In the late 1700s, many people witnessed death firsthand due to the French Revolution, leading to a fascination with la mort. But people had yet to see optical illusions of the “Fantasmagorie” caliber, or any at all! If seeing is believing, Gaspard Robertson wanted you to believe you were in the presence of the departed by utilizing optical illusions, mirrors, and smoke. Being an audience member at one of Gaspard Robertson’s “Fantasmagorie” shows would have been absolutely terrifying. Seeing ghouls and hearing them play harmonica would’ve made me an assured believer in the afterlife. “Fantasmagorie” proves that although terrifying, people have always enjoyed horror’s rush and heart-stopping effects.
Those who enjoy similar effects today tend to frequent haunted houses during Halloween or even haunted mazes. You may prefer a more immersive experience, such as an escape room. I am a fan of escape rooms, as they add the extra element of solving a puzzle while several optical illusions and sensory effects happen in tandem. If you find the right escape room experience, your heart may jump out of your chest as a closet pops open or a piano begins playing.
I will never forget my first Fantasmagorie-esque experience. I was about seven years old, and my grandmother and mother insisted I would love the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland. Not two minutes into the ride, I squeezed my eyes shut as hard as I could. I had witnessed enough after the mirrors of haggard women whose eyes followed you as you ran down the hall to the awaiting carriages. Towards the end of the ride, a voice came over the loudspeaker warning us of ghostly hitchhikers that would surely follow us home if we weren’t careful. As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw myself staring back at me through a mirror, but I was not alone. What was sitting beside me? A hitchhiking ghost.
