The reality is that, although the numbers are growing, currently there are only a few more than a thousand or so theaters worldwide that are completely ready to show digital stereoscopic 3-D. Yet, there are over 38,000 screens in North America alone that are equipped to show analog 35mm motion picture film.

The interesting part about this is, that if they had the product, every one of these is capable of showing stereoscopic 3-D images right now. And, I am not talking about low quality red/cyan anaglyph images. I am referring to the high quality projection of full color stereoscopic 3-D.

Consider this: In 1983, the 3-D movie “Metalstorm” was exhibited in the StereoVision polarized process in a simultaneous release on over 2,000 silver screens. That is about twice the number of screens that are showing theatrical 3-D now. Likely, most of those silver screens still exist.

Even if only half of them still are around, this in itself indicates that it would be possible to immediately double the number of screens on which a stereoscopic 3-D film is exhibited through a simultaneous digital and analog release.

And, that is only for passive polarized projection. If you add to the mix active polarized, Infitec, and ColorCode, you have the possibility of screening in 3-D on any or all of the 38,000 North American theatrical screens, as well as the hundreds of thousands of other screens worldwide.

Something to think about. If you are involved in an area affected by this, see me later, or send me an e-mail.