Sunday, February 27, 2011

Chris Condon, American cinematographer (Jaws 3-D), 3D lens inventor died he was , 88

Chris J. Condon  (born Christo Dimitri Koudounis) was the inventor of 3D lens used by his company StereoVision, a cinematographer, and founder of Sierra Pacific Airlines  died he was , 88.

(1923 - December 19, 2010)

He was born in North Chicago, Illinois. During World War II he received a four Bronze Battle Stars while working on the combat air crew and cinemetographer on B-24 and A-26 in the Pacific.[1]
After the war he worked at Douglas Aircraft as a trainee before starting his own business in 1947 Century Precision Optics Company of North Hollywood, California where he developed the Tele-Athenar telephoto lens which were used by Walt Disney photographers in the True Life Adventures series.[1]
In 1953 he received his first patent for a 3D projection system.[1] The system replaced the previous method of using two cameras. His invention was inspired by House of Wax.[2]
He taught at Columbia College Hollywood from 1958 to 1960.[1]
He co-wrote the American Cinematographer Manual for the American Society of Cinematographers with Joseph Mascelli in 1963.[1]
In 1969-1969 he and his partner Allan Silliphant received a patent for the world's 1st Single-Camera 3-D Motion Picture Lens and they formed the company Magnavision which was changed to StereoVision Entertainment. After the success of soft core 3D movie The Stewardesses he and Oliphant founded Sierra Pacific Airlines.[1]
In 1972 he received a patent for a special widescreen 3-D camera lens for modern 35mm and 70mm reflex motion picture cameras.[1]
During the 1970s his lenses were used in Andy Warhol's Frankenstein, Dynasty, Fantastic Invasion of Planet Earth.[1]

Credits


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