A History Of The Magic Lantern - Page 1
NMLJ refers to the New Magic Lantern Journal, published by the Magic Lantern
Society
NL refers to the Newsletter of the Magic Lantern Society
The Magic Lantern
 |
The Magic Lantern is the forerunner of the modern slide
projector. It has a long and complicated history and, like lots of fascinating
inventions, many people where involved in its development. No one can
say for sure who invented the Magic Lantern. It is part of the marvelous
world of optical projection and stands alongside the Camera Obscura, Shadow
Shows and the Magic Mirror. Like them the Magic Lantern has been used
to educate, entertain and mystify audiences for hundreds of years. |
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Sturm Lantern |
Triunial Lantern 1890's |
Over the period of a little more than 200 years the Magic Lantern developed from basic projectors such as the Sturm Lantern, capable of producing small, dimly lit images to the magnificent Triunials, manufactured by such firms as J H Steward, W Butcher and Son, or W C Hughes. In the hands of a consummate showman these fabulous machines could produce huge, brightly coloured, wonderfully animated entertainments for hundreds of people.
Over the next few pages we present a brief history of the Magic Lantern
Page 2 - The Projected Image
Page 3 - The Fathers of the Lantern
Page 4 - Who invented the Magic Lantern?
Page 4a - Christiaan Huygens
Page 5 - Further developments
Page 6 - Phantasmagoria and the rise of the Showmen
Page 7 - Robertson "stole the show"
Page 8 - The Galantee Showmen or Savoyards
Page 9 - The "Professors"
Page 10 - One Day in December...
Page 11 - Some Highlights of the History of the Magic Lantern Society...
