The Science Behind the Ghost: A Brief History of Pepper's Ghost, The Victorian Theatrical Sensation

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 Victorian invention, diagrams, variations, calculation 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 create special projection effects, like the appearance of Tupac at the Coachella Music Festival. This book (highly 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, 8 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches, fully illustrated with diagrams of the principles, and color hardcover.

189 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2013

About the author

Jim Steinmeyer was born and raised just outside of Chicago, Illinois, and graduated in 1980 from Loyola University of Chicago, with a major in communications. He is literally the man behind the magicians having invented impossibilities for four Doug Henning television specials, six touring shows, two Henning Broadway shows, and numerous television and Las Vegas appearances.For one of David Copperfield's television specials, Jim proposed the scenario and secret by which the Statue of Liberty could "disappear." Jim has also served as a consultant for Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield and Lance Burton. He developed magic for Orson Welles, Harry Blackstone, and the Pendragons and many, many others.

In addition to his books and many accomplishments on stage and screen, Jim currently holds four U.S. patents in the field of illusion apparatus, and has also served as an expert witness in this field.

He currently lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife Frankie Glass, an independent television producer who has worked extensively in Great Britain and the U.S.

Reviews

[Matt Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Lots of great descriptions and a history you can’t find anywhere else. So glad we have Jim as a researcher and creator. What a mind!