Welcome to the Magic Lantern Society
Formed in 1977 the Magic Lantern Society today enjoys a world-wide membership whose interests cover all forms of visual media and optical diversions right up into the 21st century and these interests are reflected in the Society's activities.
Our members are collectors, enthusiasts, students of film, visual media and popular culture, magicians, artists, performers, scientists and archival organisations from over 30 different countries.
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Events
The only way to really appreciate the magic is to join the show at our quarterly meetings and world class international conventions.
All events
Publications
Purchase copies of our latest publications, browse our digitised journal issues and explore our full back catalogue.
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Lantern History
An introduction to the world of the lantern from its origins to today with illustrations of lanterns, slides and accessories.
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Active Lanternists
Interested in putting on a lantern show but lack the equipment or expertise?
Browse our list of member lanternists to find a lanternist in your area
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Did you know...?
We are very pleased to announce the winners of the Mervyn Heard and Dick Balzer awards.
Mervyn Heard Award
The 2021 Mervyn Heard Award for research goes to Miguel Herrero Herrero for the translation into Spanish of the complete works of Étienne-Gaspard Robertson (2021) and for his monograph Nicromancia y Arquelogía de los Medios (2020).
Dick Balzer Award
The 2021 Dick Balzer Award goes to the 'House of Mysteries' event held in Ghent, Belgium, in April 2021. The event was a collaboration between researchers from the B-magic project, represented by Elisa Seghers, projectionist Ditmar Bollaert (son of the late Herman Bollaert) and artists Diederik Peeters, Luc Poppe and Nikolaas Martens.
Full details in The Magic Lantern, no. 29 December 2021.