End of an Era

Old Hollywood Light Company Announces the End of an Era

After a successful career as a high-profile album cover photographer, John Scarpati refocused his passion into another aspect of the creative process. A decade ago, he began breathing new life into studio lights from Hollywood’s heyday.

Locating suitable candidates for restoration has never been easy. Even on the best of days, it requires a blend of perseverance, industry connections and crazy luck. But the back lot warehouses and grip truck graveyards are finally drying up. After scouring the country for years, Scarpati is finally bringing his search to an end.

“I’ve gathered enough lights and stands to continue doing this for another year or so,” he says. “But once I work through my current stash, it’ll be time to pull the plug. I tell my friends that if they really want one, put in your order now.”

Old Hollywood Light Company specializes in converting lights and stands produced between the 1930s and 1960s by industry icons Bardwell & McAllister and Mole-Richardson. Each is lovingly restored, rebuilt and rewired by hand to meet modern electrical standards while preserving the historic charm.

Elevating this process to an art form requires an acute eye for texture, patina and detail – Scarpati’s love language, as it turns out. No wonder this celebrated photographer broke with tradition when shooting covers for the likes of Rush, the New York Dolls, Scorpions and Great White, insisting that he personally build and finish all of his own models and props.

“Restoring these old beauties is a labor of love,” Scarpati explains. “These lights literally defined the look and feel of classic film and TV. Now they can add drama to a home, workspace, wherever.”

For media inquiries, interviews, or additional information, please contact:

John Scarpati
Old Hollywood Light Company
john_scarpati@icloud.com
(804) 874-3786
https://scarpati.com

Old Hollywood Light Company is a Richmond, Virginia-based artisan shop that specializes in restoring and converting vintage Hollywood movie lights into functional lighting fixtures. Each piece is meticulously curated, restored and rewired, offering customers a chance to own a genuine piece of cinema history.

What Makes Old Hollywood Light Company Unique:

One-of-a-Kind Hollywood History: Scarpati’s collection features rare vintage industrial lights, paired with period-correct stands. No mass-produced knockoffs – these are the real deal.

Immaculate Restoration: No detail is overlooked. Every light is obsessively dismantled, cleaned, stripped, refinished and rebuilt from the ground up.

Patina and Texture: The more closely you look, the more you realize how truly special and unique these lights are. The beauty is in the history – the dents, the timeworn patina, the character.

Affordable Luxury: Despite their historic origins and painstaking restoration, these pieces actually cost less than modern mass-produced replicas sold in upscale stores. They’re a true bargain for collectors and design enthusiasts alike.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Etsy store, Old Hollywood Light Company is offering a 10% discount on all orders placed in January 2025. Use code HOLLYWOOD10 at checkout.