Introduction by Gary Forbes

A leader in the entertainment industry with over 35 years experience as a Sound Designer, Systems Engineer, Producer, and Mixer, Gene Iacono is extremely well versed in virtually all technical areas of sound design, engineering,  and production including live performance (stage), television, radio, film and recording.

Considered by many to be a technical genius, Iacono has a rich history of creating solutions for his client's complex technical challenges including waterproof wireless microphones and underwater sound recording, for which he holds the U.S. patent.

Iacono has played a major role in numerous prestigious and high profile international, national and regional events. Included are the grand opening of Universal Studios Japan, many live broadcasts of both television and radio, the Young Americans National Invitational Festival, the City of Los Angeles Street Scene Festival, and the Great Snail Festival.

His impressive client list includes NBC, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Hollywood,  MGM Grand Las Vegas,  Sea World, Captain and Tennille, and many more. Gene's extensive sound design expertise and advanced technical engineering background, combined with his cutting edge inventiveness to production solutions, has placed him among the Entertainment Industry's most sought after professionals for nearly three decades.

A resident of Southern California, Gene Iacono continues his commitment to the professional community as a consultant for audio/visual design as well as live production for both one-off events and permanent installations. Click here for photos.

Credits (partial list, 1976 - present):

    * Audio Video Design consultant for Universal Creative, a division of Universal Studios. One of three Engineers to design audio/video for "Universal Studios Japan", theme park in Osaka, Japan. In conjunction with five area Architects and Art Directors, personally directed the placement of more than 15,000 non-attraction loudspeakers in the entire park. Subsequently was selected to supervise and mix all of the Press Events leading up to the Grand Opening . FOH mixer for the three main Productions at the Grand Opening Ceremonies, including "Moment InTime," the lagoon extravaganza Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

     * Awarded US Patent No. 5,471,658, for the invention of a "Hermetically Sealed Communication System with Rechargeable Battery",  subsequently named "SWIM SYSTEM™". These systems are currently in use in Theme Parks across the Nation, such as USH (WaterWorld), MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Sea World, Busch Gardens, etc. They have been used in the production of several television segments for Entertainment Tonight, NBC Today Show, The Late Late Show with Craig Killborne and MTV's "Spring Break".

    * Universal Studios Hollywood: provided audio design, prerecord sound effects, FOH PA and TV/media audio mix for literally every press/media event during a fourteen year period for Universal. Highlights are:

Audio design for "WaterWorld a Live Sea War Spectacular" opening and press/media event for Universal Studios Hollywood. Designed and provided several nested but independent audio systems in the queue area for the staged pre-show, preceding the media's first view of the WW show;

"Jurassic Park the Ride" T-Rex Event promotional press/media event for Universal Studios Hollywood where a massive, animated t-rex was flown in by the world's largest helicopter (Sikorski Sky Crane). In addition to local PA and media-feed audio, designed and provided a dedicated 40,000 watt sound system exclusively  for the T-Rex growl, enabling it to be clearly heard several miles away, and above the very loud Sky Crane and 5 other helicopters choreographed into the event. This event was re-created in  Osaka, Japan for the USJ opening of  JPTR.


    * Composed/Produced/Recorded the original music soundtrack bed and voice-over (complete soundtrack) for the General Motors/UAW float "The GM Wizard" for the 1991 "Tournament of Roses Parade". Supervised the audio playback systems and design/alignment of on-float audio systems. The Float was awarded the Grand Marshal's Trophy and opened the parade.

    * Universal Studios Hollywood "Halloween Horror Nights": co-designed and supervised the recording of media and sound effects for show tracks. Designed and provided audio systems for seven stages, two mazes, plus the Terror Tram.  Provided RF front end for Penn & Teller.  (Provided design, performance systems, and operational supervision for approximately  85% of the 19 day event on 400 acres.)

   * Universal Amphitheater- Provided, coordinated, supervised RF front end for Barry Manilow's "Greatest Hits And Then Some" week long Holiday run.

    * Universal Amphitheater- Designed, coordinated (with USH and US Secret Service), supervised and provided RF front end for APLA's "Commitment to Life VII"  production, Starring Sarah Brightman, Lauren Bacall, Hillary Clinton, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Holiday, Dennis Hopper, Whitney Houston, Patti Lupone, Angela Landsbury, Liza Minelli, Debbie Reynolds, Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, Elizabeth Taylor, et. al.

    * Audio Design, Prerecord, and Mix Supervisor for the 1-hour television special "The Young Americans National Invitational", Starring Anthony Newly. (NBC)

    * Audio Design, Prerecord, FOH and Broadcast Mixer for the 2-hour, live television special for "The Portland Rose Festival", Portland, OR, 1986. (ABC)

    * Production Audio Design, Prerecord, Sound Systems Design for the original musical "Around the World in 80 Fun, Wonderful Days". Provided the touring sound system and audio support for the subsequent National 56-city tour.

    * City of Los Angeles "Street Scene Festival": Design, install and operate multiple audio systems (3 to 5 performance stages) for a wide variety of acts each year at the outdoor, 2-day Festival.

    * Design, direct, and provide audio, video, and lighting for Scripps College (Claremont, CA) Annual Commencement ceremonies.

    * Appointed to the Mass Media Advisory Committee, Rio Hondo College, Whittier, CA.

    * Production Audio Design, engineered and provided the sound system for the City of Los Angeles / Griffith Park Centennial Commission  "Festival of Lights". The high-fidelity audio system provided was 1.7 miles long. This has become an annual event.

    * Production Audio Design, Produced and Engineered the Original cast recording for "Radio, an Original Musical Revue", which debuted at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. Subsequent redesign of show ran one year later in Yorba Linda.

    * Alameda Civic Light Opera - Production audio design, sound system engineering and provider,  and Mix supervisor for the Inaugural Season of three book shows: "My Fair Lady", "A Chorus Line", and "Gypsy". Subsequently was elected to the ACLO Board of Directors.

  * Production Audio Design, Lighting Design - local and regional Theatre for the following  Book shows:  "Amahl and the Night Visitors", "A Chorus Line", "Bye Bye Birdie", "The Boyfriend", "Hello Dolly", "Fiddler on the Roof",  "Guys and Dolls", "Grease", "Gypsy", "Our Town", "The Matchmaker", "The Miracle Worker",  "The Music Man", "My Fair Lady", "Once Upon a Mattress", "The Man of La Mancha", "The Sound of Music", "Peter Pan", and many, many more.

    * Front of House Audio Mixer for "Captain and Tennille"  - responsible for FOH mix audio in Concerts internationally, and on live radio and television. In addition to sound duties functioned as C & T's Tour and Production Manager. Also functioned in the same capacity for "Toni Tennille" as a solo act Starring with prominent Big Bands and Symphonies, working with many of the major Symphony and Pops Orchestras in the US.

    * Designed, engineered, provided and continue to operate the audio system at Universal Studios Hollywood CityWalk "Cinema Plaza Stage". The season for this stage runs from June through New Year's. Every imaginable form of entertainment as well as Movie Premiers and press events happen on this stage.

    * Technical Director for MENC's week long Convention at Salt Lake City's Salt Palace main hall. Responsible for all production audio, video, lighting and rigging. Also responsible for all crews, production flow, and wrangling approximately 95 performances on the main stage including speeches by Senator Orin Hatch (R-Utah) and Mike Huckabee, Governor, Arkansas.

    * References available upon request.