Reynaud was, as Porta two-and-a-half centuries before, a showman. But while he was entertaining the public with screen pictures, the efforts of Marey, Greene, Rudge, Evans, Donisthorpe and many others, including Edison, were preparing the way for the screen art and science of magic shadows. At last the valid motion picture was ready for its public screen debut.
Scientific American, 1892
THEATRE OPTIQUE of Emile Reynaud used hand-painted film to tell entertaining stories. The screen plays received wide approval from audiences in Paris.
Scientific American, 1889
ELECTRICAL TACHYSCOPE of Ottomar Anschütz was an attraction at the Chicago World’s Fair, 1893. It used an intermittent light source.
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WORLD PREMIERES
Success at last—Magic shadows reach the screen in living motion—Edison-Armat and the Vitascope—Les Frères Lumière and the Cinématographe—Paul of London and the Animatograph or Theatrograph.