I work as a professional showman and speaker / lecturer with universities, museums, festivals, theatres, TV companies and special interest groups.
Magic lantern shows
An authentic magic lantern show is a thing of beauty and wonder, with the audience being amused, surprised, thrilled and perhaps moved to tears by a Victorian ballad or melodrama. My ‘magic lantern experience’ show is the most popular but I can also focus on specific subjects such as the First World War, temperance or ancient Egypt. If you are organising an event that would benefit from a live show, please contact me. See below for talks and lectures.
Customers
In recent years I have worked with:
The Atkinson Theatre, Southport; U3As (University of the Third Age); University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN); ‘The Arts Society’ groups; Alston Hall, Longridge; Astley Hall, Chorley; Civic Societies; Photography clubs; the BBC; Wall to Wall (TV company); Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln; Bury Art Gallery; National Media Museum, Bradford; Ceredigion Museum, Aberystwyth; Cumbria Family History Society; local history groups; village halls; Gawthorpe Hall (National Trust); Probus groups; Lancaster Castle; Leeds University; MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester); Newcastle under Lyme Borough Museum; North Yorkshire County Council; Salford Museum; Salford University; Sheffield Hallam University; Speke Hall (National Trust); St. George’s Hall, Liverpool; Swaledale Museum; Fleetwood Museum; Harris Museum, Preston; private soirees ….. and more!
Event organisers who booked my magic lantern shows said …..
“It was such a great event, I can’t recommend Andrew’s show enough: we had three jam-packed audiences through the night, singing along, being moved and joining in with the very best of the Victorian Magic Lantern show. If you’re looking for a professional speaker with a wealth of showmanship, original material and great aesthetics, this ‘magic lantern experience’ is for you.”
“Andrew arrived out our village hall and right from the beginning it was clear we had a professional in our midst! The laughter started early on and the audience was very impressed with Andrew’s knowledge, music and verse which enabled everyone to fully enjoy the show. A long-forgotten time was brought back for a short time and will be remembered for a long time! “
“Fantastic atmosphere and an intriguing and completely unique experience. This felt like a wonderful breath of fresh air in a fast-paced world, the whole audience loved it.”
“A brilliant, unique, entertaining and informative evening which was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, with just the right mix of laughs and nostalgia. A lens on a world now lost to us.”
“Andrew gave two Victorian Lantern Shows in the Great Hall that were exceptionally well received by the audience, to the point that the Great Hall was full to capacity for the duration of the shows.”
“Who would think one man and his little wooden and brass box could create so much excitement! The packed audience ‘ooed’ and ‘aahd’, clapped and laughed and never was such fun had! We have re-booked immediately in order to satisfy demand!”
“Our audiences certainly enjoyed themselves. We had some lovely comments from visitors who found the shows interesting and entertaining and everyone left with smiles on their faces.”
“The visitors were so full of it …. they all thought it was wonderful. The show certainly exceeded my expectations. I loved the way the audience were involved, which is of course exactly what would have happened in Victorian days. It was particularly nice that the smallest child was just as responsive as the adults! The technical wizardry at the end was something of a surprise …. I am still trying to puzzle out how some of it was done!”
Talks and seminars
I also give power-point illustrated talks and seminars on ‘Optical Entertainments before the Movies’ to a wide range of organisations. I was, for several years, an accredited lecturer for The Arts Society.
Optical Entertainments before the Movies
For students of art history, media, film studies and visual sciences and groups interested in social history, photography, cinema and Victorian culture
Since the earliest times, artists, showmen and scientists have tried to capture real life (movement and perspective) through art and mechanical devices. The Victorians used the new science of optics to create perspective machines, persistence-of-vision devices, panoramic scenes, three-dimensional imagery and moving pictures in large-scale theatrical extravaganzas and children’s toys.
I’ve collected optical antiques for forty years and have been a professional speaker for twenty. I work with museums; TV companies; academia; festivals; Decorative Fine Arts Societies, U3As and special interest groups. This talk looks at the Victorian optical entertainments ….. peepshows; transformation views; dioramas; panoramas; zoetropes; magic lanterns; phantasmagoria shows and much more ….. that led to the invention of cinema and, ultimately, to the plethora of visual entertainments that we enjoy today.
This one hour power-point talk is a light-touch, lavishly illustrated meander through the history of optical entertainments from cave art to the birth of the movies in 1895. If required, it can be followed by a forty minute ‘hands-on’ demonstration of some of the devices.
Event organisers who booked ‘Optical Entertainments before the Movies’ said ….
“A talk, an experience, an adventure even, that took one back to a pre-celluloid era, giving an intriguing glimpse into the visual entertainment our great grandparents enjoyed. Andrew’s depth of knowledge and obvious enthusiasm guaranteed an enthralling presentation. Historical devices and optical artefacts from his collection brought additional life to the story and revealed the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Victorian entertainers and showmen.”
“The show was very informative and entertaining. Students and staff alike enjoyed Andrew’s informative presentation and being able to use some of the items on show. It really helped join the dots of the relationship between the pre-cursors of photography, cinema and where we are now with inventions like the ipad.”
“Andrew led us through the fascinating development of pre-cinema visual entertainment – described by our members as ‘delightful’ ,’wonderful’, ‘unique’ and ‘just the most unusual and interesting presentation I’ve seen in years’, followed by an opportunity to ‘look at and marvel over’ a wide range of original optical devices. ‘I had no idea there were so many’.”
“The lecture was pitched just right, and was informative and engaging. The audience found Andrew easy to follow through the fascinating history of optical illusions and magic lanterns, from ancient forebears on perspective to early twentieth-century popular and educational displays. The opportunity to handle (and to play with) the optical toys was a particular treat, from the weird and wonderful to the witty and pretty …. especially the beautiful perspective box of the Great Exhibition, which was a favourite.”
“Andrew weaves tales into his talk using surprising facts, anecdotes and humour in a way that would have made the story tellers of old envious. When you see a talk presented by Andrew Gill, you know you are in the hands of a true professional.”
‘The Arts Society’ (formerly known as NASDFAS) has a rigorous process for selecting speakers and a formal rating system for presentations. Local groups score each talk and send the information to head office. As one of their accredited lecturers, my ratings were ‘excellent’ and ‘outstanding’.
Explore this forgotten world and experience the visual wonders enjoyed by our Victorian ancestors. For further information or to discuss a particular event, project or course, please contact me.
Study days
If you have a group of people with an interest in this subject and would like to combine the above power-point presentation with a practical, hands-on demonstration, plus an authentic magic lantern show, I offer a three-part Study Day, guaranteed to be informative, memorable and good old-fashioned fun!
Magic Lantern World 