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Uploaded on: May 9, 2025

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Photo courtesy of Fred Hurlbert

3-D Film Archive, LLC writes - May 8, 1953, Columbia’s first color 3-D feature FORT TI had its gala World Premiere at the State Theatre in Ticonderoga, NY. This special pre-release screening was in advance of the nationwide release later that month.

It opened in Chicago at the United Artists Theatre on May 27, 1953; in Los Angeles - with Walt Disney’s cartoon MELODY - at the Paramount Theatres in Downtown and Hollywood on May 28 and in New York City - with the 3 Stooges short SPOOKS - at the Criterion Theatre on May 29.

FORT TI was the first Eastman color 3-D feature to be printed in dye-transfer Technicolor. Composed during principal photography in February/early March 1953 for the standard aspect ratio of 1.37:1, some theatres would present it in widescreen cropped to Columbia’s recommended ratio of 1.85:1.

It was available to theatres with interlocked full coat three-channel magnetic stereophonic sound (now lost) but this advance premiere in Ticonderoga was presented in mono.

This was the first of three Golden Age stereoscopic features directed by legendary gimmick king, William Castle. He also directed DRUMS OF TAHITI and JESSE JAMES VS. THE DALTONS in 3-D for Sam Katzman at Columbia Pictures.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -