The Magic Lantern Society are not intergalactic peacekeepers led by a six-pack sportin' pretty boy with a lisp, but rather a group of Victorian-era lantern enthusiasts who will converge on Tacoma in June to project imagines on walls through hand-painted glass slides powered by candle or oil lamp powered lanterns. The magic lantern was the entertainment juggernaut of the 19th century, a familiar presence in theaters, schools, churches, even homes.

Essentially, the magic lantern was a forerunner to the movie projector. Instead of unreeling spools of film, they employ mostly hand-painted glass slides that an operator inserts between a light source and a lens (not unlike a modern slide projector). 

Anyhoo, the Washington State History Museum hosts The Magic of Lantern Slides exhibit full of these magical lantern slides, projectors and advertising materials.

Still, if you see the yellow energy of fear, do run.

[Washington State History Museum, The Magic of Lantern Slides, through June 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, $6-$8, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 1.888.BE.THERE]