However, you can't say that three-dimensional motion pictures are the heritage of our time. Back in 1838 the Englishman Charles Whetstone invented a demonstration tool, based on the difference in image perception by the left and right eye, which theoretically allowed to see different objects are not flat, but in volume. Fifteen years later, the London Stereoscopic Company wowed audiences with three-dimensional views of Niagara Falls, and by the mid-1930s the stereo effect was available for moving images as well. But the peak of the cinematic stereo boom came in the 50s, when the film industry was looking for any means to win the fierce competition with television.
It became common for moviegoers to get special red and blue glasses along with the admission ticket: the screens were released dozens of three-dimensional hits: "Devil Bwana" (1952) by Arch Oboler, in which the characters fought stereoscopic cannibal lions, "The Wax Museum" (1953) by Andre de Toth, the classic horror film "The Beast from the Black Lagoon" (1954) and Alfred Hitchcock's thriller "In case of murder, dial M" (1954). (You can see all of these 3D movies at 3d-sbs.com) But back then 3D wasn't widespread due to poor conditions in most cinemas and because of the complicated equipment required to show 3D movies (silver screens, polarized glasses, dual synchronized projectors, special lenses...) .
In the 80's several popular-science films were made in this format. However, despite the new wave of interest in volumetric images, the imperfection and inconvenience of viewing with cardboard glasses led to the oblivion of 3D-format once again. It wasn't until a small group of Canadian scientists developed a new three-dimensional format called IMAX in the 1970s that 3D movies had a real shot at becoming really popular.
