By David F. Rooney
Make this Christmas a memorable one by attending the Bygone Era Entertainment Society’s Eighth Annual Grand Victorian Christmas Magic Lantern Show at the Nickelodeon Museum on Saturday, December 20.
This year’s show features Charles Dickens’ immortal classic, A Christmas Carol, as narrated by Ken Jones and illustrated with 19th century magic lantern slides by Newton of London.
That will be followed by another magic lantern show — The Village Church Through The Seasons.
If you have never seen a magic lantern show you really must attend. Magic lanterns were a predecessor to film and television and were a hugely popular form of public entertainment from the 17th century until the early 20th century. The glass slides used in the shows were all hand painted and the range of effects achieved using these (by our view) primitive technologies is truly amazing.
Robyn Abear will lead the audience in a Christmas carol singalong and the show will conclude with the signature Victorian Disco Light Show — itself worth the price of admission.
The show begins at 7 pm on Saturday, December 20, at the Nickelodeon Museum, located at 111 First Street West. Admission is by donation. $12 is suggested but the amount you choose to give is entirely up to you. All proceeds will go the Community Connections Food Bank so please be generous. For more information please call 250-837-5250.
