A Brief History/Overview Of Theatre Effects
Established in 1976, the business was originally based out of Hagarstown, MD. In 2004, after I was made President of the company, it was moved to my hometown Greater Cincinnati / Northern KY region). I purchased the business in July of 2004. Theatre Effects is now located approximately two miles from the Greater Cincinnati International Airport in Erlanger, KY.
Theatre Effects is a small business, which allows us to better cater to and serve the customers who have come to trust us. The roots of Theatre Effects was close-proximity pyrotechnics for use within the entertainment industry. Our largest marketplace is theatre, especially within the world of academia due to the sheer number of schools in the country, yet we service so many industries that is still amazes me how many people have needs for our products, some being International.
Theatre Effects manufactures pyrotechnic devices used in film and on-stage, in addition to the expendables used within these devices. We also manufacture extremely high-quality fog, haze and snow fluids; stock and custom confetti cannons; among other products. We are the most sought after master distributors for both Le Maitre and Ultratec pre-packaged pyrotechnics, who are the two largest producers close-proximity of pyrotechnics in the world.
Pyrotechnics, Confetti & Streamer Canons, Fog Machines, Snow Machines, Lighting and so much more...
We sell and represent many products within the special effects category of products. Our website is geared more for the amateur industry. The professional industry simply picks up the phone and calls us. Whether it is television, film, government agencies, branches of the military, firefighting divisions, theme parks, rock & other music groups, etc - they simply tell us what they are looking to do. After doing so, that is where the fun, help, and our work begins.
The premise that the company works off of for doing business is quite simple in nature. Find out what the customer’s needs, wants, deadlines and budget restrictions are; help them come up with a solution; and quote the product. Unless there is a timeframe / deadline, we do not push the customer in purchasing. I and my staff treat customers the way we would want to be treated when needing help and making a purchase -- whether it be a $10.00 purchase or a $100,000 purchase. Everyone is treated and viewed the same. If we are not the best solution for the customer, we happily send them to other providers that are reputable in the industry that will be better suited for taking care of their needs.
We do not do installs, though we will come on-site at the customer’s expense (rarely needed), as margins on our products are tight, keeping things affordable for the customer. Like Morton’s Steak House, we service in an a’ la carte-style. We provide assistance, ideas, solutions, gear and expendables.
We work with so many products and industries, having a chat on the phone is the best place to start with us. Telling us what you have going, what you want to have going, or what was going and now due to problems, needs to get going again.
It is my promise to all customers that we will do our best to be of service to you. As you will see below (which is only a handful of people we have helped) we have become a trusted source to many industries. Most of our customers, due to the nature of many products being expendable, continually come back to us, many being like family.
I hope this finds you doing well. Never hesitate to reach out to us for help.
Douglas W. Weber, Theatre Effects, Owner
Theatre Effects, 1810 Airport Exchange Blvd, Suite 400, Erlanger, KY 41018 -- service@theatrefx.com -- 1-800-791-7646
Mark Twain once remarked, “Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.”
What do the following entities & productions have in common?
NASA • Boeing • The U.S. Military • Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield • The Philadelphia Eagles • Sammy Hagar • Paramount Pictures • ABC Television • NBC Studios • Lance Burton • Carrot Top • Aerosmith • The Kennedy Center • The Pink Panther • War of the Worlds • Mission Impossible 1, 2 & 3 • Sony Pictures • David Copperfield • Six Flags Amusement Parks • Paramount’s King’s Island • The Moscow Ballet • KISS • The Blue Man Group • Cirque du Soleil • Busch Gardens • Universal Studios • Dallas Cowboys • Vancouver Canucks • Pirates of the Caribbean 1, 2 & 3 • The Haunted Mansion • Saturday Night Live • Lenny Kravitz • Phil Collins • Jill Kelly • Pepsi-Cola • Princess Cruise Lines • Marshall Fields, Chicago • Less Than Jake • Federal Bureau Of Investigation • Van Helsing • The Cleveland Indians • Ringling Bros. • Lakewood Church, Houston, TX • Cher • Oak Ridge Boys • American Eagle Outfitters • The Illusionists • Seussical • Lion King • Alice Cooper • The Harlem Globetrotters • Rain Forest Cafes • Minnesota Vikings • New Jersey Devils • Busch Gardens • Miami Heat • Dept. Of Homeland Security • Federal Bureau Of Prisons • Fire Depts & Training Facilities • Marvel Comics • Norwegian Cruise Lines • Oreck Corp. • Sony Electronics • Detroit Lions • Cabo Wabo Cantina • Sharp Electronics • The Creation Museum • Taylor Swift • FOX Network • MGM Properties & Casinos • Depeche Mode • The Rolling Stones • Tool • Whirlpool Corp. • The Guggenheim Museum, NY • Mythbusters • Cake Boss • Jimmy Fallon • Junkyard Wars • Seth Meyers • MTV • Nickelodeon • Dutch Wonderland Park • Batman vs Superman • Ghostbusters (remake) • Man Of Steel • Fast & Furious 7 • Harlem Wizards • Sony Interactive Entertainment
All of these entities, in addition to so many others, have all come to trust Theatre Effects for their special effect needs and products!
Local or traveling acts & performers • Grade schools, middle schools • high schools, universities • Churches • Dinner theatres • City recreation departments • The Halloween industry • Event planners • Local, national or international businesses & government agencies • Production companies
The list of people that we help just goes on, and on, and on…
We would love to hear what your upcoming projects are all about. Give us a call and share what you have going on, we could possibly be a part in your attaining the success you want to achieve!
How we got started? Well, that's a question that deserves to be told over a couple of drinks and some good grub.