It's funny to think of 3D as being the salvation of today's movie industry. It's not exactly a new or cutting edge idea, and it wasn't that long ago it was considered a relic from another era, like the hula-hoop. If Hollywood hopes to profit from 3D, it better learn the lessons from its history, especially the lesson that it can't make a crappy movie any better.

The first full-length feature film that launched the 3D craze was Bwana Devil in 1952. In the ads for Devil, you were promised: "A lion in your lap! A lover in your arms! Newer than television!" As it turns out, 3D was around before even motion pictures.

As the book Amazing 3D recalled, 3D photography was around in the 1800's. Back then there were stereoscopes where you could look at photos in three dimensions. The viewing glasses that would one day enable 3D movies came along in 1858. Scenes shot on film in 3D were first shown to the public in 1915, and the first feature film in 3D, The Power of Love, which came in with the development of Technicolor, was shown in 1922.

Above: This photo of audience watching Bwana Devil ran in Life Magazine.

But in the early '50's, the major movie studios were frantically trying to win back the audiences they were losing to television, hence Bwana's "newer than television" promise. In 1952, Cinerama and 3D were looked to as the saviors of the movie industry. But where Cinerama cost a theater $70,000 to set up, 3D was a much cheaper proposition.

Bwana Devil was released on June 18, 1952 and was a huge success, grossing $95,000 in just two theaters in its first week (the famous photograph of a packed movie house wearing 3D glasses was taken during a showing of Devil). The reviewers panned the film, but with 3D it was critic proof. The cover of Variety now hailed 3D as "the next big thing" and soon every studio reportedly had a 3D movie in development.

There were a lot of mediocre 3D films made quickly to cash in on the trend, but some classics were made in the format as well. It Came From Outer Space, written by Ray Bradbury, had a big impact on John Carpenter when he was a child. As he recalled in his biography, Prince of Darkness, when a meteor flew right off the screen and literally blew up in his face, he knew he wanted to make movies when he grew up. In Film Comment, Martin Scorsese declared House of Wax, which starred Vincent Price, as the best 3D movie ever made, and he loved the irony that its director, Andre de Toth, only had one eye.

Above: Yes, they even made porno in 3D.

3D movies went in and out of popularity throughout the '60's and '70's before having one last comeback in the early '80's with two films that were produced by a former Xerox salesman, Treasure of the Four Crowns, and Comin' At Ya! It wasn't long before the major studios jumped in with Spacehunter (released by Columbia), Metalstorm and Jaws 3D (both released by Universal), and Friday the 13th Part 3D (released by Paramount). Originally the third Star Trek film was going to be in 3D, but then Paramount decided to use the technology for the third Jason film, which is reportedly the highest grossing 3D film in history.

Above: Will 3D be the salvation of the business? Not if Hollywood makes crapola like Jaws 3D.

3D wasn't flawless technology, and if a 3D movie wasn't well made or projected right, it could be a disaster (the common complaint was it caused eye strain and headaches). Cinefantastique magazine did a special 3D issue in the fall of 1983, which included tips on the best place to sit in a theater when watching a 3D movie. They also recommended buying better quality glasses with sturdier frames, which were then available for $5 a pair, instead of the flimsy cardboard ones the theaters provided.

The issue also had an article on "Why Most 3D Films Are So Bad," and noted that 3D movies, and the technology, had to get better if the industry expected it to survive. But by the end of the summer of '83, the major studios decided to shoot their 3D projects in development, like Little Shop of Horrors and Return of the Living Dead, "flat" instead, and one of Hollywood's best known gimmicks went flat-line.

Above: James Cameron's much anticipated Avatar, now moved to December 18, 2009, will also be in 3D, and Cameron has reportedly predicted by '09 there will be enough 3D theaters around so the movie can play on thousands of screens opening day.