Take in a Pre-Film Magic Lantern Show at the CIA Cinematheque

Thu 10/20 @ 7:45PM

Back in the 1800s, before there were movies, people came up with ingenious ways to enhance imagery, such as stereoscopic viewers, cycloramas and glass-slide projectors known as “magic lanterns,” which showed series of images that told stories such as moral lessons, historical incidents, legends and fairy tales, as well as travelogues, and illustrations of songs and poems. Those peaked in the 1890s, shortly before motion pictures started to become accessible — the first public film screening took place in 1895.

The Magic Lantern Society of the United States and Canada is holding its biannual convention in Cleveland, and members will re-create those vintage Magic Lantern shows in live performance at the Cleveland Institute of Cinematheque. It’s being called the “Cleveland International Pre-Film Festival.” Authentic 19th-century equipment will be used by the presenters, along with hand-painted slides from their personal collections.

Admission is $12; kids 12 and under are $5, and yes, the show is family-friendly.

cia.edu/cinematheque

 

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