The Magic Lantern Society
magiclanternsoc.bsky.social
The Magic Lantern Society
@magiclanternsoc.bsky.social
Welcome to the wonderful world of pre-cinema Big Screen Entertainment, via the mysteries of the magic lantern. Join us at www.https://www.magiclantern.org.uk
A charming donkey taking a drink during a #magiclantern show interval. Note the bird - Victorians couldn't resist a pun... #mottoslidemonday
November 10, 2025 at 8:56 AM
The amazing Oddities and Rarities Festival, this year in Ghent, Belgium...
November 2, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Lanterna Magica
Galantee Show
Do 6 November 2025
17u en 20u
Huis van Alijn Gent
October 30, 2025 at 12:18 PM
More fabulous kaleidoscopic thrills from the @MartinGilbertCollection for #chromatropethursday
October 30, 2025 at 7:36 AM
A Cthulu-inspired magic lantern lecture by TL Wiswell for Halloween at All Good Bookshop, London...
October 29, 2025 at 7:57 AM
A charming ship's bell "Good Night" for #mottoslidemonday
October 27, 2025 at 7:42 AM
At Last! An incredible new Magic Lantern Illuminant invented by the amazing Robin Palmer!

Robin demonstrated this light at the @magiclantern_society with all the lights on and sunshine outside, the projected image was dazzling
October 21, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Un petit "Bonsoir" pour #MottoslideMonday
October 20, 2025 at 8:09 AM
A reminder to all @magiclantern_society members that our Autumn Meeting will take place this Saturday, 18th October 2025, at Swedenbourg House. Details in the members' area of the website.
October 16, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Magic Lantern Society Awards 2025

Passionate about storytelling, historical media or visual performance? The Magic Lantern Society is seeking artists, performers, researchers, animators, film makers and creative writers to help bring the magic lantern to life.
www.magiclantern.org.uk/awards/
October 14, 2025 at 5:23 PM
A curtain "good night" for #MottoSlideMonday courtesy of the #MartinGilbertCollection
October 6, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Genuine triple (three-storeyed) lanterns are vanishingly rare - perhaps thirty left in the world. Many of them are in museums.

A decent alternative for showing three and four part #dissolvingviews combines a biunial (two-storeyed) and single lantern, carefully registered to exactly coincide views.
October 1, 2025 at 7:11 AM
"It gives me very great delight..." A delightful Edwardian greeting for #mottoslidemonday courtesy of the #martingilbertcollection
September 29, 2025 at 6:52 AM
A lovely chromotrope from the #MartinGilbertCollection for #ChromotropeThursday
September 25, 2025 at 6:41 AM
A classic, ruby-red "Farewell" for #MottoSlideMonday
September 22, 2025 at 6:58 AM
An unusual, stencilled example for #MottoSlideMonday, courtesy of the #MartinGilbertCollection
September 15, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Hooray! It's #ChromatropeThursday, featuring another humdinger from the #MartinGilbertCollection
September 11, 2025 at 7:39 AM
A charming late summer wreath for #mottoslidemonday courtesy of the magnificent #martingilbertcollection
September 8, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Some splendid 'artificial fireworks' from the #MartinGilbertCollection for #ChromatropeThursday
September 4, 2025 at 8:34 AM
A wonderful #homemade #magiclantern slide, presumably for something strict, like Sunday School, for #MottoSlideModay, courtesy of the fabulous #MartinGilbertCollection
September 1, 2025 at 6:28 AM
A charming lever slide of a goat and his girl. Origin unknown, perhaps it's from a fairy tale set.
August 23, 2025 at 8:20 AM
A small girl persuades a dog to pose for her camera in this 4-part #magiclantern photographic slide set
August 22, 2025 at 7:28 AM
An extremely popular (there seems to be one in every collection) but utterly baffling #slippingslide. According to Australian academic Patrick Spedding, it was a hilarious Victorian meme, used prolifically in postcards, badges and, magic lantern slides. patrickspedding.blogspot.com/2012/06/when...
August 20, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Pancks the cat investigating what is probably the most famous Victorian #magiclantern slide. 'Man Eating Rat' (aka Ratcatcher) is usually (but not always) a mechanical slide where a sleeping man (sometimes a chef) swallows rats. Thank you to @badvictorianist.bsky.social for the movie...
August 19, 2025 at 6:39 AM
A patriotic #magiclantern slide for #mottoslidemonday
August 18, 2025 at 8:01 AM