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
Find a lanternist
Did you know...?
This little dancing skeleton comes to you courtesy of digital media, however, the original featured large when projected from a choreutoscope.
Pronounced cory-ute-o-scope, this was a complex mechanical device used in a magic lantern to change quickly between images, giving a projected illusion of basic movement.
Find out more and get your copy of our latest publication, The Magic Lantern Dancer: The Choreutoscope and its Place in the History of the Moving Image, edited by Jeremy Brooker, Richard Crangle and Martin Gilbert.
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