Eighteenth-century horror shows used rear projection and smoke to create immersive ghost spectacles

In the 1790s, audiences in Paris were terrified by 'Phantasmagoria,' an early form of immersive entertainment that used hidden magic lanterns to project ghosts onto clouds of smoke. Inventors like Étienne-Gaspard Robert, known as Robertson, mounted projectors on wheels to make images appear to grow or shrink, simulating movement toward the audience. These shows were multi-sensory experiences, often incorporating eerie music, odors, and even mild electric shocks.