A group of early 20th-century lanternists—practitioners of hand-painted glass slide projections—once dismissed the rise of film as a passing trend, confident their established medium would endure without major disruption. Their optimism reflected the deep-rooted belief in the superiority of their craft, which had long been a staple of entertainment and education. Now, historians and media scholars examine whether this underestimation of film’s staying power reveals broader patterns in technological transitions. The story offers a fascinating look at how entrenched industries sometimes misjudge the longevity of emerging competitors.
Some lanternists believed that film was a fad their medium would easily survive.
