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Attack of the Killer 3-D Glasses. © 2005
Jerome Holst
- 1950s - In the early 1950s, ABC was granted
permission by the Federal Communications
Commission to explore the feasibility of 3-D TV.
On April 29, 1953 the network ran a trial live
broadcast of the series SPACE PATROL in Los
Angeles at the National Association of Radio and
Television Broadcasters 31st Annual gathering.
The ABC affiliate station KECA-TV aired the show
but it appeared as only a blur unless viewers
had a pair of special Polaroid lenses.
(Three-Dimensional television attempts to give
the same depth of viewing as the human eye).
- The first "non experimental" 3-D TV broadcast
was over SelecTV, a Los Angeles pay TV system in
December 19, 1980. The program consisted of the
3-D feature film Miss Sadie Thompson (1953),
starring Rita Hayworth, and Spooks (1953), a 3-D
short starring the Three Stooges (Moe, Larry &
Shemp).
- MOONLIGHTING: Episode "In God We Strongly
Suspect" (February 1986). At the top of the show
during a teaser for that night's program,
characters Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) and
David Addison (Bruce Willis) confess that the
show was supposed to have 3-D elements in it,
but because the post office never delivered the
required 3-D glasses, the expected show was
canceled. Note: Glenn Gordon Caron, the
creator/writer on 'Moonlighting' had wanted to
actually do a 3-D episode, but the technology
didn't exist to produce a satisfactory project.
Years later, Caron created the NBC series MEDIUM
and finally had a chance to produce his 3-D
event - wherein "Allison encounters the work of
one artist, disturbing, 3-dimensional images
emerge that lead her to believe that the man
behind these alarming canvasses may have a
deadly secret."
- MARRIED WITH CHILDREN - The eighth season
episode "Assault and Batteries" (May 8, 1994)
was part of a FOX 3-D "FOX-o-rama" special. The
end credits featured Al and Peg wearing 3-D
glasses and looking at the names scrolling by on
a screen. Peg said "I don't get it." Peggy's
picture is actually seen on the box for her 3-D
glasses.
- THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN - 1996 season 2 finale.
The dream sequences for this episode were filmed
in 3D. Anchor Bay Entertainment and Carsey-Werner
later released the "Behind the Scenes - 3D
Episodes" which included bloopers, a
never-before-seen ending, a free pair of 3D
glasses and a 4 minute, 35 second feature which
shows some of the film techniques used in making
the 3D episodes as well as commentary from
creator Bonnie Turner and the cast.
- HOME IMPROVEMENT - "The Feminine Mistake" (May
6, 1997) Tool Time gets the go-ahead to create a
special 3-D effects show, featuring in-your-face
antics from Tim, Al and Heidi. Portions of this
episode were filmed in 3-D. The ABC project
evolved into nine shows: FAMILY MATTERS, COACH,
THE DREW CAREY SHOW (TDCS was the first "three"
camera 3D TV production in history), SABRINA THE
TEENAGE WITCH, STEP BY STEP, HOME IMPROVEMENT,
ELLEN, SPIN CITY, and AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME
VIDEOS.
- RUGRATS "Dust Bunnies" (September 27, 1997) This
episode was part of a special week of 3-D
programming called "Nogglevision" which was also
featured on such shows as Kablam!, Hey Arnold,
Alex Mack & Shelby Woo. Sponsored by Nick and
Kraft Foods, this special event introduced, for
the first time, "Chroma-DepthTM" (by Chromatek),
the only technology compatible for print, TV and
online. The shows could be viewed successfully
without the "Noggle-Goggles."
- SHARK WEEK (Summer 2000) LensCrafters
distributed 6.4 million Pulfrich glasses
produced by America Paper Optics with a special
patented 3D viewing system for an in-depth
broadcast of Discovery Channel's Shark Week in
3D.
For a more in depth look at the 3-D film process
and the different type of glasses used to view
the movie screens, or a list of more 3-D movies,
check out these sites of interest below:
NOTE: This article may be linked for
distribution to other Internet publications with
the agreement that you credit the article to the
author, Jerome A. Holst
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