The Lazer Show

Freaky Stuff in your Bedroom

The Lazer Show

As a child with autism, I was fascinated and frightened of the light and shadow patterns that are projected onto the wall by passing cars.  At night I wanted to sleep with the curtains open to allow the some light from driveway light into the room.  When the curtains were closed, the room will be pitch black and the driveway light will project a small crack of light at the top of the wall.  In 1990, I wanted to sleep with a night light to reduce the fears of the dark.

A small crack of light shines from the driveway light when the bedroom curtains are closed

 

 In 1991, I started calling the shadows that are projected on the walls "Lazers."  In the mid to 90's I transitioned to sleeping in the dark and watched the lazers from passing cars.

What is a Lazer?

A Lazer is created when a car drives by your house at night time.  The high beams from the car will pass through the window and project a shadow pattern on your wall.  As the car passes by the house, the patterns will move in the opposite direction across your walls.  As the lazer reaches the centre of the room, it may grow, or shrink.

How Do I know when a Lazer will appear on my wall?

I would notice the light shining into my bedroom window and hear the car approaching the house.  If I do not want to see a freaky Lazer, I would cover my eye under the bed covers until the car passes. 

Types of Lazers

Big

The Big Lazer is the easiest lazers to project onto your walls.  All you need is an uncovered window.  The bigger the window, the better!

The Big Lazer is simply allowing the car's headlights to shine through an uncovered window.

Bob Bo 

The Bob Bo lazer is created by covering your window, leaving an inch gap on the side of the window to allow the car high beam to pass.

Bob Bo is a simple vertical line lazer.

Joes's

The Joe's Lazer is created by closing the venetian blinds and allowing the light to pass through the slats.

Joe's Lazer is a simple Venetian blind lazer. (Newklages Lighting)  

Gong

The Gong is created by closing your curtains and leaving an inverted triangular gap at the centre of the window.  I had re-occuring nightmares about this lazer after seeing it several times in bed back in the late 80's.  This is why I was scared to sleep with the curtains closed.

The H Light

The H light requires multiple windows to project. This lazer features the scary Gong in the centre and two Bob Bo lasers on either side.  Cover the centre of the window and leave the sides uncovered.  More windows, the better.  Make sure you have curtains on all the windows.

The H Light is a comination of Bob Bo and Gong,  Multiple windows are required.

Other Effects

Mirrors

The reflection of the mirror will bounce the Lazer across the room.   I like to say the lazer is falling apart.  I discovered this Lazer effect in a condo in Orlando Florida  Try it for yourself

A mirror's reflection will bounce light across the room

Lazers in Dreams

The Gong Dream

After seeing the Gong Lazer, I had a dream where I was in my room and I was watching a big lazer move across the wall.  As the lazer is continues along its path, Suddenly the big lazer transforms into a Gong lazer.  I also heard the word GONG in the sound of a car motor and I freaked out.  I jumped out of bed and opened all the curtains as fast as I could!

Dreams of Recent Years

 In the last 10 years, I started to have dreams about the Lazers I saw when I lived on Kennedy Road.  These dreams would be a mixture of seeing the freaky Gong lazer and and the Bob Bo. 

Reference List

Figure (1)- The B Movie, photo from New Klages Lighting, http://newklages.com/NKI_LetSunShineIn.htm