What is that great book by Richard Altick? The Shows of London or
something like that...Terry Castle also has a swell essay on the subject
in The Female Thermometer.
You should also check out illustrated magazines of the period. I have
collected dozens of magic lantern stories from the Scientific American of
that period. London Illustrated News would also be worth a look, although
I think the Scientific American of that period is one of the best research
sources for magic lantern studies. It is a great untapped resource, I
might add.
Jack Judson owns a private museum in Texas. He is probably the nation's
foremost expert on magic lantern collecting and has a fantastic collection
of lanterns, slides, etc. I think he has a web site, too.
Good luck. Great subject, very underscrutinized.
Meryem Ersoz
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