Does anyone remember the gallant attempt to bring 3-D Movies back , in the Late 70's?

The first 3-D film I ever saw was "House of Wax" with the late , great Vincent Price and the second - most important Lithuanian - American in the history of show business (#1 , of course , being Alan Freed.) , Charles Bronson. That was in the very early 70's , maybe '71. Around this time , Paul Naschy's Horror debut "Frankenstein's Bloody Terror" flopped in 3-D in the states , as Spanish 3-D was more about suggesting depth . The movie recouped it's losses in a 2D run , deceptive title still in place.) . 

Upon seeing "House of Wax" , I was'nt aware that 3-D was a phenomenon that had peaked almost 20 years earlier. The only example I recall after this quickie run , which probably did modest business at the box office , was Paul Morrissey's "Flesh For Frankenstein"  (Erroneously titled "Andy Warhol's Frankenstein" for many years.). But , that was rated "X" upon initial release. I had to wait to see it on cable , and finally , on film , in 3-D (WITH MR. MORRISSEY , ALSO IN 3-D, IN ATTENDANCE.)...... THERE DID'NT SEEM TO BE A REAL REBIRTH OF INTEREST IN 3-D UNTIL ABOUT 1976 OR '77. "House of Wax" was brought out , again (I saw it three times.) , and , in some markets , 50's faves like "It Came From Outer Space" and "Creature From The Black Lagoon", as well as the 60's anomaly "Fantastic Invasion of Planet Earth" ran in limited engagements , mainly in second run theatres.

The first big 3-D revival was over faster than the initial wave crashed. The stray Porno flick and the critically panned "Comin' Atcha" (Not , in itself , a Porno Movie.) tried , unsuccesfully , to hold up the fort.  Still , in the early 80's , it was finally made possible to show 3-D movies on TV. Some of 'em.  "Bwana Devil " looked terrible , while "Revenge of The Creature" looked great. Elvira popularized this new , though actually retro , trend , but later complained of not getting any residuals from the sale of 3-D glasses , with her name on them , by 7-11......

Popular Horror series , running bone - dry for ideas , like "Jaws" , "Friday The 13TH" and "Nightmare on Elm Street" were introducing 3-D sequels , and now , the same mainstream mega - blockbusters that have chased all the "B" pictures out of our movie houses (Discounting festivals and one - offs that often work at a loss .) are offering alternate , higher - priced 3-D versions. SO , NO , 3-D NEVER LEFT US .....Not for long , anyway.....

You're absolutely right , Howie. "The Mask" had the best 3-D EFFECTS AND SURREAL , HORRIFFC IMAGERY OF ANY REVIVED 3-D FILM IN THE 80'S. Rhino released it on video in the 80's , too , and the 3-D is still stunning. Especially when the hands come out of the screen and shoot fire !   iT'S ARGUABLY MORE EFFECTIVE , TOO , THAT THE WHOLE MOVIE WAS NOT IN 3-D , JUST THE VERY EARLY TRIP SEQUENCES. "PUT....THE MASK ....ON !!".

let's not forget the wonder black & white psychedelic nightmare ride, The Mask!!! Also shown on TV in 3D in the 80's...almost every frame a masterpiece of surreal photography...(yay!)

Nero , No , I'm not familiar with that one , though "Star Wars" cash-in attempts were as ubiquitous in the Late 70's - Early 80's as terrible music on the radio (England , for one, largely excluded , though I'm sure you had your fill , in and amongst all the stuff that NEVER got played , here. ). 1983? You don't say. Had Molly Ringwald even done "16 Candles " or "The Breakfast Club" by then? I don't remember....  What's funny about that ad is ,A) They claim it's the first Sci Fi /Space Adventure film in 3-D. "Fantastic Invasion of Planet Earth"and even "It Came From Outer Space " (If you want to bend the rules a bit) had 20 to 30 years on it . No matter. and B) THEY DID'NT POINT OUT , THAT IN ORDER TO VIEW THE TRAILER IN 3-D , YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO STARE AT THE IMAGE IN THE CENTER , CROSS - EYED , UNTIL THE THREE BECOME ALIGNED. It's a strain on the eye muscles , BUT , RELATIVELY EASY TO DO.....

I HAVE'NT SEEN ANY NEW 3-D films....I remember when color films required grey tinted glasses , and B&W ones required the classic red and blue/green glasses , which were safe to wear outdoors , but the grey glasses could permanently fuck up your eyes , when exposed to the sun. 

Ever see this this one, Spacehunter: Adventures In The Forbidden Zone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA2GY3AcwLQ

This is from 1983, slightly later than the period you're talking about, and I bring it up solely because it was the only 3D film I'd seen until the recent wave of 3Dness that's assaulting multiplexes currently, 3D films being rarer than hen's teeth in the provincial south of England in the early eighties. I guess it was made to cash in on the post-Star Wars sci-fi craze, and it's renowned as a bit of a turkey, but I have reasonably fond memories of it, being young and stoned at the time. I wouldn't necessarily sully those memories by watching it again, mind...

As for the 3D itself, I think I preferred that old red/green style over the modern type, which doesn't add much to the cinematic experience, for me anyway. The comic head in me wouldn't mind seeing what they've done to Judge Dredd in the new film, but here in the UK it's well nigh impossible to find a cinema showing it in 2D, so I probably won't bother.