I built a laser light show using a laser pointer and a mirror from a birdcage...

I built a laser light show using a laser pointer, a mirror from a birdcage, my 130 in one experimenters kit from Radio Shack, a "V" shaped coat hanger, thread and two 3v DC motors driving unbalanced loads. The experimenters kit was arranged to produce oscillating voltages that drove the motors at speeds that gradually changed from slow to fast and then back to slow again. The motors were attached to the coathanger that supported the laser pointer and mirror... as the motors spun they caused the ends of the coathanger to move in circular motion. This caused the dot of laser light reflected upon the ceiling to wiggle in rhythmic elliptical patterns that changed shape over time... It's called a Lissajou pattern. Classic Lasarium pattern. Just to mix up the pattern a bit the ends of the coathanger were tied to each other with thread... that caused one end to effect the other end. Whacking the entire contraption with my hand was also fun and caused a larger pattern on the ceiling. Fun to play with while stoned.

My friend Ken built a much better laser lightshow using an industrial laser and a mirror coated with clear glue. It shined wave like clouds of red light on the ceiling. They often looked like galaxies. Originally he would invite people over and put on the Vangelis record "China" on and turn off the lights... Heavy synth music with cosmic clouds swirling slowly on the ceiling. One night my boss from work brought over her girlfriend and we all smoked PCP laced weed. "Hey mister, your floor's on fire..." she said... The mirror was mounted on a rotating platform on the floor. It glowed red... and concerned the guest...

Later, I convinced KEN to buy a synthesizer himself and we played music to the laser light show every weekend for years. Improvised cosmic noises and "sci-fi movie soundtrack music"...

Read more of my Autobiography at: http://gvan42.blogspot.com/2018/03/growing-up-in-los-gatos-california-in.html