David M. Clark (sometimes credited as Dave Clark) served as a lighting director for Sesame Street seasons 11, 12, and 17, as well as on the television specials Christmas Eve on Sesame Street and Don't Eat the Pictures. He also served as lighting consultant on The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence. Like several of his fellow Sesame lighting directors, Clark was a lighting director for Imero Fiorentino Associates, Inc. during his time on the program.
Clark had previously worked as lighting director for ABC-TV in New York City from 1952 to 1953, then as graphic arts director for Rotondo Theatrical Construction Co. in New York from 1953 to 1965. In the latter position, he designed graphics and still photography for shows such as I've Got a Secret and As the World Turns, as well as commercials for companies including Kellogg's, Revlon, Goodyear, Colgate, and Tide.
Clark joined Fiorentino's company as lighting director in 1965, working with the company as late as 1995. Under IFA, he was also the lighting director for The Electric Company, the 1974 special Ailey Celebrates Ellington, editions of The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon, and a 1982 TV movie adaptation of Clifford Odets' The Country Girl (co-directed by Gary Halvorson, and co-starring Dick Van Dyke).
Clark won two Emmy Awards for his work, including one in 1981 for Sesame Street (shared with William Knight); Clark and Tony DiGirolamo were also nominated for their work on Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. In 1993, he was inducted into the Emmys' "Silver Circle," which recognizes those who worked in the television industry for 25 years or more. In the early-mid 1990s, Clark contributed a recurring column, "Focus on Lighting," to the magazine TV Technology.
External links[]
- Imero Fiorentino Associates, Inc. - bio, ca. 1976
- IMDb - David M. Clark
- IMDb - Dave Clark
- TV Technology articles by Clark:
- November 1992
- March 1993
- May 1993
- August 1993
- September 1994
- April 1995: page 1, page 2
- June 1995