Nickelodeon Theatre Gifted Praxinoscope

October 8, 2015

COLUMBIA, SC  – Frank W. Baker has given the Nickelodeon Theatre, South Carolina’s only non-profit art house film theater, a praxinoscope. The Nick will display the praxinoscope, an early animation device, and will unveil the device on October 15 at 6 p.m., at the organization’s magazine release party.

The praxinoscope consists if a cylinder and a strip of paper showing 12 frames for animation. As the cylinder rotates, stationary mirrors in the center reveal a single image in motion. Charles-Emile Reynaud, a Parisian science teacher, invented the praxinoscope in 1876.

“Since I’ve been interested in film education, and the history of film, I thought the donation of this early motion-picture device would be perfect for the Nick,” said Baker, a media literacy education consultant and member of the Nick’s education advisory committee. “Dating back to the late 1880’s, the praxinoscope demonstrates how an inventor thought of moving pictures, by creating a device that would entertain and fascinate audiences. Today, the Nickelodeon Theatre does the same thing by exposing audiences to the best in moving images, while also educating future film audiences.”

Members of the public are invited to attend the praxinoscope unveiling and release party. For more information on the Nickelodeon Theatre, please visit www.nickelodeon.org or follow the Nick on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.