LC meets Professor Carson D. Jeffries (1922–1995), renowned physicist at the University of California at Berkeley, and an innovative builder of kinetic sculptures. LC tells CDJ about his plans for a multi-color x-y laser projection system using a krypton laser and mirror galvanometers, which CDJ greets with enthusiasm. CDJ and LC design a projector and start assembling components borrowed from high-tech firms in the San Francisco Bay Area. CDJ machines custom mounting apparatus in his home sculpture studio in the Berkeley hills.

LC, CDJ, and DT perform at Mills College Audio/Video/Laser, the first public multi-color laser light show with x-y scanning and electronic music. CDJ and LC decide to name their x-y laser deflection system VIDEO/LASER (= VIDEO/LASER I), the first of its kind. Not long before this event, the Mills College administrators notify A.J. Gnazzo and LC (in that order) that their respective employments will be terminated effective 1969 June 30.

With DT’s support, LC and CDJ receive a commission from E.A.T. to build an improved multi-color laser light show for the Pepsi-Cola Pavilion at Expo ’70, Osaka, Japan. CDJ and LC complete the system, VIDEO/LASER II, in December.

LC installs VIDEO/LASER II in the Pepsi-Cola Pavilion at Expo ’70 (CDJ is unable to attend). Expo ’70 is open March 15–September 15; 2,000,000 individuals visit the Pavilion during this time frame. Nora Cross arrives on March 13 in time to attend the opening on March 15.

Unfortunately, the Pepsi-Cola officials do not acquire an adequate understanding of the role of artist-engineer collaborations, or the innovative concepts of the art/technology installation, or the proper maintenance of the sophisticated equipment. One example was the gradual demise of VIDEO/LASER II, for the simple reason that no one affiliated with Pepsi-Cola is able to maintain it, despite LC’s careful instructions.

J. Wilhelm “Billy” Klüver (1927-2004), President of E.A.T., wrote: “On April 25 [1970], at the request of Pepsi-Cola, E.A.T. turned over the programming, operations, and maintenance of the Pavilion to Pepsi-Cola, Japan.” (Klüver, Martin, and Rose, eds., Pavilion, New York: E.P. Dutton, 1972, p. xiv.) After the close of Expo ’70, the Pavilion and its installations are dismantled.

[Brief return to Video activities] Nora and Lowell Cross travel to India, with stops in Hong Kong and Bangkok. LC is invited to be a consultant and to train staff at the first electronic music studio in India, installed in the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad (NID). Initially using an oscilloscope, LC demonstrates Video II (B) to the staff and to members of the wealthy Sarabhai family, patrons of NID, our hosts, and owners of textile mills and other enterprises, including Telerad, a television manufacturer. LC converts a 23-inch monochrome Telerad TV receiver for x-y display for additional demonstrations.

The interest on the part of the Sarabhais to have a color TV receiver converted for x-y operation did not materialize; a Philips unit (rare indeed in India in 1970) arrived damaged in Delhi. Nevertheless, the Sarabhais propose the marketing of TV sets with x-y display capabilities for music entertainment, utilizing pre-wired audio inputs. Many areas of India in 1970 did not have television broadcasting, and those that did had limited hours of programming. The plan never comes to fruition. Nora and Lowell Cross return to Oakland, CA, after having traveled around the globe.

Karen Cross is born.

LC is invited for an interview at The University of Iowa by faculty members in the School of Music, including Professor William Hibbard (1939–1989), Director of the Center for New Performing Arts (CNPA). LC is offered an appointment to establish and direct the Recording Studios in the almost-finished facilities for music (Music Building, Clapp Recital Hall, and Hancher Auditorium), and significantly, to build a new laser performance system under the auspices of the CNPA. Nora, Karen, and Lowell Cross move to Iowa City in June.

The CNPA orders the components for VIDEO/LASER III, including scanners, choppers, front-surface mirrors, a direct-vision prism, etc., and a Coherent Radiation 52G (CR-MG) mixed-gas argon-krypton ion laser. The CNPA commissions CDJ to build the custom-machined optical positioning system for VIDEO/LASER III in his home sculpture studio in Berkeley; LC supervises the design and construction of the 12-channel deflection/modulation amplifier, building much of it in his studios in the Music Building and at home in Iowa City. Kenneth Baker, technician for the UI electronic music studios, assists in the component interface and wiring of the amplifier. LC also completes the initial installation of the Recording Studios for the School of Music.

The première of VIDEO/LASER III with LC’s Electro-Acoustica for soloists, electronic music, symphony orchestra, and laser projections, during the opening season of Hancher Auditorium on the UI campus. William Hibbard conducts the orchestra; CDJ assists LC in the setup and performance of the laser projections.