David Francis with one of his magic lanterns at a presentation in Lisbon, Portugal

Magic lanternists in the Victorian era had two dreams: first, to make still images move; second, to tell stories in pictures. Mixing historical commentary with period showmanship using an original triunial (three-level) lantern, presenters David Francis and Joss Marsh trace the origin and development of those dreams in the context of the cartoons, illustrated books, narrative paintings (a peculiarly English genre) and other visual art forms of the period. The program particularly highlights the importance of Charles Dickens and Victorian temperance propaganda to both lanternists’ storytelling and the early development of narrative film.

The program presents a very full range of lantern materials – from early engraved, moving, painted slides to “dissolving views” and hand-colored photographic “life model” sets. One of the sets is a baroque extension of the famous temperance story “Buy Your Own Cherries,” which anticipates the lantern’s competition with film (especially in Britain) into the 1920s, since it also involves vivid commentary and (unintentionally) hilarious songs, some of which are performed live.

Two films by R.W. Paul illustrate the stage and slide influences: A Christmas Carol (a remarkable work that even employs wipes) and a sophisticated, middle-class, and surprisingly cheeky Buy Your Own Cherries.