A real performance with the Magic Lantern

The drawing on this page is freely adapted from the label on the box of a magic lantern. The lantern was made by Georg Carette & Co. (from) Neurenberg (Germany) [G.C.&C.N.], and manufactured around 1910. The type of the lantern was nr. 245/7, but the same label has been  used for other models too.

The series lantern slides ‘The Tiger and the Tub’ was published around 1905 by W. Butcher & Sons, London, as no. 514 of the series ‘Primus Junior Lecturers Series’ (8.3 x 8.3 cms. ). You can have a look at the slides here.

Please come in, honourable guest, and find a seat in the living room of a Dutch family in the beginning of the twentieth century. Close the door carefully behind you because the daylight must be shut out. Yes, you will have to sit down on the floor amidst the children because the two chairs are destined for Father and Mother of course. The eldest son, Hendrik has just taken out the magic lantern, which he was given as a birthday present a few days ago, and will now give a real performance with the brand-new apparatus.

He stands in front of the screen and, whilst telling the thrilling story referring to the slides, he points to the screen with a pointer. He would have preferred to operate the magic lantern itself as well, but since one cannot do two things at the same time, he has left this to his sister Carolina. He gives her a hardly noticeable nod to indicate when she should show the next slide. His brother Cornelis stands beside the screen and makes sure the little ones behave themselves.

Today ‘The Tiger and the Tub’ is on the programme. It tells the story of two gentlemen who are troubled by a dangerous tiger during their visit to a far away country. Fortunately a large tub is nearby. They throw the tub over the tiger and catch him. Once the tiger has slipped his long tail through a hole in the tub, they tie a knot in it without hesitation. The tiger, in panic, runs away quickly – of course with the large tub still fixed to its tail. Both gentlemen heave a sigh of relief.

When the gentlemen return to the same place a few years later, they notice to their astonishment that all the tigers in the neighbourhood are walking around with a tub fixed to the tail.

After the last slide the spectators clap their hands enthusiastically. They are relieved, that everything has turned out well again. If you would like to have another good look at the slides, just click on the box…….....