The First Year of Stereophonic Motion Pictures - Blu-ray Forum

Robert Furmanek · 11-17-2015, 11:16 PM

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of Fantasound, I'd like to share my new article on the first year of stereophonic motion pictures. I hope that you enjoy it!

http://www.3dfilmarchive.com/the-fir...eophonic-sound

Zivouhr · 11-18-2015, 01:13 AM

Agreed, that's a lot of historic information on 3D, thank you.

cinerama · 11-18-2015, 12:12 PM

Too bad that the stereo tracks still exist for only a few of the 1950's 3D titles.

Interdimensional · 11-18-2015, 12:48 PM

Thanks again Bob, for another meticulously researched slice of cinema history.

It's fascinating to pore through all those old clippings and press releases. I can really get lost in that stuff. Seeing all those newspaper ads, it's hard to get over the idea that I can't just go out and attend one of those screenings. Alas!

Robert Furmanek · 11-18-2015, 01:21 PM

I feel the same way!

Anyone have a working time machine?

BleedOrange11 · 11-18-2015, 02:15 PM

Out of curiosity, which stereo tracks still survive? Only the ones from MGM movies?

Robert Furmanek · 11-18-2015, 02:32 PM

To the best of my knowledge - from that first year: THIS IS CINERAMA, THUNDER BAY, IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE and THE ROBE.

I'm still looking into the MGM and WB titles.

danoldrati · 11-18-2015, 04:28 PM

For 1953 add these
Beneath the 12 Mile Reef (fox)
How to Marry a millionaire(Fox)
king of the Khyber Rifles(Fox)
Knights of the Round table(MGM)
There are other films from 1953 that had stereo but were not in Cinemascope or 3D

Robert Furmanek · 11-18-2015, 05:24 PM

Thanks but those were all released after October 1, 1953 which is the cut-off date for the article.

There are no other confirmed stereo releases up to October 1, 1953.

This is new research from primary source materials. Other sites/articles may list additional titles that were announced, but they were never mixed for stereo. Some books and sites are riddled with errors on this period of technological development. For instance, there's a book on widescreen movies by R.M. Hayes that was published in 1988. There is so much wrong data in that book, there's a 60 page document correcting all of them. http://www.film-tech...tips/WSMC20.pdf

Sadly, the Hayes book has been used for information on-line at places like the IMDB. The myth is now fact.

That's why the Widescreen Museum and our site came about, to get the facts out there.

That being said, if you have additional stereophonic titles released in the first 10 months of 1953 with primary documents to support the data, please share. I want the article to be as complete as possible!

danoldrati · 11-18-2015, 10:15 PM

How do you find out the month they were released?
any of these titles help?
Escape from Fort Bravo(MGM)
Julius Caesar(MGM)
Charge at feather River (warner)
All 1953

Robert Furmanek · 11-19-2015, 03:51 AM

Please read the full article, two of those are listed!

ESCAPE FROM FORT BRAVO was released on December 4, 1953.

danoldrati · 11-19-2015, 11:15 AM

Sorry. I'm not helping.LOL I didn't think I knew what I was talking about????
Dan

Robert Furmanek · 11-19-2015, 01:17 PM

That's okay, it's all good.

That being said, I do need to find confirmation on EAST OF SUMATRA. Studio documents and trade journals list it as being available in 3 channel but I cannot find any confirmed bookings.

cinerama · 11-19-2015, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Furmanek

That's okay, it's all good.

That being said, I do need to find confirmation on EAST OF SUMATRA. Studio documents and trade journals list it as being available in 3 channel but I cannot find any confirmed bookings.

instereouk has this title on its list of stereo sound Universal titles from 1953/54 with an asterisk - "Those marked * seemed to have been shown in Stereo Sound, but others may also have been." The info comes from George A. Flaxman. Maybe he knows or has some ads?

Robert Furmanek · 11-19-2015, 07:53 PM

Thanks but his site has many mistakes so I would not use it for confirmation. He lists a lot of titles for stereo that were not released that way.

Unfortunately, he made the mistake of using the Hayes books for reference...

My policy is to do 100% original research in studio files and trade journals. I don't like to go by what's been written before or what's on-line at IMDB, etc. There's too much wrong information out there!

cinerama · 11-20-2015, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Furmanek

Thanks but his site has many mistakes so I would not use it for confirmation. He lists a lot of titles for stereo that were not released that way.

Unfortunately, he made the mistake of using the Hayes books for reference...

My policy is to do 100% original research in studio files and trade journals. I don't like to go by what's been written before or what's on-line at IMDB, etc. There's too much wrong information out there!

Maybe one of the sites that has copies of newspapers might have an ad for this title with stereo sound being promoted - https://www.newspapers.com/

Robert Furmanek · 11-20-2015, 01:58 PM

Thanks, I've searched on the various newspaper archive sites too!

11-17-2015, 11:16 PM	#1
Robert Furmanek Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2012	The First Year of Stereophonic Motion Pictures To commemorate the 75th anniversary of Fantasound, I'd like to share my new article on the first year of stereophonic motion pictures. I hope that you enjoy it! http://www.3dfilmarchive.com/the-fir...eophonic-sound

11-18-2015, 05:24 PM	#9
Robert Furmanek Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2012	Thanks but those were all released after October 1, 1953 which is the cut-off date for the article. There are no other confirmed stereo releases up to October 1, 1953. This is new research from primary source materials. Other sites/articles may list additional titles that were announced, but they were never mixed for stereo. Some books and sites are riddled with errors on this period of technological development. For instance, there's a book on widescreen movies by R.M. Hayes that was published in 1988. There is so much wrong data in that book, there's a 60 page document correcting all of them. http://www.film-tech...tips/WSMC20.pdf Sadly, the Hayes book has been used for information on-line at places like the IMDB. The myth is now fact. That's why the Widescreen Museum and our site came about, to get the facts out there. That being said, if you have additional stereophonic titles released in the first 10 months of 1953 with primary documents to support the data, please share. I want the article to be as complete as possible! Last edited by Robert Furmanek; 11-18-2015 at 08:05 PM.

11-19-2015, 03:51 AM	#11
Robert Furmanek Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2012	Please read the full article, two of those are listed! ESCAPE FROM FORT BRAVO was released on December 4, 1953. Last edited by Robert Furmanek; 11-19-2015 at 03:57 AM.

11-19-2015, 07:53 PM	#15
Robert Furmanek Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2012	Thanks but his site has many mistakes so I would not use it for confirmation. He lists a lot of titles for stereo that were not released that way. Unfortunately, he made the mistake of using the Hayes books for reference... My policy is to do 100% original research in studio files and trade journals. I don't like to go by what's been written before or what's on-line at IMDB, etc. There's too much wrong information out there! Last edited by Robert Furmanek; 11-19-2015 at 08:00 PM.

11-18-2015, 01:13 AM	#2
Zivouhr Blu-ray Grand Duke Member since:Dec 2011 Location:USA 4K collection:3 Blu-ray collection:127	Agreed, that's a lot of historic information on 3D, thank you.

11-18-2015, 12:12 PM	#3
cinerama Blu-ray Guru Member since:Dec 2011 Location:Florida	Too bad that the stereo tracks still exist for only a few of the 1950's 3D titles.

11-18-2015, 12:48 PM	#4
Interdimensional Blu-ray Guru Member since:Nov 2014	Thanks again Bob, for another meticulously researched slice of cinema history. It's fascinating to pore through all those old clippings and press releases. I can really get lost in that stuff. Seeing all those newspaper ads, it's hard to get over the idea that I can't just go out and attend one of those screenings. Alas!

11-18-2015, 01:21 PM	#5
Robert Furmanek Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2012	I feel the same way! Anyone have a working time machine?

11-18-2015, 02:15 PM	#6
BleedOrange11 Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Sep 2011 4K collection:20 Blu-ray collection:986 DVD collection:62 Blu-ray reviews: 44 Trading Score:4	Out of curiosity, which stereo tracks still survive? Only the ones from MGM movies?

11-18-2015, 02:32 PM	#7
Robert Furmanek Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2012	To the best of my knowledge - from that first year: THIS IS CINERAMA, THUNDER BAY, IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE and THE ROBE. I'm still looking into the MGM and WB titles.

11-18-2015, 04:28 PM	#8
danoldrati Active Member Member since:Jun 2012	For 1953 add these Beneath the 12 Mile Reef (fox) How to Marry a millionaire(Fox) king of the Khyber Rifles(Fox) Knights of the Round table(MGM) There are other films from 1953 that had stereo but were not in Cinemascope or 3D

11-18-2015, 10:15 PM	#10
danoldrati Active Member Member since:Jun 2012	How do you find out the month they were released? any of these titles help? Escape from Fort Bravo(MGM) Julius Caesar(MGM) Charge at feather River (warner) All 1953

11-19-2015, 11:15 AM	#12
danoldrati Active Member Member since:Jun 2012	Sorry. I'm not helping.LOL I didn't think I knew what I was talking about???? Dan

11-19-2015, 01:17 PM	#13
Robert Furmanek Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2012	That's okay, it's all good. That being said, I do need to find confirmation on EAST OF SUMATRA. Studio documents and trade journals list it as being available in 3 channel but I cannot find any confirmed bookings.

11-20-2015, 01:58 PM	#17
Robert Furmanek Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2012	Thanks, I've searched on the various newspaper archive sites too!

Best 3D Blu-ray Deals