Two Lectures On Theatrical Illusion by Jim Steinmeyer

Pepper’s Ghost was the remarkable Victorian invention which allowed three-dimensional ghosts to walk onstage with actors. A beautiful new edition of “Two Lectures on Theatrical Illusion,” Jim’s book combines his lectures, “The Science Behind the Ghost” and “Discovering Invisibility.” The book is the only complete history of Pepper’s Ghost, containing the full evolution of this incredible 19th Century invention, diagrams, variation, calculations of sightlines, patent drawings, and photographs. It details the developments from the 1860s to the latest uses of Pepper’s Ghost in Disney theme parks and modern concerts and stage shows. Today, Pepper’s Ghost is used to create “holograms” onstage and to create special projection effects, like the appearance of Tupac at the Coachella Music Festival in 2012. This book (highy sought-after in the now out-of-print editions) explains the important principles as used by a wide variety of inventors and performers. Included is “Discovering Invisibility,” the evolution of silvered mirror illusions, as used by the great magicians. 189 pages