Photography used to be so hands-on and didn't rely on that new-fangled electricity. We could make our own emulsions, coat our own glass plates, project or enlarge using a candle or two, or even use that Brand New technology, the gas light. This electricity thing is just too difficult and will never catch on.
So, turn on the gas, pass the matches, and let's have a look at some lantern slides. These were typically 3 1/4" square glass slides, maybe even hand coloured, but could be mounted in wooden cartridges so that, with a flick of the slide gate, the picture would seem to move.
Kaleidoscope. Turn the lever to make the pattern shimmer like a kaleidoscope. We can't simulate that here, proving the premise of the inferiority of electical presentation!
Lion.
Cat.
Boy and Girl. They pop in and out.
Loose Head. Two slides side by side in a mount so the effect is exactly what you might expect.
Bonsoir. An end of show slide, so it's goodnight from him.......
There are people around who still do traditional lantern slide shows, and we've had David Gill (The Lanternist) down at ADAPS a few times. Meanwhile, fast forwarding to the present day, it looks as though that electricity thing did catch on after all. Who knew?
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