Tricking the eye was the realm of hustlers and showmen. New technologies saw the possibilities increase.
The second half of the 19th century saw enormous developments in the field of optics. Photography was popular on the fairground. Improved printing methods led to new machinery. People could have their photos taken and developed quickly. Other optical inventions meant that images could be seen or projected one after another. When this was done quickly it could make the images appear to move, simulating movement. These machines had wonderful names as caleidorama, fenakistiscope, kinetograph, kinetoscope, mutoscope, stroboscope and zootrope. They were the immediate predecessors of the cinema. Advances in printing techniques meant that advertising was more widespread and more colourful. It also showed a great variety in style.
Slides such as these were used to illustrate funny stories. These were for sale around 1900 and were sold for between 1 and 3 euros for 12 slides. Very expensive for the time.
The first pair works by a sliding mechanism. It shows a baby being forcefully bathed. The second pair used a lever system and showed a cow feeding. Quite a number of these slides were needed to fill an interesting show. Some operators actually commissioned slides to be made especially for them.
Photography was popular on the fairground. Booths like this one called Caddick’s, specialised in taking cheap, quickly developed photos. Many people had their first photos taken on the fairground.
People gape at a primitive silver screen.
A bioscope at Nottingham Goose Fair in 1909. Pat Collin’s No 2 Wonderland Show and Captain Payne’s Show were two of the most extravagant attractions ever seen on British fairgrounds. They took over £ 3000 and had a capacity of 1000 people.
Close up of Pat Collin’s Cinematograph Wonderland Show at Nottingham Goose Fair. It was built by Orton & Spooner. It had a seating and standing capacity of 1000, centrally heated seats and Royal Boxes with prices ranging from 1 penny to a shilling for a fifteen minute film performance.
A picture of Joe Caddick’s Royal Art Studio. Joe Caddick was one of the founders of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britiain. The photo’s taken at Green Carnival in Glasgow in 1900.
Picture of an early projector.