Pyro Spectaculars
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Pyro Spectaculars is headquartered in Rialto, California and occupies much of a former World War II military airfield. The extensive underground ammo lockers on the site are used by the company as storehouses for their vast inventory of fireworks. Pyro Spectaculars conducts a series of pyrotechnics classes and seminars at this site, which are collectively known as Pyro University. Pyro Spectaculars is one of the largest and most prolific designers and producers of fireworks displays in the United States. The current President and CEO is James Souza.
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[edit] Beginnings
The company was founded in 1979 by Robert Souza, the son of Portuguese immigrant Manuel "The Parrot" Souza, who was a well-known pyrotechnician in San Francisco during the 1900s. It was Manuel's brilliantly-colored fireworks that earned him his peculiar nickname.
[edit] Specialty
The company's fireworks displays are characterized by tight musical choreography with an emphasis on medium and low-level effects such as: cakes, fountains and Roman candles, and a particular fondness for "set pieces".
[edit] Notable Events
Pyro Spectaculars is responsible for the annual Macy's 4th of July Spectacular fireworks display in New York City, several recurring shows at stadiums, and has even been contracted by film crews to design shows for movies. The company's largest film contract was for the 1998 film Meet Joe Black, which made such an impression on star Brad Pitt that he later hired Pyro Spectaculars to produce a fireworks display for his wedding to Jennifer Aniston.
Other significant shows include:
- 2004 Summer Olympics, Athens, Greece
- 2002 Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City
- 1996 Summer Olympics, Atlanta
- 1984 Summer Olympics, Los Angeles
- World Cup '94
- Statue of Liberty 100th Anniversary
- 50th Birthdays of Golden Gate and Oakland Bridges
- President Ronald Reagan's inauguration in Washington
