"No Realist Users Need Apply!"

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Just got the latest issue of Stereo World.  I cannot resist but 
copy here excerpts from a letter from Richmond Strong, Secretary of
the American Branch of the Stereoscopic Society at the time, to
Fred Lightfoot (well known collector and photographer), 
written in 1951.

"I am 100% with you on the Stereo Realist.  It is simply a gadget
which has gotten onto the hands of a lot of novices, who have been
talked into buying it by McKay and the others who are advertising
it."

"That's why I have not been accepting any new members who use
it exclusively.  Nor will I do so.... Most of our members haven't
any proper viewers for viewing them anyway even if they were worth
viewing (and I agree with you that few of them are.)  As a matter
of fact, I agree with you that most color slides in any sizes are
usually absolutely distorted in color.  As you say the colors are
garish, and unless the exposure is absolutely right on the nose (and
it seldom is of course) the result is something never seen on Earth
before.  And the composition by these amateurs makes your hair curl."

"I will try my best to keep out Realist fans.... What would you think
of limiting most of the folios entirely to black and white prints and
transparencies... Mobbs is starting a transparency overseas section...
It will allow for circulation of Stereo Realist and 35 mm slides.
This plan was evolved in England, and I had nothing to do with it."

This is an amazing demonstration of elitism and total lack of 
judgment of the times (1951).  McKay was a true visionary and
prophet when at the same time and earlier realized the value of
what was happening.  His books and opinions in this subject
are a required reading.  Here is what he wrote in the introduction
of his 1953 book:

"It is sometimes difficult for the oldtimer, steeped in the tradition
of the older stereo, to keep up with the modern pace.  The old rules
and laws, except the few which are sound, have been thrown
overboard- and stereo does not seem to have been harmed by
the fact.  Stereo used to be reserved for very carefully made
exposures of subjects selected with equal care, the new stereo-
grapher blithely shoots 30 or 60 shots in an afternoon, with the
possible exception of DrT who can reach 300 shots in less
than an hour with his motordriven Realist"

"The writer can remember the senseless struggle of the glass
plate advocates against the encroachment of the sheet film.
Today we see the stereo Old Guard tearing their hair and
clad in sackcloth and ashes as one after another of their
cherished idols fall under the onslaught of the enthusiastic
"new stereographer."  But with this Old Guard numbering
considerably under 1000 and with the new legion growing at
about 20 to 30 thousands every year, the newcomers,
fortunately for all concerned, are going to have things their
way."

I think, and Bill Walton can perhaps correct me if I am wrong, that
Fred Lightfoot later joined the newcomers and became the secretary 
of the Alpha folio of the Stereoscopic Society of America, a group 
circulating Realist format slides.

-- George Themelis


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