Cleve Wortham and his family used to get a kick out of visiting homes featured on maps of the best and brightest holiday decorations. Then his youngest child asked, “Dad, next year can we get on the map?”
Boy, did they ever.
The “Worthams’ Winter Wonderland” display, at 1582 Meyerwood Circle in Highlands Ranch, showcases one of the most inventive shows in town: 35,000 LED lights on 127 channels synched to the pulsating ebbs and flows of six holiday songs broadcast on 93.9 FM.
Their home demonstrates the high-tech trends that are infusing new life into the annual winter tradition of holiday lights. Dozens of the music-and-light extravangas are enlivening neighborhoods throughout the metro area. And yet, for every over-the-top show, there are still popular mom-and-pop operations that span the generations, incorporating homemade ornaments and air-filled inflatables.
“We started out with a star and an angel to honor the birth of our first grandbaby, Christopher, 27 years ago,” said Alice Kloewer, whose shadow box display at 4990 S. Elati St. in Englewood has received international attention. “Now we’ve got 10 grandkids and 80 boxes out there” showcasing everything from a Harley-Davidson to Hooters.
Down in Highlands Ranch, the Worthams have been building arches, stars and snowflakes since the spring. Installation began the day after Halloween.
Wortham hired Richard Holdman of Lindon, Utah, to program the animated display. Holdman’s YouTube videos and blog entries explaining his Light-O-Rama music synchronized holiday light display has captured a following among early adopters of the technology.
“We’ve got techno geeks like me who were never interested in it before taking it to the next level,” said Holdman, whose company designs, installs and programs setups for animated or static light displays.
Set-up prices for high-tech displays can range from homeowner TJ Manuello’s $1,400 system with 17,000 lights and 32 channels (or sections) of lights at 7910 S. Marshall Court in Littleton to Wortham’s set, which he said cost as much as buying his daughter a car.
Manuello spent roughly $700 for two controllers, $100 for an FM transmitter and $100 for a mini director designed to control a network of light controllers while simultaneously playing MP3 music files.
“(Holdman) has set a precedent that everyone is trying to copy,” said Manuello, who contacted Holdman to get help decorating his father’s house. “When I was younger, I remember putting on those large C9 bulbs. Then the icicles changed everything for a few years. But when we saw those holiday musical displays, it was definitely something we wanted to do.”
Lighting a tradition
Of course, not everyone needs to program their holidays with a computer. Others are happy to keep Christmas low-tech.
Longtime illuminators Dick and Alice Kloewer have passed down their love of lighting to two adult sons and their grandchildren. Their annual over-the-top display at 4990 S. Elati, filled with handmade shadow boxes, lights and a train set, is one of two displays on the Englewood block. The other belongs to their son, Ron Kloewer.
“Even though Dad’s been doing this for 27 years, it still amazes me every year when we get visitors who say they’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Ron.
Fred John, in Aurora, has been fulfilling his promise to his grandfather to continue their outdoor decorations for 35 years. What started as two strands of lights on the house has traced the history of lights, from big C9 bulbs to modern- day LEDs. It also features an antique Santa and reindeer set from Sears and Roebuck, and a handmade train set made out of wood and LED lights. Music plays softly in the background.
“One year, I decided to take a little break because it takes a lot of work,” said John, who has had his share of light- hanging mishaps, including falling off a gutter. “Then I got complaints from people saying they had brought their kids from out of state just to see my lights and were upset that I didn’t do them.”
“I do this for the kids,” said John, who got help this year from two neighborhood kids aged 13 and 10.
When Greg Hunt of Wheat Ridge moved into his new house at 4712 Dover St., he updated his wiring just so he could dedicate some extra plugs to his outdoor Christmas lights. His display includes nearly 20,000 lights, candy canes lining the sidewalk and three LED trees synchronized to music.
“I love the positive feedback I get from neighbors like the guy on the north side of my house who is videotaping my display to send it to his sister in California,” said Hunt. “I love to see people drive by, stop and open their doors to listen to the music.”
Hunt watched out his window while Paul Montoya and his family of four pulled up in front of his house.
“It’s a tradition for us to cruise around and get some nice free entertainment,” said Montoya. “People put so much effort into their decorations that they deserved to be appreciated.”
One might assume that tour buses clogging streets, blinking lights and strangers snaking through the neighorhood would be annoying to neighbors. But many of them welcome the spotlight the displays bring.
“I wish we loved doing this stuff as much as Fred,” said Drew Miles, who has lived directly across the street from Fred John’s Aurora display for two years. “My favorite thing on there is that Santa and reindeer set on top of his roof.”
Neighbor Tom Cordova did a lot of lifting and labor to help the Kloewers of Englewood have their display ready by Thanksgiving.
“It’s kinda neat because the display draws so many people to our neighborhood and it promotes this happy Christmas spirit,” Cordova said.
Wortham’s Highlands Ranch broadcast includes a message to visitors reminding them to park with headlights off, don’t block driveways, and leave room for others to pass on the street.
“If he didn’t let us know he was doing it, then it might have been another story,” said next- door neighbor Angela Reynolds. “But my kids love it.”
Sheba R. Wheeler: 303-954-1283 or swheeler@denverpost.com.
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