Stage shows employing recent developments in optics enjoyed much popularity, also in Lublin, at the turn of the 19th century. Such shows, full of magic and mystery, offered a compilation of lighting effects and projected images obtained with specialised equipment. Use of the magic lantern, the camera obscura, or the diorama brought drama to phantasmagorias, shows akin to modern horrors, staged in dark rooms and featuring phantoms and ghosts. Manipulated images were often combined with live acting, puppets, and sound effects.
