Today we are used to seeing films and television. The pictures move quickly, with lots of colour and action.

In Victorian times, photography had only just been invented. Still pictures could be taken but it was not until the end of Victorian times that celluloid was invented, which enabled films to be shown. The main form of entertainment in Victorian times was the magic lantern.

If you went to a Victorian magic lantern show you would see photographs or drawings projected onto a large screen. If you were lucky, you might be at a show where the lanternist, the person giving the show, had a special lantern with two or three projection lenses. This would let the lanternist show effects on screen which made the picture look as if it was moving. He might also have some special slipping slides which gave the effect of movement.