The dumb way ghosts were invented

This is not referenced at all in my controversial novel

Phantasmagoria is an incredible word.

Bullshit, the idea is very old. > "A shadowy semblance, and through his form glimmered the pale light of a moon half-seen." - Lucan’s Pharsalia, describing the ghost of Pompey appearing to his wife > "A figure, luminous and weightless, drifted towards them as though carried by the wind." - The Mabinogion > "I saw spirits above me on the bank... each soul appeared suspended in the air." - Dante's inferno > "Three times I sprang towards her, and three times she slipped through my hands, like a shadow or a dream." - the Odyssey > "Three times the phantom of his father appeared and three times it escaped his grasp, light as wind and fleeting as a dream." -Virgil

Can’t forget Pepper! (Pepper’s Ghost technically a *reflection effect* not projection)

I also find it funny that cartoons getting electrocuted get x-rayed as well. Definitely some early confusion about the two technologies involving electrons

The whole shapeshifting aspect of ghost lore really needs to be brought back. Ghosts in the old days could do wild stuff like trick people into marrying them or pulling sailors down into the sea. I miss that.

Not entirely true though. Here in north western Europe we have Witte Wieven/White ladies/Weiße Frauen/Dames Blances, originating from Ljósálfar (light elves in Germanic myths). These could indeed have a normal form, but often appeared as mist or mist like forms and could float.

Japan has had floating ghosts since before the Meiji period.

Oh this is a good one. Have you read this book on haunted spaces?

L. Frank Baum actually had a traveling magic lantern group that would mix this technique with live actors. It's part of the reason that Oz has a specifically unique relation to cinema and special effects.