There’s nothing quite like seeing a vintage 3D movie on the big screen. Sure, we have plenty of movies released in 3D here in the 21st century. But back in the 1950s (and even much earlier) the 3D movie was a taste of the future. Which is why I’m pretty excited for a little festival in Hollywood that starts next week.
https://gizmodo.com/there-were-plans-for-3d-movies-even-before-there-were-t-511192939
Starting September 5th the 3D Film Expo opens at the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The festival (previously held in 2003 and 2006) includes some fantastic films, along with what sounds like some very cool lectures. A clip show and lecture on European 3D movies from the 1930s until the 1950s? Sign me up!
The festival includes everything from Westerns like John Wayne’s Hondo, to classic campy monster movies like Robot Monster (poster above). There’s even some softcore 3D porn if that’s your thing. Personally, the 3D Rarities Show on the 14th sounds like a must-see with “over 90 minutes of some of the rarest stereoscopic material in existence.” And the line-up of short movies for the 3D Animation Show on the 8th sounds pretty amazing as well. Okay, it all looks really great.
The complete schedule for the festival is below. Tickets will set you back $18 per screening ($15 if you’re a member) and if you want to check out all 35 screenings you can buy the $400 package.
I’ve include links to the trailers for each film below. Even if you can’t make it to Hollywood for the festival, at least you can get a taste of just how strange and varied the 3D film mix was over half a century ago.
Friday, September 6th
7pm – Hondo (1953)
9:30pm – House of Wax (1953)
Saturday, September 7th
11am – The Maze (1953)
1:15pm – Bwana Devil (1952)
4:30pm – European 3-D Cinema 1935-1953 – Lecture and 3D Clip Show
7:15pm – Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
9:45pm – Jaws 3D (1983)
Sunday, September 8th
11am – 3-D Animation Show
2pm – Robinson Crusoe (1946)
4:45pm – Miss Sadie Thompson (1953)
7pm – Dial M For Murder (1954)
9:30pm – 3-D Tribute to Chris Condon, Dan Symmes and Ray Zone, Featuring: The Stewardesses (1969)
Monday, September 9th
7pm – Phantom of the Rue Morgue (1954)
9:30pm – Jivaro (1954)
Tuesday, September 10th
7pm – The Glass Web (1953)
9:45pm – Dangerous Mission (1954)
Wednesday, September 11th
11am – Gorilla at Large (1954)
1:15pm – Diamond Wizard (1954)
4:15pm – Taza, Son of Cochise (1954)
6:30pm – Kiss Me Kate (1953)
9:45pm – The French Line (1954)
Thursday, September 12th
7pm – Inferno (1953)
9:30pm – I, The Jury (1953)
Friday, September 13th
3:30pm – Wings of the Hawk (1953)
7pm – It Came From Outer Space (1953)
9:45pm – The Mad Magician (1954)
Saturday, September 14th
11am – 3D Rarities Show
3:30pm – Robot Monster (1953)
6pm – Dragonfly Squadron (1954)
9pm – Revenge of the Creature (1955)
Sunday, September 15th
10:30am – Sangaree (1953)
1:15pm – Those Redheads From Seattle (1953)
4:30pm – Second Chance (1953)
6:45pm – Money From Home (1953)
9:45pm – Cease Fire (1953)
