foam runnees

Magic lantern theater, also known as a magic lantern show or a phantasmagoria, was a popular form of entertainment in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was a precursor to modern cinema and involved the use of a magic lantern, a device that projected hand-painted or photographic slides onto a screen. The magic lantern itself was an early type of image projector that used a light source, such as a candle or oil lamp, to project an image onto a translucent screen. The image was created by placing a slide with a hand-painted or photographic image inside the lantern and illuminating it with the light source. The projected image could be enlarged or reduced in size by moving the slide closer to or further away from the light source. Magic lantern shows were typically performed by a showman who would narrate the story depicted in the images and manipulate the slides to create various effects.

The world’s greatest magicians from the Middle Ages to the 1950s

Once persecuted as heretics and sorcerers, magicians have always been conduits to a parallel universe of limitless possibility whether invoking spirits, reading minds, or inverting the laws of nature by sleight of hand. Once persecuted as heretics and sorcerers, magicians have always been conduits to a parallel universe of limitless possibility whether invoking spirits, reading minds, or inverting the laws of nature by sleight of hand.

Magic lantern shows were typically performed by a showman who would narrate the story depicted in the images and manipulate the slides to create various effects. Some showmen used multiple lanterns to create a sense of movement by projecting different images in quick succession. They also used accessories such as colored filters, mechanical slides, and movable figures to enhance the visual effects.

The magic booms

Art of Enchantment

The world’s greatest magicians from the Middle Ages to the 1950s

Magic has enchanted humankind for millennia, evoking terror, laughter, shock, and amazement. Once persecuted as heretics and sorcerers, magicians have always been conduits to a parallel universe of limitless possibility—whether invoking spirits, reading minds, or inverting the laws of nature by sleight of hand. Long before science fiction, virtual realities, video games, and the Internet, the craft of magic was the most powerful fantasy world man had ever known. As the pioneers of special effects throughout history, magicians have never ceased to mystify us by making the impossible possible.

This book celebrates more than 500 years of the stunning visual culture of the world’s greatest magicians. Featuring more than 750 rarely seen vintage posters, photographs, handbills, and engravings as well as paintings by Hieronymus Bosch and Bruegel among others, The Magic Book traces the history of magic as a performing art from the 1400s to the 1950s. Combining sensational images with incisive text, the book explores the evolution of the magicians’ craft, from medieval street performers to the brilliant stage magicians who gave rise to cinematic special effects; from the 19th century’s golden age of magic to groundbreaking daredevils like Houdini and the early 20th century’s vaudevillians.

The authors

Jim Steinmeyer is the author of many books on magic history and practice, including Los Angeles Times best seller Hiding the Elephant (2004) and The Glorious Deception (2006). He has created deceptions featured by magicians such as Doug Henning, David Copperfield, and Siegfried and Roy, and critically acclaimed illusions for Broadway hits Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, and Into the Woods.

Mike Caveney is a writer, collector, professional magician, and the publisher of over 50 books on the theory, practice, and history of magic. His biographical works include Kellar’s Wonders (2003) with Bill Miesel, and Carter the Great (1995). An avid collector and performer for over four decades, he has appeared onstage or on TV in more than 20 countries.

The contributing author

Ricky Jay, who has contributed the introduction to this book, is one of the world's great sleight of hand artists, and a distinguished actor, historian, and best-selling author. His Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women and Jay’s Journal of Anomalies were both New York Times "Notable Books of the Year," and he defined the terms of his art for The Cambridge Guide to American Theatre and Encyclopedia Britannica.

The editor

Noel Daniel is a graduate of Princeton University and a former Fulbright Scholar to Berlin. Her TASCHEN publications include TATTOO 1730s-1950s, Kay Nielsen’s A Thousand and One Nights and East of the Sun and West of the Moon, The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, Wintertime Tales, Magic, and The Circus.

Art of Enchantment

The themes of magic lantern shows varied widely, ranging from educational lectures to dramatic performances and horror shows. One popular type of show was the phantasmagoria, which used special effects to create ghostly apparitions and other supernatural phenomena. These shows often featured illusions, such as projected images that appeared to move or transform, or live actors who interacted with the projected images. Magic lantern theater was a highly visual medium that captivated audiences with its combination of storytelling, visual effects, and live performance. It was a precursor to modern cinema and played an important role in the development of popular entertainment. Despite being overshadowed by technological advancements, the magic lantern remains an important part of the history of visual entertainment..

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