Getting image array from PHP script

OK I am having issues populating a JS image gallery from a PHP script
The PHP script creates an array on images found in a folder
the script is here

<?
//PHP SCRIPT: getimages.php
Header("content-type: application/x-javascript");

//This function gets the file names of all images in the current directory
//and ouputs them as a JavaScript array
function returnimages($dirname=".") {
$pattern="(\.jpg$)|(\.png$)|(\.jpeg$)|(\.gif$)"; //valid image extensions
$files = array();
$curimage=0;
if($handle = opendir($dirname)) {
while(false !== ($file = readdir($handle))){
if(eregi($pattern, $file)){ //if this file is a valid image
//Output it as a JavaScript array element
echo 'galleryarray['.$curimage.']="'.$file .'";';
$curimage++;
}
}

closedir($handle);
}
return($files);
}

echo 'var galleryarray=new Array();'; //Define array in JavaScript
returnimages() //Output the array elements containing the image file names
?> 

PHP:

I need to input that array into my java script file
which is

var firstreel=new reelslideshow({
    wrapperid: "myreel", //ID of blank DIV on page to house Slideshow
    dimensions: [300, 200], //width/height of gallery in pixels. Should reflect dimensions of largest image
    imagearray:
   
[
        ["image1"],
        ["image2"],
        ["image3"],
        ["image3"] 
    ],
    displaymode: {type:'auto', pause:2000, cycles:5, pauseonmouseover:true},
    orientation: "h", //Valid values: "h" or "v"
    persist: true, //remember last viewed slide and recall within same session?
    slideduration: 300 //transition duration (milliseconds)
})

Code (markup):

I have the code working that reads the php file and changes images it is here

<script src="pics/showimages.php"></script>

<script type="text/javascript">

var curimg=0
function rotateimages(){
document.getElementById("slideshow").setAttribute("src", "pics/"+galleryarray[curimg])
curimg=(curimg<galleryarray.length-1)? curimg+1 : 0
}

window.onload=function(){
setInterval("rotateimages()", 2500)
}
</script>

<div style="width: 170px; height: 160px">
<img id="slideshow" src="pics/bear.gif" />
</div>

HTML:

but I need to input it into the array into the slide show
Hope I explained myself OK and thanks for your help

 

Usually, a good gallery would also do the slideshow.
But it seems that your reelslideshow() object doesn't, does it.
And that's what rotateimages() is here for?
Could you share a link here to see this in action?

 

do a Ajax get request to your PHP file and output as JSON array