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Sky's The LimitOn July 03, 2008 Attorney by day, pyrotechnician by night Being the man in charge has its perks. But, in Eric Elias' case, a killer view isn't one of them.The monitor in the control booth at the Hollywood Bowl is small, but it's in color. It is from this vantage point that pyrotechnician Eric Elias watches the fruits of his labors: the elaborate fireworks displays that draw "oohs" and "aahs" from Bowl attendees several times each season. "People ask me if I like to go to fireworks shows," says Elias who, this season, marks 30 years working at the Bowl. "I love going to fireworks shows. I love to help other people put on their shows. That's when I actually get to see and touch fireworks." The Bowl work isn't quite as hands-on anymore, not that Elias is complaining. He spent the first 15 summers up on the roof with the crew before gradually transitioning into being the crew chief. The West Hills resident, 53, is now instructor, supervisor, bean counter, scheduler and mother hen - all wrapped into one - to his crew members. "He's very detail oriented, he's a good delegator, and he's fully in command of the regulations, probably because of his legal background," says crew member Marty Rosenstock, who, like Elias, is a licensed pyrotechnician. "Over the years, Eric was probably instrumental in developing how those regulations were written." Elias doesn't say much about his "day job" as an attorney except to note that his two worlds - law and explosives - never intersect and are "totally incongruous." The business card he hands over reads Pyrotechnic Operator, and from late June through November at the Bowl, that's what he's been. And a devoted one at that. During the 30 years he's been at the Bowl, Elias has failed to attend only two fireworks performances. Both his marriage and the birth of his children were scheduled so as not to conflict with the Bowl season. "That's a little too much to ask of other people," he admits. It was in 1977 that the pyro bug first sank its teeth into Elias. Paul Salverson, a friend who Elias knew from their dealings at a tropical fish store, had long nursed a desire to light one of the really big rockets during a fireworks show. "Why stop at just one?" Elias countered, and the two started investigating the ins and outs of getting a pyrotechnician's license. The process includes apprenticing at a series of shows to secure letters of recommendation from licensed pyrotechnicians. Elias and Salverson were quickly directed to a small show in the City of Industry during the summer of 1977. "The sum total of my experience, prior to being asked to hand light aerial shells with a road flair, was being asked, `You know how to light a flair? Good. You do the flairs,"' Elias recalls. "Paul has a picture of himself lighting an 8-inch shell with a big grin on his face." Elias remembers shooting off those devices, and the heat, sweat, smoke, fiery debris and black powder filling the air that followed. "I looked over at Paul and rubbed my eyes, which were still stinging with smoke, and I said, `Is that what you were expecting?"' Elias says, "And he said, `Wow, that was great! Let's do it again!"' I said, `Fine, but I'm going to be a little more prepared next time.' "As a result of that experience, it's always been my philosophy (to) teach anybody else as much as I can in advance to make their experience a little more pleasant," he says. The Bowl has done its part. The redesigned $24 million shell, unveiled in 2004, included several upgrades and modifications for the fireworks crew. Elias and some of his key crew members had input into the changes. It typically takes a crew of between 22 and 28 people to set up a Bowl fireworks show, working nonstop from 7 a.m. until nearly show time. For an elaborate blowout like the three-day "Ball at the Bowl With the L.A. Dodgers," which concludes Friday, the crew will have to return each night to reload. A minimum of 16 crew members is needed to work a show. Over the years, Elias' crews at the Hollywood Bowl have included actors, teachers, special-effects artists, engineers, physicians - even other attorneys. This summer will mark the first full season that Elias' son Jacob - who turned 18 at the end of the 2007 season - will be part of the crew. Elias - who teaches both beginning pyro and fire safety - pairs pyro newbies with more experienced crew members, and he says he can have the first-timers working after a single day of training. The more creative-minded an aspiring pyrotechnician, the better, says Elias. "This show is quite theatrical," says Elias. "We're working in extremely close proximity to the audience." Women make especially strong crew members, says Elias, who was among the first pyrotechnicians to bring females into what had been a largely male-dominated industry. "They have good hand-eye coordination, small hands and good balance," says Elias. "They don't usually come with any bad fireworks habits." When the subject of mishaps and injuries is approached, Elias knocks on wood before reporting that the "casualties" over a 30-year career have consisted largely of splinters and sunburns. One crew member pinched the fleshy part of his finger between two pipes after he neglected to wear the gloves that had been provided. "He said, `Oh, they were on the ground, and I didn't want to bend over to pick them up,"' recalls Elias. "(I said) `Here's a Band-Aid, and I don't feel sorry for you.' "We are very, very careful," he continues. "I have to worry about people getting enough water, seeing who's a little woozy, finding them some shade and taking them away from heights." As long as his crew members take their duties as seriously as their leader does, everyone gets along fine. "I tell them, `I'll help you learn this stuff, and if I don't get you on my crew, I'll get you on someone else's,"' Elias says, adding, "`If you mess up, I'll have you blacklisted. No pyrotechnician in the Western United States will touch you.' "I take very seriously the responsibility I assume, for my crew, for the public and for this very nice building they put up for me," he continues. "When the fire inspectors come, I say, `Here's the deal: I am not going to be the man who burned down Hollywood."'
Evan Henerson (818) 713-3651 LOS ANGELES FIREWORKS LISTINGS
July Fourth Fireworks Spectacular: A Ball at the Bowl With the L.A. Dodgers Celebrate the country's birthday and America's favorite pastime as the Dodgers celebrate their 50th anniversary in Los Angeles. The event includes a performance by Randy Newman, classic baseball music and fireworks. 7:30 p.m. July 3-4. 2301 N. Highland Ave.Admission ranges from $10 for benches to $114 for garden box seats. www.hollywoodbowl.com. Los Angeles Coliseum Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza Featuring a state-of-the-art fireworks show by the Pyro Spectaculars. 9 p.m. July 4 at the Coliseum, 3911 Figueroa St. www.lacoliseum.com. Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular July Fourth Fireworks Extravaganza Six Flags Magic Mountain July Fourth Barbecue Featuring the American Heritage Ensemble performing patriotic music and show tunes. Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty will also be on hand. 7 to 9 p.m. July 4 on the AMC Walkway in Downtown Burbank. Admission is free. (818) 238-5180. www.downtown-burbank.org Starlight Bowl July Fourth Celebration City of Calabasas annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular July Fourth Fireworks and Fun Day Fourth of July Celebration Fourth of July Picnic and Fireworks Hansen Dam's annual Independence Day Fair and Fireworks Display Featuring a CAF vintage plane flyover, a flag presentation, live music and aerial fireworks. 4 to 9:30 p.m. July 3. Fireworks begin 9 p.m. Arroyo Vista Park, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road. Admission is $3. (805) 517-6300. www.ci.moorpark.ca.us. 11th annual Fireworks by the Sea Palmdale Fourth of July Celebration The 82nd annual AmericaFest Fourth of July Celebration Kaboom! Shepherd of the Hills ninth annual Fourth of July Spectacular July Fourth Lagoon Party and Fireworks Fundraiser Fourth of July Observance Rotary Club of Simi Valley Fourth of July Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza Fourth of July Community Fireworks Festival and Business Expo City of Thousand Oaks Fireworks Spectacular Conejo Pops Orchestra Concert Ventura College Foundation Independence Day Celebration Featuring the L.A. Pierce Symphonic Winds performing patriotic music. Concert begins 6 p.m. July 4. Fireworks start at 9:05 p.m. Warner Center Park, 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd.. Admission is free. (818) 704-1358. www.valleycultural.org.
 
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