Projecting 3-D in 1953

[Robert Furmanek]

The next time you watch a vintage 3-D film on Blu-ray and simply insert the disc and hit play, think about how 3-D films were projected in theaters sixty-three years ago.

As Jack Theakston wrote in his excellent article, WHAT KILLED 3-D?: "Projecting dual-strip 3-D is a science. I draw the line between an "art" and a "science" because for all practical purposes, a science is based on rigid fact and standard, whereas "art" utilizes talent and imagination. In order for a dual-strip 35mm presentation to work correctly, standards must be applied and adhered to at every performance." http://www.3dfilmarchive.com/what-killed-3D

[silentbob]

Until recently when they decided to go Digital/Laser for most IMAX theatres. They too were ran mostly the same way. Remember going to see an IMAX showing of The Polar Express and it took them roughly 36 hours to put the print together. As they too had to line both he Left and Right reels exactly too each other as well with the audio track (couldn't even loose a single frame of a reel or would need to add a blank frame) Now they just use 2 projectors digital wise to get the brightness they need and provide left and right image for the glasses

[Zivouhr]

Thanks for the thread. While watching Gog 3D with the commentary, I was very interested in hearing how many theaters were projecting the film out of sync, causing some major problems for the audience trying to watch the 3D film while the dual reels weren't playing exactly at the same time. And how one or two unpleasant experiences like that made them begin to avoid 3D showings at the theaters that botched up the projection.

Great article and I like that news story about how Exhibitors needed to make sure they were properly projecting the 3D or lose audience members.
That is amazing that one frame out of sync could cause such visual strain. I'd be very interested in seeing an example of this in video form.