lanternist

English

Etymology

From lantern +‎ -ist.

Noun

lanternist (plural lanternists)

1. (historical) The operator of a magic lantern.
   • 2005, Paul Clee, Before Hollywood: From Shadow Play to the Silver Screen, page 21:

     Nevertheless, old beliefs die hard, and in spite of rational explanations, the belief that lanternists could summon spirits persisted.

   • 2014, Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Richard Crangle, Screen Culture and the Social Question, 1880-1914:

     Lanternists first used glass slides as a surface for hand-drawn and photographic imagery and, in the 20th century, glass was replaced by 35mm film transparencies.