A History Of The Magic Lantern - Page 6
Phantasmagoria and the rise of the Showmen
|
 Robertson's Phantasmagoria in a sinister disused cloister of an old Capucine chapel in Rue des Champs, Cours des Capucines, Paris. 1797 |
|
 Etienne Gaspard Robertson (1763-1837) |
Etienne Gaspard Robertson One of the most famous Phantasmagoria showmen was Etienne Gaspard Robertson (1763-1837). He came from Liege, Belgium and his real name was Robert, but curiously enough he thought an English stage name would help his act. "My family name is….. Robert. The word son is added according to usage
in the Low Countries when father and son are both living currently and
in the same place. Son in English and Flemish and soon in Dutch have the
same meaning…..I have been known as Robertson in so many places and for
so many years, that I felt that to remove the last syllable, especially
in foreign countries, would have rendered me unrecognisable." |
| Often the projector was behind a translucent screen, out of the view of the audience. This greatly added to the mystery of the show. |  |
 |
Robertson used a special lantern on
wheels, which he called a Phantascope or Fantascope. By moving the projector
backwards and forwards he could rapidly alter the size of the images on
the screen, much like a modern zoom lens. The device was very cleverly designed
to keep the picture in focus and at a constant brightness as the machine
moved back and forth. He presented his show in Paris, and later took it to Vienna and St. Petersburg. |
| Previous Page |
