French inventor and magic lantern artist Charles-Émile Reynaud further developed his praxinoscope into a small theatre. The Praxinoscope Théâtre gave viewers the chance to mix a range of printed backgrounds and character reels to create more sophisticated animated scenes and stories.
The characters are illustrated on black backgrounds and reflected onto scenery – printed on a separate card – via the praxinoscope’s mirror drum. Through the glass window, scenes of circus shows and horses galloping through avenues are brought to life in what Walt Disney described as a “vaudeville show in miniature”.
See the Praxinoscope Théâtre in action.
Related works
Collection
Not in ACMI's collection
On display until
16 February 2031
ACMI: Gallery 1
Credits
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ACMI Identifier
Curatorial section
The Story of the Moving Image → Moving Pictures → MI-02. Play and Illusion → MI-02-C02