Chris Condon

Chris J. Condon (1923 - December 19, 2010) (born Christo Dimitri Koudounis) was the inventor of 3D^{[disambiguation needed ]} lens used by his company StereoVision, a cinematographer, and founder of Sierra Pacific Airlines.

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 X, eventually R rated 3D movie The Stewardesses he and Silliphant founded Sierra Pacific Airlines.^[1] which continued to operate under several newer owners a fleet of Convair prop-jets and later, Boeing 737 jets, under the current owners.

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

• The Stewardesses (filmed in Stereovision 3D) (1969)
• The Volcano Creature (co-producer)
• The CIA Girls of Capitol Hill (co-producer)
• Mr. Howard's Crazy Airline (co-producer)
• The Wild Ride (co-producer and director of 3D photography)
• The Volcano Creature and Surfer Girls (co-producer and director of 3D photography)
• Jaws 3-D (Cinematographer and Chief 3-D Consultant) 1983^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} "Chris J. Condon, Pioneer of 3-D". 3d.hollywoodfilmsinternational.com. http://3d.hollywoodfilmsinternational.com/CHRIS-CONDON-BIO-v2.html. Retrieved 2010-12-22. 
2. ^ Dore, Shalini. "3D pioneer Chris Condon dies - Entertainment News, Film News, Media". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118029323?refCatId=13. Retrieved 2010-12-22. 
3. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0174380/

External links

• imdb.com

Persondata
Name	Condon, Chris
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1923
Place of birth
Date of death	2010-12-19
Place of death