4. Multiple and circular projection

4.1 Cinéorama-ballon by Raoul Grimoin-Sanson (1896)

At the end of the 19th century, Frenchman Raoul Grimoin-Sanson designed a circular panoramic cinema, for which he registered three patents. For the 1900 Paris World's Fair, the inventor developed a device combining ten synchronized projectors in 70mm film format, arranged in a star shape under the gondola. They covered a cylindrical screen surrounding the audience. His aim was to plunge the spectator into the very heart of the landscape. The show is based on a round-the-world balloon tour of major cities such as Paris, Brussels and London. Grimoin-Sanson developed not only an animated show, but also the elements to accentuate the realism of the projection, by reconstituting a balloon gondola complete with all accessories (figure...