In the late 18th century, the scientist, balloonist, and showman Étienne-Gaspard Robertson created a sensation in Paris with the Fantasmagorie, a magic lantern show blending science and the occult. His innovation of a rear projected image and fantascope projector, designed to be wheeled along wooden tracks, created the illusion of diminutive ghosts and goblins slowly growing into gigantic form, as if stalking toward the astonished audience.

Magic lantern performers Dawn Elliott and Joel Schlemowitz have built a working fantascope with tracks and rear projection screen, along with scores of hand-painted slides, to recreate the full experience of the Fantasmagorie.

The phantasmagoria’s eerie repertoire includes a visit to a haunted graveyard, an appearance of The Bleeding Nun (from the gothic novel, The Monk), the head of Medusa (“as horrifying as ever”), ending with a midnight visit to a Witches’ Sabbath. Elliott and Schlemowitz’s Phantasmagoria has received the Dick Balzer Performance Award from the Magic Lantern Society UK.
 

Dawn Elliott and Joel Schlemowitz collaborate to combine history, art, and performance by way of the magic lantern show. Learn more at: https://www.magiclanternexhibition.com

$16 General Admission

$12 Discounted Admission (For HHS members, seniors, students, active military personnel and their families, veterans, and youth 13-17 years of age)

$8 Children’s Admission (For children ages 7-12)

Free Admission (For children 6 years and under)

Historic Huguenot Street’s programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.