The Golden Age of 3D!

Could this be describing today? … No!…. What’s considered   ‘The Golden Age of 3D’ was actually from 1952 to 1955!

Film-makers have attempted to create the ‘illusion of depth’ since the earliest days of film. Experiments with 3D movies as we know them—with glasses—actually started as far back as 1897! But most attempts were for novelty, or impractical, and never got off the ground as a serious format for film until the 1950’s.

Patent drawing for invention of ‘set-back.’ Patent filed in 1933, and granted in 1936 to Max Fleischer. (click on to enlarge for viewing)

When Seymour worked as an animator at Fleischer Studios in the 1930’s they were using a completely different method to create the illusion of depth. It was technically called ‘the set-back’ and was used in many Fleischer films. This process, patented by Max Fleischer, involved building large miniature sets that sat on a turntable.  Painted drawings on clear celluloid sheets were placed in a special holder in front of the set. A special camera placed in front of the holder sequentially photographed each cell … after which the set was turned ever so slightly. When projected this created a terrific 3D effect… and in spite of considerable expense, was used in many Fleischer films. A number of other animation studios developed their own multiplane process with the same goal in mind—achieving a 3D effect. 

Photo: Dave Fleischer shown with 'set-back' for opening scene of Mr. Bug Goes to Town Fleischer Studios, released December 1941. Collection: Virgnia Mahoney

An interesting thing happened to the film industry in the early 1950’s. Movies had reached a low point in attendance--- television, an increasingly popular medium had taken away the audience! Attendance in theaters fell from 90 million in 1948 to 46 million in 1951. A favorite joke in our house was of a man standing at the box office asking what time the feature started, and the box office girl asking... "What time can you be here?" In 1952, just as theaters were desperately looking for something special they could offer the public, along comes the film Bwana Devil, the first popular 3D film in what would be referred to as 'The Golden Age of 3D.' Suddenly theaters could offer something TV could not...3D!!!

Poster for Bwana Devil explaining the 3D process, 1952 (click on to enlarge for viewing)
Collection: Virginia Mahoney

Bwana Devil was made in a dual strip process, which meant it required two projectors with a special motor to properly sync the projectors,  a special silver projection screen… and polarized glasses* worn for viewing. Most films made during this time used this process. Bwana Devil was hugely popular with the public. It not only brought the audience back to the theaters—it started a whole stream of 3D films that were made between 1952-55.

During this time Famous Studios made two animated 3D films, Popeye, The Ace of Space, (released 1953) and a Casper film, Boo Moon, (released 1954). To take advantage of 3D, both films used outer space as a setting.  The Popeye was directed by Seymour, and the Casper film by both Seymour and Izzy Sparber.

Advertisement for the Trade for Popeye, The Ace of Space. Famous Studios, 1953.

Popeye and Bluto are copyright 2011 King Features Syndicate, Inc. TM Hearst Holdings, Inc.

Collection: Virginia Mahoney

I remember going to the screening of the 3D Popeye film with my dad. He got a great charge out of the fact that the opening ‘gag’ in that 1953 film Popeye, The Ace of Space--- is the same ‘gag’ that had been used in the very first Popeye film made in 1933…. that of Popeye having to cross a great chasm by tossing a rope to the other side and pulling the other side to him. Re-cycling a good ‘gag’ was very common in those days. Popeye, The Ace of Space can still be seen at 3D Film Festivals today. 

Below is the Agreement between Famous Studios and Paramount Pictures dated July 1953 stating that during the contract period of 1953-54 Famous will make twenty four cartoons that will include both a Popeye and a Casper in 3D.

Here’s a 2D copy of the Casper film Boo Moon that was originally made in 3D. When Casper arrives on the moon the tiny inhabitants treat him like Gulliver…another bit of story re-cycling! You’ll also notice King Luna is a take-off on King Bombo from the earlier Fleischer Studio's film Gulliver’s Travels.

Boo Moon, starring Casper the Friendly Ghost, Famous Studios- released 1954. 
All character images are the copyright and trademarks of their respective owners. 

However, ‘The Golden Age of 3D’ was a passing fad, brought down by problems inherent in the 3D process used. The use of two projectors required them both to be exactly in sync—but film repairs due to tears, or even a sloppy projectionist could result in the two reels being out of sync, resulting in viewer headaches and eyestrain.  Also, the process required a special silver screen best viewed from the center with sideline seating often unusable. By 1955 3D was finished, and films using a wide screen format, that didn’t have these problems, were becoming popular. CinemaScope was to be the new fad.

3D periodically re-enters our lives. Some film historians see this occurring in 30 years cycles, pointing to ‘The Golden Age of 3D’ in the 1950’s, the brief 3D resurgence in the 1980’s (Friday the 13th Part 3, Amityville 3-D,  Jaws 3-D, etc.)– and in 2008 a new wave of 3D films started up again, energized by the release of the 3D film Journey to the Center of the Earth. 

The impetus behind this most recent 3D resurgence is again related to failing attendance at the box office. Since we can all now view large screen hi-def films in the comfort of our homes. theaters once again needed something unique to lure the public back. Again, the answer is 3D… this time enhanced with additional dazzling effects. When the film Avatar came out in 2009 it was released in 2D, RealD 3D, Dolby3D, Xpan 3D, and IMAX 3D. New and improved 3D films are suddenly abundant --- though so far we’re still wearing glasses…..

An interesting end to this story……Animation historian 

Michael Sporn has a post on his blog about Larry Riley who had worked at Fleischer Studios: 

"Larry also told of a 3D process he’d developed for Paramount in the 50’s when the movies were all going 3D…Larry offered to give me the camera on which he shot these films- he had it stored in his basement. He was afraid it would get thrown out when he died. I didn’t have room for it.” 

Larry’s grandson later told Michael another collector took the camera to keep it from destruction…. hopefully this bit of history is safely out there…somewhere….

*Most 3D viewing glasses during this time were polarized, with each lens the same gray tinted color- as opposed to the alternative type 3D glasses which have red/blue lenses.

Online References include:
Wikipedia
Odd Culture
Michael Sporn Animation
For the history of many amazing early 3D attempts see:
http://widescreenmovies.org/WoddCultureSM11/3D.htm

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Here’s a Valentine that my dad, Seymour, made for my mom. Living with an animator meant we might receive a one of a kind hand-made card like this at special times. Don’t know the year for this card, but it was typical.

This is also a Valentine from my dad celebrating Popeye! Seymour was Head Animator/Director* on 91 of the 230 theatrical Popeye cartoons made between 1933 and 1957, including the very first Popeye (these figures do not include any of the later made for TV Popeyes). The earliest Popeye films were made during his time at Fleischer Studios, they continued through the change-over to Famous Studios, and later to Paramount Cartoon Studios.

Popeye, a character created by Elzie Segar, first appeared in the comic strip Thimble Theatre. Olive Oyl and her boyfriend, Ham Gravy, were the original stars of this strip. Popeye appeared as a minor character in 1929, ten years into the strip’s already very successful run. Popeye quickly became so popular he replaced Olive Oyl as star of the strip. In 1933 Popeye made a ‘test’ appearance in Popeye the Sailor, a film in the Fleischer’s popular Betty Boop series. Popeye was immediately a huge success on film and soon was starring in his own Popeye the Sailor series. He became the most popular animated film character of his day.

A number of notable changes accompanied Popeye’s move to the world of film, some of which can be seen in his very first picture. In the comic strip Popeye derived strength from rubbing the Wiffle Hen, with spinach being used only sparingly. But on film the Fleischers consistently made spinach the source of Popeye’s super strength.  Also, this first picture introduced Popeye’s famous theme song, “I’m Popeye the Sailor Man.”

Here’s a typical Popeye film directed by Seymour,  “Little Swee’ Pea,” released in 1936. Note the wonderful 3D effect that’s created through the use of a stereoptical camera process (also known as the ‘set-back') that was developed at Fleischer Studios.

"Little Swee' Pea" 7 minutes....click on video to enlarge for viewing
*All occurrences of Popeye, Olive Oyl, and Bluto are © 2011 King Features Syndicate, Inc. TM Hearst Holdings, Inc.

Anyone on staff could submit a cartoon story idea, and if it was used a staffer could earn a few extra dollars.  Here’s a story idea (below) from Izzy Klein, who in this case was in the story department (many ideas came from animators and other staff).  His story concept is so similar to the story in “Lil Swee’ Pea” that I wonder if it might have inspired this film. One can see just how thin the plot is (this is typical), and how dependent the final story would be on a series of ‘gags.’  You can click on the text to enlarge...

Since anyone could submit story ideas, some are handwritten, some typed… any form was acceptable. They’re really fun—sometime later I’ll post a big group of these ‘story ideas.’

*During the time of Fleischer Studios film credit for direction always went to Dave Fleischer. In reality, Dave acted more as Producer and Production Supervisor. The actual ‘direction’ of each film was handled by the Head Animator… who was the first animator name listed in a film’s credits.

Popeye card and Popeye typed story idea: Collection: Virginia Mahoney