Emile Reynaud (1844-1918) was a science teacher who combined a primitive peephole viewing apparatus with a projector, and came up with strips of celluloid pictures in color, coming as close to inventing movies as anyone could. He even used perforations to advance the images. After obtaining a patent in 1889, he put on his first public show at the Musée Grévin on October 28, 1892. Between then and 1900, there were 12,800 performances attended by more than 500,000 customers. However, Mr. Reynaud brooded over the fact that by then, regular motion pictures, perfected by others, left him in virtual obscurity. One day in 1900, he took all his apparatus and slides and tossed them into the Seine. Eighteen years later, he died in a sanitarium, entirely forgotten by the world. At least we have this fine poster to remember him by, seen here before the addition of letters.
Imp. Chaix, Paris
literature: (all var but PAI): Broido, 242; Maindron, 210; DFP-II, 227; Wine Spectator, 8; PAI-XLV, 258