September 30, 2021–March 12, 2024

The Path to Cinema:
Highlights from the Richard Balzer Collection

Explores how the cinematic experience we know today evolved from a long tradition of optical amusements and devices of wonder

  • Bull’s Eye Magic Lantern, Steel, paint, and glass, c. 18th century, Great Britain, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Photo by Joshua White/JW Pictures, ©Academy Museum Foundation
  • Magic Lantern, Johann Falk, Steel, paint, transfer print on ceramic, brass, and glass, 1895, Nuremberg, Germany, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Photo by Joshua White/JW Pictures, ©Academy Museum Foundation
  • Dutch Peepshow Viewer, Wood, print on paper with hand coloring, and glass, c. 1850, The Netherlands, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Photo by Joshua White/JW Pictures, ©Academy Museum Foundation
  • Dutch Peepshow Viewer with View, Wood, print on paper with hand coloring, and glass, c. 1850, The Netherlands, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Photo by Joshua White/JW Pictures, ©Academy Museum Foundation
  • Steam-Driven Praxinoscope with Animation Strips, Ernst Plank, Wood, tin, brass, paint, glass mirror, and cotton string with print on paper strips, c. 1904, Germany, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Photo by Joshua White/JW Pictures, ©Academy Museum Foundation
  • Eiffel Tower Magic Lantern, Louis Aubert, Tin, paint, steel, and glass, c. 1890, Paris, France, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Photo by Joshua White/JW Pictures, ©Academy Museum Foundation
  • Brass Lantern with Slide, Ernst Plank, Brass, wood, paint, and glass, c. 1880, Germany, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Photo by Joshua White/JW Pictures, ©Academy Museum Foundation
  • Animation Disc for Living Pictures Optical Illusion Phenakistiscope, Lebende Bilder, Print on paper with hand coloring, c. 1840, Germany, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Photo by Joshua White/JW Pictures, ©Academy Museum Foundation
  • Casler-Lumière Kinora and Reel, L. Gaumont et Cie. Wood, glass, and metal with a photo reproduction on paper and metal reel, c. 1900, France, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Photo by Joshua White/JW Pictures, ©Academy Museum Foundation
  • Wheel of Life Zoetrope with Animation Strip, Wood, metal, and paint with ink on paper strip, c. 1870, Great Britain, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Photo by Joshua White/JW Pictures, ©Academy Museum Foundation
  • L'orgue de Barbarie, etching, Edmé Bouchardon, 1737, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, photo courtesy the Margaret Herrick Library
  • Vue perspective de l'Interieur de St. Sulpice de Paris, hand-colored pierced engraving, 18th century, From the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, photo courtesy the Margaret Herrick Library
  • Vue perspective de l'Interieur de St. Sulpice de Paris, hand-colored pierced engraving, 18th century, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, photo courtesy the Margaret Herrick Library
  • Running Horse, projecting praxinoscope glass strip for animated moving picture system, Charles-Émile Reynaud, ca. 1890, Courtesy Margaret Herrick Library
  • Peacock Sciopticon, produced by the Pettibone Brothers Manufacturing Company, Metal on wood base, America, c. 1895, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Photo by Richard Balzer
  • Triunial Magic Lantern, produced by Chatham Paxton, Wood, brass, and glass, 1891, Great Britain, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Photo by Richard Balzer
Bull’s Eye Magic Lantern, Steel, paint, and glass, c. 18th century, Great Britain, from the Richard Balzer Collection, gift of Patricia Bellinger Balzer, Photo by Joshua White/JW Pictures, ©Academy Museum Foundation

Behind the Collection

Dive deeper into The Richard Balzer Collection with this short film, directed by Matthew Ya-Hsiung Balzer, cinematography by Fletcher Wolfe, music by Jason Lowrie