Many years ago David Copperfield used to do this illusion in which he played a video on the front panel of what appeared to be like a shadow box, and certain items that where displayed on the screen turned to reality. I'm not sure of the name but for some reason I think it was called video to life. Does anyone remember this illusion and if so does anyone have any details about it as far as who created it and who built it. I think it was an inclusive effect, being that I don't recall seeing any one else perform it. It is a shame he or any one else don't perform it any more, for it was a thing of beauty.

Maybe Tim White or Don Wayne? I'd start with Don Wayne and go from there. I'm positive he'd shed light on it. It really is a cool piece.

Mark Wilson did a similar illusion where he was on screen and an assistant stood in front of the screen. Objects were passed from Mark to the assistant where they became real instead of images. I believe he used this in some of his trade show work and at expositions. The last time I saw it was probably 10 years ago at LegoLand in California, where Mark had a theatre set up for magic. I believe the theatre has since closed or been converted to a different type of venue.

Look for a previous thread on this there was a lot written about this effect quite awhile ago.

The Czechs really developed/advanced this (invented?) and they used it at world's fairs in pavilions and in a stand alone theatres called Laterna Magica.

Tibor Rudas a show producer also used this effect extensively in his revue shows with dancers running in and out of the screens etc.

Blair

About 12 years ago I created a screen to life where a large portable screen was seen onstage. Instead of being firmly mounted onto a framework the screen was in a rectangular frame which was attached to a larger framework with a single bolt on each side. Thus the screen could pivot forward or be rotated (end over end towards the audience so the top of the screen pivoted towards the audience) entirely within the larger framwork.

Two assistants rotated the screen to show it to be just a screen with nothing behind. A video image of me in the distance in a large white room walked onto the screen, as if I was far from the camera. I turned towards the audience and then walked forward - my image growing in size as I did so. As I reached full size I brought my hands together in front of me and then pushed them apart from each other - as if I was opening a curtain. As this happened the video image of me was replace with the real me opening a spit in the spandex screen and I walked through.

It was a bit of a finicky bit of magic but a very powerful way to be produced off the top of the show. If you're interested in details pm me.

Murray

I found a reference that Mark & Nani used their version to promote Pepsi/Fritos at the '64 World's Fair.

Fred Becker has been using this effect for years

Rosebrand has some great material for this effect

Mark Wilson called it- Cine illusion. He hired me to install and direct his last version of it at Legoland a decade ago. It included a live levitation performed by Mark on screen.
Davids version was a Million Dollar Mystery seen here-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIf4yw0WWq8
Currently Curtis Adams and Adam Trent do versions with 4 screens and they jump between them. I built several parts of the effect for Curtis. His presentation includes the production of 4 dancers who emerge from each screen.
The big problem they have is that you need to hire the on-screen performers for every gig. Once the dancers know they have you over a barrel, they get expensive!

Thanks for all of the comments. Listening to all of you made me realize that though it is a great effect, it's probably to big in size and I realize now that it is an effect that demands a tremendous amount of perfect timing and you really need to be on cue. I think I'm going to just purchase the accumolater illusion and call it a day.