Use to see these often in the nineties as a kid. Usually grocery stores would have them going to attract attention for an event or special sale. Wish big venues would bring these back instead of the smaller way less powerful led versions they shine into the skies.
Same here, used to see these all the time in the 80's and 90's as a kid and young adolescent. Used to see them in the sky while out at night especially on Fridays and Saturday nights. Even just sitting at home, where our house was, it was surrounded by all kinds stores, car dealerships, restaurants, movie theaters, etc. Didn't even have to go out a lot of the time. Would just see them in the sky just stepping outside, or even just looking out the windows. Sometimes, I'd see multiple searchlights in the same night coming from different directions from different businesses. Even have seen up to 4 or 5 of them in the night sky coming from different places and different directions in the same night just sitting at home. It was a common thing back then. Always wondered why you don't see these at all anymore. I think I read they retired these back in 2011. Don't know why though.
They use on site generators. In war time the generators were remote from the searchlights who used clouds to bounce light and illuminate the objective. Reportedly brighter than a full moon
