An inquiry:
For some time now, I have been researching various esoteric types of
animation.  Starting with the patent records, I have gathered a lot of
information on the sort which involves actually moving the viewers past a
series of images (rather than the reverse, which is the usual way of doing
it).  Typically, this scheme calls for the images to be mounted parallel to
roads or railroad tracks, in subway tunnels, or in elevator shafts.   One
thing I have not been able to pin down, however, is whether any of these
ideas ever was put into practice.  A friend once claimed something of this
sort was tried on one New York subway line perhaps in the 1980's, but that
was a vague, second-hand report at best.  Has anyone ever seen or heard of
such things?  Please note that I am NOT referring to Burma-Shave signs or
similar sequential texts or to the sort of amusement rides that simply have
a display, however complicated, of traditional animation on one or more
screens (as in Disneyland) but rather to a series of separate sequential
images combining to create the illusion of motion for viewers traveling
past them.  Any leads will be greatly appreciated.  Does anyone know if
there is some sort of LIST for train enthusiasts where I could try pursuing
this?
 
--Richard J. Leskosky
 
Richard J. Leskosky
Unit for Cinema Studies, UIUC
office phone: (217) 244-2704
FAX: (217) 244-2223