Pepper's Ghost Puppet Theater

The goal: to create a puppet theater that uses a built-in Pepper's Ghost illusion. This theater should be about the size of a photo booth, and must be easily transported and set up at different events. It also should be adaptable, so that multiple short pieces could be performed within the same space, with swappable scenery and simple tech. Importantly, of course, it can't be terribly expensive.

Links:

Pepper's Ghost:

• The Science Behind a Famous Victorian Illusion: Pepper’s Ghost
• Pepper’s Ghost Illusion: Complete Guide
• THE HISTORY OF PEPPERS GHOST
• Pepper's Ghost Research Page
• Pop Goes the Page: Seeing Spirits
• Genii Forum: Pepper's Ghost

People who said they made one, but I haven't found any photos or video: (however, these are most likley digital versions)

• The Garage of Terror
• An Unorthodox Halloween

Concept/Initial Musings:

I am setting out to make a Pepper's Ghost illusion of my own. The only issue is, the majority of how-to's focus only on creating the illusion using a screen or projected image. In fact, if you looked through any of the above links, you'll find that there is a complete full stop between the old fashioned analog creations of the late Victorian, and the modern use of screens in the illusion. Is nobody using the analog form? Well someone is, of course, Disney's Haunted Mansion features a incredibly impressive ballroom scene! But that's... kinda it? Future research - weeding out these digital imposters - leaves just a handful of small gimicky parlor tricks and educational models. Nothing near the size of the theatrical spectacle that it once was.

So there's my inspiration: to do what no one else would. But also my issue: there was no one to follow. Just a handful of concepts and sketches that could bring unexpected challenges when scaling up into a live performance venue - even one built for puppet players. So I'm venturing out into new territory here, but I hope this log will provide some good inspiration in case anyone plans to follow in my footsteps.

Side note: I do love how the Haunted Mansion ghosts look. I love the bright colors and stark, blueish-green shading that were designed specifically to show up well during the effect. They also look very uncanny when seen in normal lighting. I used this style as inspiration for my character Marlo's makeup and costume design, as well as my King Lear puppet.

Once I have the theater finished, I'll need to have the same styles in mind when it comes to designing the puppets. They'll have to be made specifically for the Pepper's Ghost. What I've discovered through early experiments is that you can actually have too much light - that is, the reflection works too well and you can't see the background through the reflected figure. So a lower level of light is needed to sell the effect, but this means that the subjects need those bright colors and stark shading to be dicernable. I'm sure that that's pretty obvious, and most people would go with that style anyway to sell the ghostly mood, but the practical reason is important to keep in mind. I struggled with the visibility of characters with more muted tones.

My end goal for this theater is to take it to night markets, theater lobbies, places like Maker Faire, and anywhere else that people can enjoy it. Because of the limited sightlines needed to really sell the illusion - as well as the possible light leak leading towards the need for a curtain around/over the audience - it's likley that only 1-3 people will be able to view it at a time. So my goal is to create a space to host 5-8 minute pieces and frame it as a bit of a sideshow attraction, likley charging very little if not just asking for donations, in a low-key environment where people can casually wait their turn. Preferably with a barker/host to manage crowds, and a couple puppeteers hiding underneath.

That's another important note. For it to be reasonably comfortable for the puppeteers.

Some more heated thoughts:

It surprises me just how little this illusion is made these days using the analog form. It's not expensive to make in a medium to small scale, and just takes some careful adjusting of sight lines. I think at this point, many people associate it entirely with Disney, and that makes me irrationally sad. Why should they have the monopoly on cool effects? Especially ones that were already a century old when Haunted Mansion was built? My point being, people associate it with these huge expensive projects, when in reality it's a very simple process. It deserves to be demistified.

I also just don't really like Disney, and try to avoid supporting them.

This first test was created in October of 2023 after my initial interest in the concept.

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This second test model was created in October of 2024, when my interest in the illusion suddenly came crashing back.