Chris Condon
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
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.
In 1953 he received his first patent for a 3D projection system. The system replaced the previous method of using two cameras. His invention was inspired by House of Wax
.
He taught at Columbia College Hollywood
from 1958 to 1960.
He co-wrote the American Cinematographer Manual for the American Society of Cinematographers
with Joseph Mascelli in 1963.
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
. 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.
During the 1970s his lenses were used in Andy Warhol's Frankenstein, Dynasty
, Fantastic Invasion of Planet Earth.
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
lens used by his company StereoVision, a cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
, and founder of Sierra Pacific Airlines
Sierra Pacific Airlines
Sierra Pacific Airlines is an American airline based in Tucson, Arizona, USA. It operates passenger charters and sub-charters for other airlines, as well as for the United States Forest Service, United States Military and the United States Marshals Service....
.
He was born in North Chicago, Illinois
North Chicago, Illinois
North Chicago is an outer suburb/exurb of the Chicago metropolitan area and is an incorporated city in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 35,918 at the 2000 census....
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
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.
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
True Life Adventures
The True-Life Adventures series is a collection of short subject documentary films produced by Walt Disney Productions roughly between the years 1948 and 1960. The film series was exposed in 1982 by the CBC newsmagazine The Fifth Estate for Animal Cruelty and faking nature scenes. It is also...
series.
In 1953 he received his first patent for a 3D projection system. The system replaced the previous method of using two cameras. His invention was inspired by House of Wax
House of Wax
House of Wax may refer to:*a wax museum*House of Wax , a 1953 3D horror film starring Vincent Price*House of Wax , a 2005 horror film starring Elisha Cuthbert and Chad Michael Murray- See also :...
.
He taught at Columbia College Hollywood
Columbia College Hollywood
Columbia College Hollywood is a film school located in Tarzana, California, USA. It is approved by the State of California to offer degrees, and is an associate institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design...
from 1958 to 1960.
He co-wrote the American Cinematographer Manual for the American Society of Cinematographers
American Society of Cinematographers
The American Society of Cinematographers is an educational, cultural, and professional organization. It is not a labor union, and it is not a guild. Membership is by invitation and is extended only to directors of photography and special effects experts with distinguished credits in the film...
with Joseph Mascelli in 1963.
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
The Stewardesses
The Stewardesses is a 1969 softcore, later R-rated, theatrical 3-D film produced, directed and written by Allan Silliphant and starring Christina Hart, Monica Gayle, Paula Erickson, and Donna Stanley....
he and Silliphant founded Sierra Pacific Airlines
Sierra Pacific Airlines
Sierra Pacific Airlines is an American airline based in Tucson, Arizona, USA. It operates passenger charters and sub-charters for other airlines, as well as for the United States Forest Service, United States Military and the United States Marshals Service....
. which continued to operate under several newer owners a fleet
of Convair prop-jets and later, Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
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.
During the 1970s his lenses were used in Andy Warhol's Frankenstein, Dynasty
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
, Fantastic Invasion of Planet Earth.
Credits
- The StewardessesThe StewardessesThe Stewardesses is a 1969 softcore, later R-rated, theatrical 3-D film produced, directed and written by Allan Silliphant and starring Christina Hart, Monica Gayle, Paula Erickson, and Donna Stanley....
(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 RideThe Wild RideThe Wild Ride is a 1960 American film directed by Harvey Berman and starring Jack Nicholson as a rebellious punk named Johnny, of the Beat generation, who spends his days as an amateur dirt track driver in between partying and troublemaking...
(co-producer and director of 3D photography) - The Volcano Creature and Surfer Girls (co-producer and director of 3D photography)
- Jaws 3-DJaws 3-DJaws 3-D is a 1983 thriller film directed by Joe Alves and starring Dennis Quaid, Bess Armstrong, Lea Thompson and Louis Gossett, Jr...
(Cinematographer and Chief 3-D Consultant) 1983