Toronto Antiques on King Goes 3D!

In the much anticipated CBC presentation of the first Canadian 3D television broadcast, a documentary called “Queen Elizabeth in 3D”, airing on September 20^th at 7pm, our very own Alex Stairs will make a brief guest appearance to explain a bit about stereoscopes, the original 3D image viewers.

CBC crew members arrived at our store last Thursday and filmed a byte or two, showing viewers how to use a stereoscope, and looking at some stereographs of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.  So what’s the connection between Queens and 3D? Queen Victoria was quite a proponent of the stereoscope and its subsequent evolution into moving pictures once it caught her eye and the attention of the world when it was displayed at the 1851 London Crystal Palace. And in allowing herself to be filmed on occasion, she did her part in popularizing photography in its various forms and helping to encourage the development of mass production and distribution of images in the 19^th century.

Stereograph of Queen Victoria

A stereograph is simply a simultaneous double-image of the same subject that, when viewed through a stereoscope, appears to be one three-dimensional photograph. Utilizing the science of our own three-dimensional eyesight, stereographs are made by a single camera with two lenses set approximately two-and-a-half inches apart- about the same distance as that between the eyes. The viewer places the stereograph in the holder on the stereoscope and then looks through the two lenses, moving the holder back or forth until the single three-dimensional image is in focus.

Stereoscope showing stereograph slide of Queen Victoria

Stereographs of Royalty and Royal Business were as popular as images of world events and were an early form of the public Royal-watching that continues today through television and print media.

Given this pastime’s current popularity and the recent explosion of 3D feature films, the CBC stated that it hopes to bring the best of both worlds together with “Queen Elizabeth in 3D”, appealing to younger viewers as well as an older generation full of fans of the Queen.

The program will consist of new 3D footage following Her Majesty on her June Canadian visit and material shot at Buckingham Palace, alongside archival colour 3D footage from 1953. To view the show, two million pairs of 3D glasses will be made available free at Canada Post outlets in early September on a first-come, first-served basis.

As a thank you from CBC for participating in the program, Toronto Antiques on King was given 100 pairs of glasses to give to our customers, so drop by the store on or after September 7th to pick up your pair and try out a stereoscope! Just be sure to get home for 7 pm on September 20^th, and enjoy the show!

Get your 3D glasses to watch the show!