AIEL COMPANY HISTORY

    The beginnings of the company started with the first use of the name "Atlantic Illumination" which occurred in 1970. Richard wanted to sound more professional than just having his band lighting referred to as "Richard's Lights". He wanted a name that would include the concept of lighting and also be synonymous with the area of Canada in which he worked. Then too, he was being called upon for lighting by a number of persons and businesses outside his usual circle of friends, and so preferred to have a name that would cover more than just his band lighting.

    The initial version of the company name grew out of the name "Richard Bonner Lightshow" to become "Atlantic Illumination Lyteshow", with "Lightshow" being spelled in a way as was able to be trade marked. This name remained throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, but by 1979, the word "Lyteshow" would be used less and less, as the company branched into sales and installations.

    During this decade, Atlantic Illumination supplied lighting at Atlantic-area clubs and schools, toured with acts such as Carol Baker, Jose Feliciano, and Roy Orbison, and did pageants and outdoor rock concerts. A high point in this era was providing the lighting and special effects for Nova Scotia on Stage, the official opening of The Halifax Metro Centre.

    Enough business was being procured from a variety of sources, so in 1977, Richard went legitimate as "Atlantic Illumination Entertainment Lighting", a name that would better reflect the variety of lighting work. The term "Lyteshow" remained in use for live band lighting into the early and mid 1980s, but was retired around 1985 or '86. The name was shortened to "Atlantic Illumination" for all public promotion and branding. Since then, the initials "AIEL" have come to branding prominence as the website name.

    The first company location outside of Richard's home was in the mid 1970s on Duncan Street in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was a basic warehouse shared by Atlantic Illumination and the band Roadwork. When that group moved to its own band house a year or so later, the group Titan moved into the building until 1979. (For information on Roadwork and Titan, and on other on Nova Scotia rock acts, see the Nova Scotia Classic Rock website.)

    The owner of the Duncan Street building sold out in 1979 to a developer, and when the lease expired at the end of that same year, the new owner would not renew as he wanted the building to be renovated into a residence. That home occupies the same space on Duncan Street today, of which the front part of the roof line is the original dormer of that warehouse.

    The lease expiry necessitated a move to temporary quarters at the International Order of Foresters (IOOF) building on Ochterloney Street in Dartmouth. This cramped premises was simply too small and with the increased business of that period, Richard bought a two-story building at 80 Fairbanks Street (also in Dartmouth) in August of 1981. Atlantic Illumination resides there to this day. (The IOOF Hall was torn down not long after AI left. It is a downtown parking lot today.)

    Over the next two decades, the Fairbanks Street location would go through renovations from a mostly large open space to include a Showroom, Offices, Assembly Shop, Electronics Shop, Rentals Area, Gel & Lamp section, Shipping & Receiving, and a large upstairs storage area.

    During the 1980s and 90s, the company received contracts for lighting sales and installations at clubs and schools, including a continual contract to provide lighting at one of Halifax's most famous rock spots: The Misty Moon. That contract actually started in the late 1970s when the club was located on Gottingen Street, went through the mid 1980s on Kempt Road, and on to the club's final site on Barrington Street. Sadly, The `Moon' no longer exists. Its last location is now a tourist bureau and science centre.

    Thoughout that period, Atlantic Illumination continued to furnish lighting and special effects to touring acts, major pageants, and to theatre productions. To see a list of those acts and shows, as well as those that came before and since, go to Artists and Shows on Richard Bonner's Webpage.

    Atlantic Illumination remains at the Fairbanks location where further renovations had been planned to the property. However, Hurricane Juan severely damaged the warehouse in September of 2003 which resulted in a delay in those plans. Before Juan, a remodelling of The Assembly Shop and Gel & Lamp section had just been completed. Future alterations are expected to entail additional offices upstairs, expansion of the main showroom, possibly to the second story, and a new street facade.

    Currently, the company regularly supplies lighting for stage musicals and plays, bands and dance performances, as well as remaining with sales and rentals.

    Recent changes include a new Internet domain name (AIEL.chebucto.biz) and reversion to the full company name, Atlantic Illumination Entertainment Lighting, as well as the initials for all promotions and on its website.