Re: Polaroid

[P3D Eric Goldstein <egoldste@xxxxxx>]

> In 1936, Land-Wheelwright, the predessesor of Polaroid, Inc. held its first
> news conference to introduce Polaroid material and its applications...(snip)

This history is fascinating! Thanks for passing it along!

> It seems that in 1940, Harry Warner, Jack Warner's brother, at the
> instruction of Jack visited Polaroid to view 3-d movies which Land was
> trying to get Hollywood interested in. After the viewing, Harry couldn't
> figure out what all the fuss was about and left. Consequently, Warner did
> not accept 3-d movies. Land subsequently learned that Harry had a glass eye.
> Strange how history can be dramatically influenced by such a little
> occurrence. Imagine the last 50 years worth of entertainment had Harry had 2
> good eyes.

I think it can be argued that there may not have been a different
outcome. The history of hollywood and filmcraft points to demand driving
the use of technology, and not the other way around. Most of the big
studio bosses thought talkies would go nowhere, until audiences flocked
to a couple of sound pictures in droves. Color, widescreen, Dolby, THX,
sensuround, smellavision; demand drove the use of technology after
audiences sampled it.

Clearly, of course, there is good use and poor use of technology.
Perhaps it could be argued that audiences have never had the chance to
see a picture in which stereo production really enhanced the
experience...


Eric G.


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