People who care about stage lighting know that they need a large amount of light with a very directed beam.  Not only that, they need to have the capability of dimming to achieve special effects or moods in a production. 500PAR56 have been used for many decades and provide the light in several different beam spreads.  These are not a halogen bulb as many people think, rather they have a standard incandescent filament.  The beam spreads range from wide flood, medium flood and narrow spot and these have a mogul end prong base. 

The 500PAR56 light bulbs are specialized bulbs that are not generally used in everyday applications. You can tell what kind of PAR lamp you have by measuring the distance across the widest point of the bulb. The number after 'PAR' shows the number of eighths of an inch in diameter the bulb is. Therefore, 500PAR56 lamps are 7 inches across. Sylvania, Philips, and GE offer 500PAR56 lamps. They have bases mogul end prong. The best way to describe how this base type works is to say you simple push the bulb into the socket, and it fits into the fixture and stays in place without twisting. It's a heavy prong base, and it's very sturdy. 

You can get the bulb in several beam spreads. The names for the spreads are as follows: NSP (narrow spot), MFL (medium flood), and WFL (wide flood).  The general category or PAR56 lamps come wattages of 120, 200, 300 and even 500 watt versions. The 120 volt is the most common by far and the low voltage is for special types of lighting.  The most common use item seems to be the 500PAR56/MFL or medium flood.  It gives a directed beam but also doubles well for flood lighting.  The ability to do both is something that makes this lamp good for most people who care about lighting for stage applications.  This is especially true when it comes to small stages in a school or gymnasium, they need the flexibility that the 500PAR56/MFL offers them.

Thanks to their size, unusual base, and distinct wattage offerings, the bulbs are not typical in your local lighting shop. Still, there is a place for the 500PAR56; since they are made for stage lighting most specifically, the items shown under this light will be highlighted with a lot of light or any variation that dimming offers. It's truly a versatile light, but it has to be when it is used for lighting effects.  If you have any questions about these lamps, we can help, we know that you want to make sure to get the right one.  If you need help identifying a bulb, our customer service representatives can help you determine what you have.