John P. Dodd, the light man at the legendary Caffè Cino in Greenwich Village in the early sixties, assisted at the birth of Off-Off-Broadway and collaborated with key figures in New York's downtown world of theatre and dance. This book, illustrated with rare period photographs, recounts Dodd's colorful life and career from the unique perspective of playwright and director Michael Smith, drama critic of The Village Voice and his intimate companion in that transformative decade. Smith's personal narrative, thoughtful recollections by friends and colleagues, and Dodd's own words attest to his originality and unusual force of character. A year-by-year record of his wide-ranging work as a lighting designer confirms the importance of his theatrical art.