Old-school magic

THANKS to Susan King for inadvertently solving the mystery within the tricky mystery in the film, “The Illusionist” [“The ‘Magic’ Lantern Effect,” Oct. 1].

Edward Norton convincingly plays magician Eisenheim, who appears to have supernatural powers by producing ghosts and other apparitions on stage in Vienna in the 1900s. King’s description of the magic lantern, developed in the 17th century, along with the use of oil lamps and glass slides as projection equipment for the lantern, explains Eisenheim’s ability to create such illusions. The magic lantern’s effect was truly magical.

DAN ANZEL

Los Angeles