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 Introduction
Those of us who love stereoscopic filmmaking are also interested in its history. Our most distinguished stereoscopic cinematographer, Peter Anderson ASC, has put together the chronology that is reproduced here. It’s meant to be a work in progress and Peter and I are looking forward to additional entries (or corrections) from readers. Neither Peter nor I are historians, but we are co-chairs of the ASC Technology Committee Sub-committee on Stereoscopic Cinematography, and we’d like to advance the cause of scholarship in the field by offering an accurate chronology.
A brief overview of Three-Dimension film milestones
by Peter Anderson, ASC
1838 Sir Charles Wheatstone (England) developed the stereoscope.
1844 David Brewster (Scotland) developed the (still) photo stereoscope.
1862 Oliver Wendell Holmes (U.S.) perfected and popularized the photo stereopticon.
1886 Louis le Prince (France and Scotland) patented and built a basic motion picture camera system capable of producing 3-D images. He and his equipment mysteriously disappeared while on a train ride in France.
1890 Joseph d'Alemedid (France) projected 3-D anaglyphic still images.
1916 The Society of Motion Picture Engineers (now the SMPTE) (U.S.) is incorporated. The Society’s first president (and co-inventor of the motion picture projector) C. Francis Jenkins predicted that 3-D films will become popular if one could get away from using special glasses.
1922 Harry Fairall (U.S.) produced what is probably the first true 3-D movie "The Power of Love" in the anaglyphic stereo process.
1923 William Cassidy (U.S.) presented "Teleview" using individual handheld motorized interlocked viewers and dual synchronized projectors.
1925 Able Glance (France) filmed parts of his epic "Napoleon" in anaglyphic stereo, but deleted it from the final film.
1936 Dr. Edward Land and George Wheelwright (Polaroid Corp.) (U.S.) developed and presented the first polarized 3-D movie.
1939 John Norling and Polaroid Corp. (U.S.) produced Chrysler’s "In Tune With Tomorrow", a 3-D film for the New York World's Fair in black & white
1940 They replaced, the above, "In Tune With Tomorrow"
with a color 3-D version. 1.5 million see this film.
1940 Dr. Land (Polaroid Corp. U.S.) developed full color Vectographs.
1952 Arch Oboler and United Artists (U.S.) released the color theatrical 3-D feature "Bwana Devil". It is critically panned but financially successful. Hollywood gears up for $$$ 3-D.
1953 Warner Bros. (U.S.) produced "House of Wax" which was successfully directed by Andre de Toth, who was blind in one eye.
1952 to 1954 Hollywood produced more than 40 feature 3-D films. While several good 3-D films made, many are of poor quality. 3-D’s popularity with the audiences plummeted and thus the studios lose interest in the process.
1954 Paramount (U.S.) released the 3-D Technicolor printed feature "Money From Home" with Martin and Lewis. Other 3-D films were released on a variety of print stocks including Ansco, Dupont and Eastman.
1954 Technicolor and Polaroid Corp. (U.S.) announced a joint venture to create color Vectographic motion picture prints. However, with the demise of 3-D feature production, development is stopped.
1960s and 1970s 3-D production survived mainly in three different domains: exploitation films, experimental projects and the Russian cinema.
1975 and onward Multiplex theaters with their single projector automated projection systems replaced the 3-D compatible dual "changeover" projectors of the conventional theaters ending the era of viable neighborhood 3-D theaters.
1978 Marineland (U.S.) produced Murray Lerner's "Sea Dream". This is the first of the contemporary Special Venue 3-D productions.
1978 Dr. Vetter (Todd A.O.) (U.S.) developed his twin 65mm 3-D systems for large format 3-D filming.
1981 Anthony, Guintano and Lupo (U.S.) released "Comin at Ya!" on single strip 3-D and the studios start looking at 3-D again. Single strip over/under systems temporarily become popular.
1982 Disney (U.S.) produced "Magic Journey" for its EPCOT theme park with their state of the art 3-D twin 65mm camera systems and custom projection system. This was the first 3-D film to combine live action and computer elements in the same image.
1983 Several studios produce 3-D features. Stereovision, Arri and Panavision develop new 3-D lens systems. But, the 3-D films produced could not find an adequate audience.
1984 Disney (U.S.) produced "Captain Eo" for its theme parks. Jackson, Lucas and Coppola teamed up for a big budget 3-D project.
1984 to date Many major theme parks and world's fairs develop high quality large format dedicated 3-D films and theaters.
1990 Imax (Canada) produced the Omnimax film "Echoes of the Sun" for the Japanese World's Fair using their new liquid crystal display (LCD) Solido Glasses.
1990 Disney (U.S.) produced "MuppetVision 3-D" with Jim Henson for its theme park. This was the first 3-D film to continuously adjust the camera's convergence and interocular during filming in order to enhance the 3-D experience and minimize eyestrain and other 3-D problems. The “MuppetVision” theater was designed to make the in theater experience, the animatronic figures, live actors, additional projection systems and physical gags support and interact with the 3-D filmed presentation.
1992 Bayley Silleck (U.S.) filmed "Concerto for the Earth" in Showscan (twin 65mm at 60 fps) for the Spanish World's Fair.
1994 Sony and Imax (Japan and Canada) opened the New York Imax Theater for specially produced 3-D Imax films. This theater uses individual P.S.E. headsets which combine wireless LCD (Solido) glasses with their own enhanced stereo audio sound system. This concept soon expands large format into other Multiplex entertainment centers.
1995 Warner Bros. Recreation produces their “Marvin the Martin” twin 70mm 3-D film. This is the first Large Format Dual Strip 3-D all CGI animated production.
1996 Universal Studios opened its "T2 3-D" venue. This venue is a three-screen interactive 3-D film based experience.
1999 Universal Studios (Florida) opened its "Spiderman 3-D" interactive multi screen ride attraction. This is the first CG film show where the 3-D is actually designed to spatially track (follow) with the guests, in proper 3-D perspective, as they ride through the experience in moving vehicles.
2004 Warner Bros. theatrically released "Polar Express", a Motion Capture based CG animated film worldwide in 2-D. The CG graphics were converted to 3-D and “Polar Express” was also simultaneously released as a successful 3-D Imax film.
2005 Disney released "Chicken Little", a CG animated film in both 2-D and 3-D. The 3-D version was the first 3-D general release in the Real D digital 3-D theaters.
2007 National Geographic Films released "Lions 3-D" in Imax 3-D. This 3-D live action film was a 2-D to 3-D conversion of the 2-D live action “Roar: Lions of the Kalahari” 2003 Imax film.
2007 "Beowulf" first film released in all theatrical selection systems: Imax 3-D, Real D, Dolby 3D, and shuttering eyewear.
2008 First 3D concert films released, "Hannah Montana", and "U2 3D".
©Peter Anderson, ASC
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