P3D Re: HC McKay (was A Few Good Men)

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

>McKay, George's hero, is an interesting character.  I also read a lot
>of his columns in the old photo magazines some time back and the one
>thing that really stands out in my recollection is his cantankerous
>scorn for anyone who disagrees with his stereo philosophy.  His
>writing is suffused with anecdotes and diatribes about other people's
>foolishness.  Fortunately, George does not emulate McKay in this
>respect. :-)

Thank you Bruce! :-)  My reading of McKay does not convey me the same 
impression.  He presends his "stereo philosophy" with passion and 
enthusiasm.  His anecdotes aim to make his point stronger, not to 
humiliate any person or any group.  McKay had to fight the stereo 
establishment of the time for the benefit of the "new" stereographer's 
right to enjoy stereo photography guilt-free, and I think history 
proved him right.

The letter by Richmond Strong which was re-published in Stereo World, 
March/April 1997 p.3, reflects the conflict between the "Old Guard" 
and the new wave of stereo photographers.  In all seriousness,
Mr. Strong (secretary of the Stereoscopic Society, American Branch)
in 1951 wrote "I will try my best to keep out the Realist fans"
and went on to describe how terrible Realist photography was and 
what a damage it was doing to stereo photography.

At some point he writes: "I am 100% with you on the Stereo Realist.
It is simply a gadget which has gotten into the hands of a lot of
novices, who have been talked into buying it by McKay and others
who are advertising it.  That is why I have not been accepting
any new members who use it exclusively.  Nore will I do so."

Fortunately (for us) history justified McKay's point of view.

-- George Themelis


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