October 11, 2025
Saturday, October 11, 2025
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Philosophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027
Co-presented by the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and the Philosophical Research Society
Magic lantern shows, a precursor to modern cinema, captivated audiences from the 17th to early 20th centuries with live storytelling performances that combined hand-painted or printed glass slides, narration, music, and sound effects. These shows projected vivid images using lanterns lit by candles or gas lamps, bringing fairy tales, historical events, and moral lessons to life. In 2021, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art acquired the majority of one of the most comprehensive magic lantern collections in the world—the Terry and Deborah Borton Collection, which includes polychrome slides, original source paintings, scripts, advertising ephemera, and gas-powered projectors.
To honor the performative spirit of the magic lantern, the Lucas Museum will present and record a live Halloween-themed show by Terry Borton, founder of the American Magic Lantern Theater. Co-hosted by the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), the event celebrates the intersection of art, technology, and storytelling, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience this captivating Victorian medium through live performance, music, and dazzling visuals. The show aligns with PRS’s mission to illuminate timeless knowledge through artistic and educational experiences that inspire reflection and wonder.
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