp, and a home-built strobe light with an airport-size lamp (5-turn coil ~1.5" diameter).

I still have all the gear except the strobe which died from exposure to the elements over the years.

The 16mm is in need of service - it was out of my hands for 15 years or so (that's another story).

The rest is in ok shape - needs some TLC to come up to snuff.

So - there it is, a quick thumbnail for your database.

Andy Neddermeyer (InVision Productions) - August 2002

Pooterland Note (October 2022):

The First Annual University of Washington Spring Flush was held in the HEC Edmundson Pavilion on May 3-4, 1969. A number of local acts are listed, as well as Santana and It’s a Beautiful Day.

Retinal Circus provided the light show on a 20' x 100' screen!

Those familiar with psychedelic imagery will notice a resemblance of this image to that of FD-112.

Source - Classic Posters

L-R Conrad Keeler, Bill Duncan, John Moehring and Bob Carr
(Photo Credit - Dan Mortensen)

Retina Circus: A Journey in Light ca 1968.
Poster by John Moehring and Wes Wilson.
From Split Fountain Hieroglyphics (SFH 098)

Retina Circus: A Journey in Light & Sound.
Flyer by John Moehring and Wes Wilson, ca 1969.  
From Split Fountain Hieroglyphics (SFH 156)

Retina Circus: A Journey Through Outer & Inner Space.
Unknown artist May 20, 1971

SFH 120 Poster. John Moehring 1968

SFH 136 Poster. Chuck Trimble 1968

SFH 153 Poster. Walt Crowley 1968

SFH 163a Poster. Walt Crowley 1969

SFH 071 Poster. Chuck Trimble / The Phantom 1967 (note misspelling)

SFH075a Handbill. John Moehring 1967

SFH 114 Poster. Tony Schmid 1968. (Notice mis-labeling)

SFH 121a Poster. Gary Eagle 1968