Historic Hollywood Photographs

Searchlights are a staple of the Hollywood premiere and other special events. They attract attention to a particular venue, often a movie theater or nightclub, as their beams criss-cross the night sky. Originally for military use, the machines use powerful light sources with reflectors to project beams of parallel rays in a certain direction. They are constructed to swivel and the projections can be seen for long distances. A major component of advertising and grand openings, the lights set the tone for events in Hollywood during the Golden Era and are still used at premieres and such today.

These 8 photographs taken between 1927 and 1946 show this most eye-catching feature of the entertainment industry’s publicity machine.