Hope everyone had a nice 4th of July!
I was watching the Macy's 4th of July fireworks and it was quite a lovely show. Excellent music and a gorgeous 30 minute fireworks show that totally outshined the show last night here in Chicago.
I couldn't help but notice though that the audience make-up was VERY carefully thought out. The camera panned over the audience and you could see that there was quite an even-handed mix of people. Some Asians, some African Americans, a couple of people of obvious Middle Eastern descent, the requisite military personnel (from all of the branches of course.) It was almost too perfect a mix actually. The camera made a point of stoppine on each "group" of people. I missed the first part of the show, so I wasn't sure if maybe this was planned and if the makeup of the audience was specified or not.
Ah, well... despite that, or maybe because of it, it was a lovely patriotic display to celebrate the birth of our nation!
Happy Birthday to the USA!
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Well, the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show counts as one of the largest fireworks displays in the world that is staged each year (roughly 30,000 arial shells are used in that show which is mind-boggling really) and the quality of the show itself owes a lot to the company that produces it- Pyro Spectaculars by Souza (arguably the best organization out there right now for fireworks displays)- they just happen to custom make a number of unique shells and effects and also pay a lot of attention into their design and the technology that goes into firing their shows.
Now the fireworks display for the City of Chicago is done by Melrose Pyrotechnics out of Milwaukee- in comparison this show only uses about 5,000 shells and other pyrotechnics. Still a decent scale show, but I personally think it lacks impact as well from the very limited barge firing locations they use. I'd say they're not quite on the world class stage as an organization with fireworks.
Baltimore's own paltry fireworks display is done by Zambelli (a decent organization- they are at the top of the 2nd tier of fireworks companies I'd say).
But in my opinion the best display would be Boston's- choreographed by PPA Spectaculars (which merged with Souza's Pyro Spectaculars)- that show uses 10,000 shells and devices (roughly 17,500 pounds of pyrotechnics) has over 2,500 individual digital cues and still features a section which is "live" fired. Takes about 8 days to set up and load that show.
But the real reason why PPA's shows simply outclass the others is that they feature the fireworks show designs of Eric Tucker (he's won practically every major international fireworks award for his show designs year after year and he's the single guy that Disney repeatedly turns to design their fireworks displays for their theme parks if that's any indication).
He's the one who did the fireworks designs all their recent displays- Illuminations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot (It's about 1,105 shells used in that show each night although a press release says it's 2,800- maybe if you count each individual "point of light" in the finale), Wishes at the Magic Kingdom (800 shells up from the 300 for the older Fantasy in the Sky show) and the new show out at Disneyland for their 50th celebration which is getting rave reviews (do a google search and you can find video of this show called "Remember... Dreams come True" which is amazing).
Actually the best fireworks displays I've ever personally witnessed are when they hold the APA (American Pyrotechnics Association) conference- this past year happened to be hosted by Disney World and they have a friendly sort of competition amongst different companies to showcase their new effects, products and techniques as well as skill in choreographing shows by featuring a different company/designer each night of the conference with a show done over the Seven Seas Lagoon in front of the Magic Kingdom for 1 week. This is the time where you see stuff that you've never seen before or could imagine with fireworks (beyond the cheesy little smiley faces or hearts/stars that are now ever so popular but were oh so 5 years ago).
I've stopped watching fireworks on tv. It just doesn't have the same impact as being onsite. Been spoiled the last few years here in JC where we have a great vantage point a block away. Gonna miss that when we hafta move outta here. =(
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