Kaiserpanorama 1844 - precursors of film and movie




The Kaiserpanorama is an innovative device designed to display stereoscopic images to a group of viewers simultaneously. It features a 3.75 meter diameter wooden drum with 24 or 25 pairs of viewing holes that are equipped with lenses. This device was created in the early 1880s by German entrepreneur and inventor August Fuhrmann, who named it the "Imperial Panorama".


During the mid-19th century, stereoscopes were highly sought after and widely used for viewing stereoscopic photographs. The Imperial Panorama allowed the audience to sit around the drum and view the moving stereoscopic images through transparencies on colored glass plates measuring 9x18 cm. Initially, gas was used as a source of light, but it was later replaced by electric lamps. The mechanism was designed similarly to a tower clock and was equipped with a drive.



Fuhrmann's invention quickly gained popularity, and soon hundreds of these panoramas were established in cities across Germany and Europe. Fuhrmann delivered sets of 50 transparencies to each panorama every week, featuring photographs from exotic countries and important events. He organized expeditions for photographers and amassed a collection of 150,000 images.


However, the decline of the Kaiserpanorama was inevitable with the advent of the First World War and the triumph of cinema. After the fall of the German Empire, Fuhrmann renamed the Imperial Panorama to the "World Panorama". By 1928, there were 180 such devices, but by 1939, the last panorama in Germany was closed.



In conclusion, the Kaiserpanorama 1844 was a significant moment in the history of film and movie technology. The device's ability to display stereoscopic images to a group of viewers simultaneously set the stage for the development of modern film and movie technology. The impact of the Kaiserpanorama 1844 can still be felt today, and its significance in the history of film and movie should not be overlooked.

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