This work demonstrates the spectral and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) properties of a new chalcone laser dye material of 1-phenyl-3-[4-(1-pyrrolidinyl) phenyl]-(2E)-propen-1-one (4-Pone) for the first time. The absorption, fluorescence, Stokes' shift and quantum yield were obtained using different organic solvents. The energy band gap was calculated and compared with that of 3-[4-(dimethylamino) phenyl]-1-phenyl-(2E)-propen-1-one (DMAPPP). Under suitable concentrations and pump power excitation (Nd: YAG laser 355 nm), 4-Pone produced an intense ASE at 534 nm. Previously, we had reported that DMAPPP showed optical activities that were significantly better than that of coumarin 503. The results revealed that both chalcones had close fluorescence spectra; nevertheless, the absorption spectra were red-shifted for 4-Pone. Under pulsed laser excitation (Nd: YAG laser λex = 355 nm), 4-Pone produced an ASE peak at 535 nm. The most important feature is that 4-Pone has a low concentration threshold for laser action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]