Ulysses vocabulary

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mutoscope


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Definition:
A simple form of moving-picture machine in which the series of views, exhibiting the successive phases of a scene, are printed on paper and mounted around the periphery of a wheel. The rotation of the wheel brings them rapidly into sight, one after another, and the blended effect gives a semblance of motion.

Noah Webster. Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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[It is] compact, and the pictures are large. It is not any larger than the cover of a sewing machine. The enlarged bromide prints, measuring four by six inches, are mounted in close consecutive order around the cylinder and extend out like the leaves of a book, as shown in the illustration. In the operation of the mutoscope the spectator has the performance entirely under his own control by turning a crank which is placed conveniently at hand, and may make the operation as quick or as slow as he desires, and can stop the machine at any particular picture at will. Each picture is momentarily held in front of the lens by the action of a slot attached to the roof of the box, which allows the pictures to slip by in much the same way as the thumb is used upon the leaves of a book.

Albert A. Hopkins. Magic, Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions Including Trick Photography (1897)
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Originally the devices just exhibited simple, short, action scenes; such as trains passing. By 1898 they had already gained a reputation as porno boxes.

image relating to mutoscopeimage relating to mutoscope
image 2: Albert A. Hopkins. Magic, Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions Including Trick Photography (1897)

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Uses:
We began to follow the fortunes of individual letters. It was a most selfish and cowardly occupation, for you knew you were in no greater danger than you would be in looking through the glasses of a mutoscope. The battle unrolled before you like a panorama.

Richard Harding Davis. Notes of a War Correspondent (1897)
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A dream of wellfilled hose. Where was that? Ah, yes. Mutoscope pictures in Capel street: for men only. Peeping Tom. Willy’s hat and what the girls did with it. Do they snapshot those girls or is it all a fake?

James Joyce. Ulysses
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