Why Rosco Bought GAM ... And What It Means To You And To The Industry

By Stan Miller, Chairman of the Board, Rosco

Note: This was originally published as an internal memo to Rosco employees.  The interest and reaction it generated encouraged us to make it available to a wider audience.

Rosco acquired the assets of GAM Products just a few weeks ago.  Because the deal happened so quickly, this is the first opportunity I’ve had to share with you what I believe is the significance of the event and what it means to all of us.

First, this was no routine acquisition.

I go back a long way with Joe Tawil, the founder of GAM Products.  Our companies competed with each other in many product areas.  But that didn’t prevent me from having a good deal of respect and even admiration for Joe and what he accomplished in terms of product innovation. The respect must have been mutual, because Rosco was the first (and only) call Joe made when he decided to exit the business.

Joe Tawil (left) and Stan Miller at the Rosco USITT booth on March 21st, when they formally concluded the acquisition.

With help from Mark Engel and others, we completed the business details quickly and easily.  It went smoothly because GAM and Rosco had complementary goals: GAM wanted its product legacy preserved and its remarkable products to continue to be available.  Rosco wanted those GAM products to continue to be available as well – but in the Rosco style.

And the Rosco style is to insure ready availability everywhere in the world through our several hundred dealers and distributors.

GAM Products five new gobo designs

It’s going to take some time to make sure that products like GAMColor, GAM Patterns, Blackwrap, Twin Spin, etc. are readily available to customers not only in the US, but in Canada, Europe, South America – everywhere, in fact, that Rosco’s 13 offices and its distributors are located.  Business issues such as pricing, discounts, marketing and sales need to be addressed.  But I am confident that our team of managers and sales people everywhere will get the job done.

GAM Colors have been used in many unique lighting installations. Sky Light Paris used GamColor 835, Aztec Blue when lighting  two of Paris’ most famous landmarks, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc De Triomphe, for a special event.

Keep your eye on the main ball:  Rosco and its distributor network has expanded its range with excellent, tested products currently used throughout the theatrical, film and television industries.  Our task is now to make customers – lighting designers, technical directors, stage managers and film professionals – more aware of these products and how they will make their productions better.

I’m excited to be a part of this project. I hope you are too.

SM