The neighborhood movie theater was a welcome spot for rainy and/or swelteringly hot summer afternoons in the 50's. The drive-in theater was likewise a fond destination that many of us remember. One of the most amazing innovations that were enjoyed by the older members of the Boomer generation were 3D movies and comic books.
Man has always sought greater realism in the representations of the world which he has generated. It goes back to the day when a caveman would blow pigment over his hand placed on a rock wall in order to add a realistic, human touch to the mastodons and mammoths that he had drawn. By 1838, stereoscopic photography had been invented, bringing astonishing realism to tiny images viewed through a special device.
L'arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat, filmed in 1895 by the Lumière brothers, is credited as being the first 3D film. Audiences would scream in terror as a speeding train appeared to head straight for them.
Except that the film wasn't really 3D. it shocked the world with its realism, but it was just a simple two-dimensional film.
In 1915, three short films were shown in New York that were filmed using the anaglyphic process. Two camera lenses filmed two separate scenes from 2 1/2" apart. When developed, the films were given treatment which overemphasized the colors so that viewing the finished film through red and green glasses would create a seamless three-dimensional image.
That same technology was called upon 37 years later by nervous Hollywood producers who saw the future of motion pictures seriously threatened by television. Thus, in 1952, Bwana Devil was released in 3D. The low-budget film created a sensation, and soon theaters all over the US were scrambling to add the ability to show three-dimensional films.
The next year, 27 more 3D films were released, including Vincent Price's chilling House of Wax, considered one of Hollywood's greatest horror films. 1954 saw the release of the 3D Creature from the Black Lagoon, another great scary flick.
The 3D movie craze came and went in a flurry. By 1955, only a solitary 3D movie was released. Thereafter, films would come out in 3D on an occasional basis. One of them was Ghosts of the Abyss, which my wife and I watched on a rainy Florida afternoon in 2003. I liked it, she didn't.
Movies weren't the only source of 1950's 3D entertainment. Three Dimension Comics made its debut in 1953. The single issue, documenting the adventures of Mighty Mouse, sold over a million copies. Soon, 3D comic books were all over the newsstands, with the obligatory red/green glasses included as part of the package. Harvey, Archie, EC, DC, and practically all of the other major comic book publishers released three-dimensional versions of their familiar lines.
3D comics died out even sooner than films, the last one being published in 1954. Again, they have appeared off and on since then, but never in the 1950's quantities.
Nowadays, we have, for the most part, given up on the idea of ubiquitous three-dimensional media. Instead, many of us have opted for HDTV's. Perhaps not as exciting as seeing bright red blood fly three-dimensionally as many of us witnessed way back in 1953, but hey, it's nice not messing with those darned glasses!
Comments (8)
I remember Creature of The Black Lagoon but I do not remember it being 3D.
I just remember the girl wasn't a very good screamer. I know if that creature from the black lagoon carried me off I would have pitched a hit...not passed out.
But then I was the girl that would tie all the cowboys up because I was the Indian and go home and eat super leaving them all tied up.
Smiles,
Sharon
~The Baby Boomer Queen~
Posted by Sharon/The Baby Boomer Queen | February 9, 2009 4:39 AM
Posted on February 9, 2009 04:39
It's funny that you bring up this topic because just last week, the episode of "Chuck" was in #D and, yes, you had to get one of those red and green glasses at sponsored displays at the store.
Viewmaster did great work with their 3D reels using the stereoscopic system.
Posted by David S Paleg | February 9, 2009 7:45 AM
Posted on February 9, 2009 07:45
I didn't realize Creature was in 3D? But seems like I heard it was before someplace! I was to young for this fad! I have seen 3D movies, but mostly later on in life! The Smithsonian Air and Space has some neat 3D movies on space and flight on general! And of course, the Pink Floys Spectacular was all in 3D! Yes, it was the red and blue glasses which I still have. I have also seen the House of Wax somewhere along the way! I would love to see 2001 A Space Oddisey if it were ever in 3D!
Posted by Riversend | February 10, 2009 6:09 PM
Posted on February 10, 2009 18:09
Hello David...
Did you see the Super Bowl...it had 3D commercials. I watched the commercials with my glasses, but I didn't see the 3D...must be my eyesight that is failing.
Southern smiles and world peace,
Sharon
~The Baby Boomer Queen~
Posted by Sharon/The Baby Boomer Queen | February 11, 2009 12:23 AM
Posted on February 11, 2009 00:23
3d Movies are so cool!!!
Posted by 3d Movie Fan | March 23, 2009 9:08 AM
Posted on March 23, 2009 09:08
who wrote this i am doing a project
Posted by lilly | December 6, 2009 10:40 AM
Posted on December 6, 2009 10:40
Lilly, all of the articles on this website are written by its creator and webmaster, Ron Enderland.
Posted by David S Paleg | December 12, 2009 11:32 AM
Posted on December 12, 2009 11:32
Ray Zone, the King of 3-D comics, has released 3 more classic 3-D comic books for the iPad. This new version includes Jungle Adventures at no charge, a listing of your 3-D comic collection and a Comic Book Store where you will find new books as they become available. Additional comics are only 99¢. Now available are Red Mask "The Doom Trail," "Space Ace," and "Too Late For Love."
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id371523724?mt=8
Posted by Barbara | June 15, 2010 2:11 AM
Posted on June 15, 2010 02:11