CHAPTER 19STEREO MOVIESHIS CHAPTER IS so BRIEF and so uncomplex that a word is nec-
T essary in explanation. The chapter is brief because stereo
movies are so extremely simple there is really nothing much to
be said about them. You can assemble the beginner’s outfit within
ten minutes or so, and you can depend upon it that the results
will astonish you, Movie projection, stereo or otherwise, is no
more than a mechanical elaboration of still projection. Optically
the two are identical. Therefore, everything which has been said
about still stereo projection applies equally to movie projection.
The utter ease and simplicity and the thoroughly satisfactory
results of even elementary stereo movies are so great that the
hesitation of the amateur to try it is incredible. Everyone seems
to be awaiting some very mysterious, very complex, very magical
(and costly) method for doing this simple thing. I only wish I
could think of some way to convince you that this hope is all
nonsense. You already have available everything you need to
make perfectly beautiful stereo movies with very little expenditure
and with very good assurance of success in the first roll of film
you expose.
The method outlined here is that used successfully in the
Stereo Guild laboratory experiments, and the results were just as
successful as those obtained from still stereo projection. This is
one time when the expression “there is nothing to it” is true. It
is so simple stereographers cannot believe it, but one trial will
convince you.
It is perfectly easy for the movie amateur to make his own stereo
movies with either one of the devices now commercially available;
such as the Berthiot, Bolex, Nord, Mattey or even an altered
Stereotach. The home craftsman can make his own reflector which
will provide excellent results, provided care is taken to make the
device with precision.
The usual type of stereo reflector, which fundamentally resem-
bles the Stereotach, but which is more flexible, has two adjust-
ments. (A) The angle of the outer mirrors must be adjustable and
(B) The distance between the outer mirrors must be adjustable.
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