In the 1950s, people started to watch television, which competed with movies and movie theaters. To get back lost business, filmmakers tried something different – 3D movies. This ushered in what is considered to be a golden era for “deepies” or three-dimensional movies (from 1952-1955). Over the years, the technology evolved and expanded to all sorts of media, and there have been numerous times of popularity.

Here’s a little bit of 3D trivia:

• Techniques for 3D films developed much earlier in the century (i.e., by about 1915), but these movies were costly to produce, process, and display. After the “golden era,” 3D moviemaking went quiet for a while because of the same reasons.

• To see in 3D, moviegoers needed to wear polarized glasses made or cardboard with one red and one green lens. The effect was to give people and objects in the films depth and appear to jump off the screen.

• Some people complain that 3D films give them headaches, eyestrain, or motion sickness.

• The View-Master toy uses a form of 3D technology.

• The first 3D comic book was the October 1953 issue of Mighty Mouse.

• Some 3D movies include the following: Bwana Devil, The Lions of Gulu; Man in the Dark; House of Wax; It Came from Outer Space; House on Haunted Hill; Creature From the Black Lagoon; Kiss Me Kate; Hondo; Casper, The Friendly Ghost; Popeye The Sailor; Cat-Women of the Moon; The French Line; and a version of Dial M for Murder.

• 3D TV is available, but it’s still expensive and not too many programs are made for the format. And you still need to wear those special glasses.