Black lights and Black Light Posters

My sister went through a phase in the seventies when she had black lights and posters. I liked the effect and love some of the blacklight poster artwork. I claimed some of her posters when I got older. I did NOT claim her Osmond posters though. I left them to rot somewhere in a 1970s crawlspace.  I loved the glowing effect of the black light posters and still do…

I’ve bought a few blacklight posters at yard sales through the years but they are getting harder to find all in one piece. 

The black light poster has its roots in the 1950s with the introduction of fluorescent paint to the mass market. By the mid-1960s, fluorescent paints, and products found a massive audience in the psychedelic music scene. 

For a while, this poster art was considered a relic of the 60s and 70s but according to Wiki, sales have surged since 2007 and five different companies are producing new posters now. 

William H. Byler is credited with inventing the black light in 1935, and according to the University of Central Missouri, Byler graduated there in 1927 with a major in chemistry and physics. 

These phosphors are what make things glow while under the light.

A blacklight poster is a poster printed with fluorescent inks which glow under a black light. The inks used contain phosphors which cause them to glow when exposed to ultraviolet light emitted from black lights.

I’ve seen vintage black light posters go between 100 – 600 dollars online. 

If you have a burning desire to know more about black lights…go to the site below.

http://www.blacklightworld.com/Black%20Lights%20Everything%20You%20Need%20To%20Know.htm

Author: badfinger20 (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball fan, old movie and tv show fan... and a songwriter, bass and guitar player. View all posts by badfinger20 (Max)