The first "non experimental" 3D TV broadcast was over SelecTV, a Los Angeles pay TV system. The program was a 3D feature film from 1953, Miss Sadie Thompson, and a 3D short starring the Three Stooges (Spooks, 1953) (12/19/80).

This broadcast was made possible by a dramatic breakthrough from a new company, 3D Video Corporation. The breakthrough was the development of a working, and practical system of presenting 3D on conventional televisions.

Co-founder of 3D Video and technical director Dan Symmes co-developed a process which allowed the conversion of existing 3D films (such as those from the 1950's) to the anaglyph format.

An anaglyph is a single image composed of two (left and right eye) images being color coded, usually one cyan (blue/green), one red, and superimposed. Simple to describe, but difficult to achieve. When viewed through glasses having the proper colored lenses (i.e. cyan/red), one can see a fully 3Dimensional (stereoscopic) image. The animated 3D image at the top of the previous page is an example of anaglyph.

The choice of the colors for making anaglyphs has varied over the years (since the 1850's). In print, green/red work fairly well, but the impression looking through the glasses is that the image is overall yellow. As early as 1903, demonstration 3D films were made using yellow/blue. It was found to not only produce odd color impressions, but was very difficult to achieve a solid, "ghost free" 3D in print and film applications. We have seen a recent revival of this color scheme, though with no apparent improvement (Yellow Blue "3D").

D3 uses cyan/red (cyan looks blue to the eye), which combine the three primaries (red/green/blue) allowing a reasonable impression of color (for colored images), and a neutral B&W impression of B&W images. Perhaps most important, it is the only combination that produces the least "ghosting" and most satisfactory 3D in all media. D3 also holds a fundamental patent on 3D video produced using the three primaries (i.e., "full color anaglyph").

The first broadcast on SelecTV was B&W, which is to say the color of the original film was removed prior to conversion with the 3D TV process. The 3D color encoding could be seen as cyan/red "fringes" in the otherwise B&W program.

The primary reason for the B&W anaglyph was the "tradition" that, because of the colored glasses, a colored anaglyph "wasn't possible."

The ratings success of this first broadcast caught everyone by surprise, and SelecTV asked us to convert another film, with the hope that it could also be - in color.

The impossible was achieved, again on SelecTV, with the broadcast of MGM's musical classic, Kiss Me Kate (1953) (4/10/81). It was the first 3D broadcast in color and was again a ratings hit. As icing on the cake, the film also featured a wonderful stereo sound track, chalking up another technical first.

These early efforts were followed by several other features and shorts which were subsequently broadcast world wide.

Recognizing the true profit potential resided in the sale of the required 3D glasses, we set up our own manufacturing facilities and, over a three year period, produced over 250,000,000 glasses!

Dan Symmes left 3D Video in 1982 for, well, "creative differences." Within a year the company was in deep trouble, and in 1987, Symmes bought the assets of 3D Video from the bankruptcy court.

In May of 1987, a Los Angeles magazine program, Eye on LA, produced a half hour "3D Hawiian Swimsuit Spectacular" using our patented 3D technology, which became the highest rated prime-access program in history (18.2/28)! Visit our 3D GALLERY for 3D images from this program.

Considerable advances in our 3D processes were achieved throughout the early 1990's.

Over the years we kept knocking off firsts, such as the first commercials and first live broadcast in 3D.

In June of '91, John Wayne's only 3D film, Hondo (1953), was broadcast nationwide on an ad hoc network of 151 stations. To that date, this was the closest approach to a "network" 3D broadcast. A portion of proceeds from the sale of the 3D glasses benefited the Leukemia Society of America. The broadcast marked the first use of a dramatically improved version of our process, producing greater clarity and improved color.

Later, Michael Wayne, son of the late actor and head of the John Wayne company Batjac, decided to restore the film elements of Hondo, which had deteriorated over the years. We were involved in the complex 3D restoration aspects. The final result might be considered a work of art, and perhaps a near miracle.

This is a true, honest WEB first (1995)! A shot from a real 3D movie:

In 1996, Dan Symmes directed DIMENSION 3 to explore newer technologies. Though D3 had originally been formed in 1973 for 3D film production, the new organization is an all-encompassing "one-stop-shop" 3D provider. He recently achieved the ultimate refinement in the anaglyphic method and has given it the appropriate name of NATURAL VISION 3®. With advances in video technology, Symmes was able to get past the limitations of composite video. Many seeing the new process feel it is simply as good as broadcast video will allow. They must be right, for Michael Wayne is currently having us reprocess Hondo in the new system, aiming for a DVD release.

It should be said that the NATURAL VISION process is not limited to old 3D films. New programs, film or video, are the right way to go.

The big event in 3D history was still elusive - a true network broadcast. Dan Symmes would often say he would "love to do a network show." Well, in February '97, he got his wish. But, as they say, "be careful of what you wish for . . ." First came an inquiry from Carsey-Werner productions for NBC's top-rated 3rd Rock From The Sun. The timing wasn't right and they put the idea on the shelf for a while.

Shortly after, ABC approached D3 and considered the two processes. After some time, they came back and suggested a deal might be possible to shoot not one show, but several! Their process of choice: NATURAL VISION.

Just as the ABC deal materialized, NBC contacted D3, again regarding 3rd Rock. Apparently another "expert" had been in line to provide Pulfrich 3D (see below), but at the bargaining table he shot himself in both feet by having nothing the network wanted, and for a great deal of money! Based on our extensive experience and professional personnel, Carsey-Werner/NBC chose D3 to supply SPATIAL VISION technology.

The ABC project evolved into nine shows: Family Matters, Coach, The Drew Carey Show, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Step By Step, Home Improvement, Ellen, Spin City, and America's Funniest Home Videos (in order of production).

The primary challenge for D3 was providing enough production equipment and personnel. Up to that time, there was one camera unit. The challenge was met, and four new 3D units were designed and built in an incredibly short time. The Drew Carey Show was the first three camera 3D TV production in history. What a sight - 3D gridlock.

Jerry Hill (of Steadicam fame) came aboard as 3D camera technician, and long-time D3 associate Bruce Lane joined as a second 3D consultant.

ABC hired producer Jim Praytor to coordinate the nine shows, and was one of the primary players to make this monumental undertaking possible.

Added to the slate were short segments for ABC's TGI Friday, bringing the title count to 10.

3rd Rock From The Sun was expanded to one hour, and featured an extreme budget ($1.5 million!) for only 15 minutes of "dream" sequences. It was seen on 18 May 1997.

Note that none of the network programs were all 3D. Since the shows were already scripted when ABC decided to add 3D, with the exception of Home Improvement, the 3D segments were either the pre-title opening or tail end of the shows. Home Improvement shot the show-in-the-show "Tool Time" entirely in 3D, and is arguably the best of the bunch.

The only negative aspect to all this 3D mania is that two, incompatible styles of 3D glasses were on the market at the same time. Over 20 million for ABC, and over 15 million for NBC. This certainly confused the public, and has never happend before (we like making history, but . . .). So, people went to Wendy's Hamburgers for ABC 3D Week glasses (anaglyph), and either bought a pack of Coke's BARQ'S ROOT BEER or a pizza from Little Caesar's Pizza to get 3rd Rock glasses (Pulfrich).

Currently being planned are various programs for the international TV market. Watch our site for details as they become available and visit our 3D NEWS section for more 3D happenings.