The Science Behind the Ghost

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.