The “Doomsday List”* of endangered lighthouses currently numbers 46 monuments that are threatened by erosion or lack of upkeep.
Having been powerless to prevent the closure of a much-loved lighthouse near his own home, Dolby is setting out to alert the U.S public to the fact that many of these venerable landmarks are close to extinction.
This October and November, Dolby will tour North America with his groundbreaking transmedia show, The Invisible Lighthouse, which features a screening of his award-winning film documenting the closing earlier this year of the Orford Ness lighthouse, visible from Dolby’s home studio in East Anglia, and the lack of co-operation he received from the authorities in his efforts to draw attention to its plight.
As the film screens, Dolby and renowned sound designer Blake Leyh (The Abyss, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) will create the narration, score, songs and sound effects in real time.
The U.S. tour will hit many North American cities coast-to-coast, many of which — even inland cities with rivers — possess surviving lighthouses in town or nearby.
“Some of these marvelous lighthouses have stood watch over our coasts for centuries, through devastating hurricanes, epic sea battles, daring rescues and thwarted invasions,” explains Dolby. “The U.S. public has a perpetual love affair with the lighthouse, but is probably unaware that many are on the verge of being lost forever. It is so sad to see them crumble. America is still a young country and we should be doing all we can to preserve our historic landmarks for future generations to enjoy.”
Thomas Dolby’s transmedia show The Invisible Lighthouse is focused on arthouse cinemas and independent film festivals.
The Invisible Lighthouse Live dates:
Sun., Oct. 20 ORLANDO, FL Orlando Film Festival
Wed., Oct. 23 SELLERSVILLE, PA Sellersville Theater
Thurs., Oct. 24 PHILADELPHIA, PA The Trocadero Theatre in association with the Philadelphia Film Festival
Fri., Oct. 25 ALBANY, NY The Egg - Swyer Theater
Sat., Oct. 26 SOMERVILLE, MA Somerville Theatre
Mon., Oct. 28 NEW YORK, NY Gramercy Theatre
Tues., Oct. 29 CARNEGIE, PA Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall
Wed., Oct. 30 TORONTO, ON 99 Sudbury
Fri., Nov. 1 GLOUCESTER, MA Cape Anne Film Festival
Sun., Nov. 3 ROYAL OAK, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre
Mon., Nov. 4 CHICAGO, IL Mayne Stage
Tues., Nov. 5 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Cedar Cultural Center
Wed., Nov. 6 MADISON, WI Majestic Theatre
Thurs., Nov. 7 MILWAUKEE, WI Shank Hall
Sat., Nov. 9 ST LOUIS, MO Blueberry Hill in association with the St. Louis Film Festival
Mon., Nov. 11 LAWRENCE, KS Liberty Hall
Wed., Nov 13 BOULDER, CO The Dairy Center for the Arts
Thurs., Nov. 14 DENVER, CO Bluebird Theater
Sun., Nov. 17 VANCOUVER, BC Rio Theater
Mon., Nov 18 SEATTLE, WA Showbox at the Market
Tues., Nov. 19 PORTLAND, OR Alberta Rose Theater
Thurs., Nov. 21 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Swedish American Music Hall
Fri., Nov. 22 LOS ANGELES, CA Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Sat., Nov. 23 SACRAMENTO, CA Crest Theater
*Background:
“The Doomsday List” of endangered lighthouses was created in 1993 by Lighthouse Digest Magazine, which sought to draw public attention to the issue. Despite the passing of the National Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, and the addition of many U.S. lighthouses to the National Register of Historic Places, many of America’s most revered lighthouses have continued to be allowed to deteriorate beyond repair. The burden of the expense falls on the U.S. Coast Guard, and this is underscored by commercial shipping’s increasing reliance on satellite and radar navigation.
A number of lighthouses that were once on the list have been saved. Among those are the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in North Carolina, Michigan’s Crisp Point Lighthouse and Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse, Avery Point Lighthouse in Connecticut, Sankaty Lighthouse on Nantucket, Cape Cod’s Highland Light and Nauset Light, Maine’s Little River Lighthouse and Prospect Harbor Lighthouse, and Southeast Lighthouse on Block Island, Rhode Island.
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