Weblog 2008 News

Grand Magic Lantern Entertainment, Hastings, July 20th, 2008

Posted June 23rd, 2008

A Grand Magic Lantern Entertainment will be performed at the Stables Theatre, Hastings on July 20th, 2008 at 3.30pm.

Featuring 'Professor' Mervyn Heard and The Incomparable Marriots, music will be proved by Stephen Horne on piano and Juliette Harcourt, singer.

The show provides a fascinting and at times hilaroius peek into the world of the Victorian Optical Show.

Not to be missed.

Tickets £10, phone 01424 423221

Click to see larger poster

International Magic Lantern Festival, Washington, DC area July, 2008

Posted June 15th, 2008

An International Magic Lantern Festival will be celebrated in the Washington, DC area July 10 through 13, 2008, according to recent program announcements made by The Magic Lantern Society of the United States and Canada for its 13th International Convention.

Four continents will be represented in the programs, which recreate and examine the popular 19th and early 20th Century medium. The convention will open with a rear-projected show by the Japanese lantern troupe, Minwa-za Company of Tokyo. Minwa-za’s four lanternists and three musicians will perform at the Smithsonian Institution’s Freer Gallery Meyer Auditorium, 7 p.m. Thursday, July 10.

Additional program information can be found at:

http://www.magiclanternsociety.org/convention08.html

Professor Mervyn Heard's Latest Lecture Dates

Posted May 13th, 2008

Friday 16 May: Royal Marines Museum, Portsmouth,7.30pm

Thursday 10 July: Merlin Theatre, Frome, 7.00pm

Sunday 20 July: The Stables Theatre, Hastings, 3.30pm

Friday/Saturday 22/23 August: Nickelodeon Museum, Revelstoke , B.C. Canada

Saturday/Sunday 25/26 October: Blenheim Palace - daily shows

Saturday/Sunday 1/2 November: Blenheim Palace - daily shows

Séance de Lanterne Magique en Paris

Posted April 22nd, 2008

70e anniversaire de la FIAF,

Séance de lanterne magique,

Cinémathèque Française,

51, rue de Bercy Paris 12e,

25 avril 2008 @ 18 h

Superb Fan with Magic Lantern show illustrated is offered on ebay

Posted April 22nd, 2008

A rare French FAN circa 1900 was offered ecently on ebay.

Produced as publicity for a French restaurant (LA TAVERNE ROYALE) , it illustrates a magic lantern show with other images of clowns cooking in the kitchens. Measuring 8.8  x 12.4   inches , the fan was unsold.

Thanks to www.binetruy.org for permission to use their images.

Nice Pettibone Magic Lantern and Slides sells on ebay

Posted April 6th, 2008

A rare Pettibone lantern and slides sold recently on ebay. After some spirited bidding it finally went under the hammer at US$1814. The lantern had three slide holders, complete with images in good condition. Everything was housed in the original carte/carry case.

Thanks to auctions43 for permission to use their images.

Magic Lantern Exhibition at The Eastleigh Museum

Posted March 14th, 2008

The Eastleigh Museum, 25 High Street, Eastleigh, Hampshire (tel: 0845603635). will be featuring a display of Magic Lantern items from Society member Stan Roberts' collection. Running from March 25th to April 22nd, Tuesday to Saturdays, with FREE admission, the display will include a light box with a selection of lantern slides which will be changed at intervals during the exhibition.

New book announced on The Magic Lantern

Posted February 27th, 2008

German Publisher Fusslin Verlag has announced the availability of Society member Deac Rossell's new book "Laterna Magica - Magic Lantern Vol. 1"

With the help of many previously unknown pictures and texts, this first bilingual volume by Deac describes the history of the magic lantern up to the end of the 18th century.

The book is available through the Fusslin Verlag website.

Philip and Rosemary Banham Charity Show in Devon

Posted February 26th, 2008

Philip and Rosemary Banham will be presenting "A Magical Lantern Show with a Nautical Theme" accompanied by live music, in aid of the RNLI.

Venue: Bear Street Methodist Church, Barnstaple, Devon

Date: Friday 11 April 2008 @ 7.30pm

Tickets: £10 from 01271-342715 with all proceeds to the RNLI

The Warwickshire County Archive based at the Warwick Priory holds an extensive amount of local magic lantern and stereoscopic material under the section: "THE PHILIP BANHAM COLLECTION" which is now owned by the Archive after funding from the Victoria & Albert Museum and The King Henry VIII Charity.  This material can be viewed at the County Archive, where inspection is welcomed.  

Latest dates for The Travelling Light Magic Lantern Company

Posted February 9th, 2008

Future performance dates for The Travelling Light Magic Lantern Company shows:

Saturday, 9th. February, 2008 at the Parish Hall, Brent Knoll, Somerset, commencing 1930 hrs. This is a public show.

Saturday, 23rd. February, 2008 at The Masonic Hall, Boulevard, Weston-super-Mare, commencing 1930hrs. This is a charity evening for members only.

Tuesday, 11th. March, 2008 at Burnham-on-Sea Community Centre, Somerset, commencing 1930hrs.

Monday, 17th. March, 2008 at St. Andrews Church Hall, Burnham-on Sea, Somerset, commencing 1430hrs. A fund raiser for Arthritis Care.

Thursday, 3rd. April, 2008 at Kings of Wessex Leisure Centre, Cheddar, Somerset, commencing at 14.15hrs. This is for the Cheddar Valley U3A and the presentation will be our 'Optical Delusions' lecture with original lantern, slides and lecture notes used by the Merchant Venturers College, Bristol in 1910.

Ross Wheel of Life Slide Offered on ebay

Posted February 9th, 2008

A nice Ross "Wheel of Life" was offered recently on ebay. Dating from c.1870, it was complete and working with original glass image disc. Due to the rapidly rotating shutter disc, only one slot is necessary to create the illusion of motion when projected. The image disc rotates at a constant speed while the shutter disc spins much faster, eliminating distortion when viewed. The picture was of a "genie" popping out of a bottle top and dancing in the air.

The slide failed to meet its reserve when bidding reached US$1135

Thanks to W. Larson for permission to use his image

Victorian Magic Lantern Show Lyndhurst Friday 15 February

Posted January 28th, 2008

Stand Roberts announces a forthcoming event for The New Forest District Council:

"Chairman's Charity Dinner and Victorian Magic Lantern Show with charity auction"

The Crown Hotel, Lyndhurst, Friday 15 February 2008 6.30pm--11.30pm.

A Victorian Evening of Fun Fantasy,and Festivity

Tickets:£45 per person from Dianne 023 80285479

Nice French Optical Toy sells on ebay

January 27th, 2008

A superb boxed 19th century Enchanted Spy-Glass set, with two sets of day and night slides sold recently on ebay.

The spy glass viewer was made of Japanned tinplate and measured 6" long. It had a lens at one end and a hinged flap at the other. There was a slot for the slides and another hinged side hatch which opened to change the view from day to night. The two sets of 6 (12 in all) chromolithographic circular paper slides measured 80mm diameter and had pin pricks and coloured tissue backing. They were mounted in steel frames, and in their original packets tied with ribbon.

The packets both contained the manufacturer's A. Bouchet labels, with addresses at 52 George Street, Portman Square and 74 Bakers Street, plus hand-written lists in French (on the covers) and in English (on the inner flaps) as follows:

Packet 1(2nd Series) : Elysian Fields Paris, Boulevard of the Staliens, The Thames The Tunnel, Versailes Grand Fountain, Cathedral, Ruines.

Packet 2 (Series No 5): Temple of Peace Rome, Milan Cathedral, Burial Place Naples, Feast of Lanterns China, Tomb of Napoleon St. Helena, Tomb of Josephine Malmaison.

After some heated bidding the viewer sold for £647.

Thanks to grangestudios for permission to use their image.

Late Newton Ephemera on ebay

January 22th, 2008

A very late (1935) Newton & Co catalogue of Film Reels was offered recently on ebay. Offered together with two letters from Newton & Co to Basset-Lowke (the world famous manufacturer of model railway trains) the item received no bids.

Thanks to out-out-out for permission to use their image.

Phantasmagoria Lantern Sells on ebay

January 17th, 2008

An early Carpenter and Westley Phantasmagoria lantern sold recently on ebay. Although it appeared to be missing the lens, it was complete with original box and chimmney with makers label inside the box lid. With little interest shown the lantern sold for a mere £17.

Thanks to massies0 for permission to use their image.