'Friday The 13th Part 3' 3-D VHD Japanese Disc

Back in the late 1970's/early 1980's, companies were jockeying for the top position in the home video market. As the demand for watching films at home grew, so did the technology to make the experience more like watching in a theater. Different home video formats were developed, such as Betamax and VHS tapes as well as CED and Laserdisc. As we discussed in a previous story, RCA produced CED vinyl discs in caddies that were supposed to up the level of interaction between home audiences and the films themselves. Eventually, that format died out within a few years and gave way to VHS and Laserdisc. However, during that large format war, there was one other format that never received a proper worldwide consumer release, but produced a rare and sought after piece of the Friday The 13th franchise.

Developed in the late 1970's, the VHD (Video High Density) system was designed to be even more of an interactive system that the Laserdisc and CED concept. However, with the growing market share of the VHS cassette and steady acceptance of Laserdisc, VHD was never released into the North American market. The format existed for European consumers, but more as an education tool than an entertainment medium. However, VHD motion pictures were released in Japan in stereoscopic 3-D and is where the only version of Friday The 13th Part 3 that comes close on home video to experiencing the theatrical third dimension of the film exists.

Below are pictures of the Part 3 VHD release as well as a picture of a VHD player, 3-D converter and 3-D goggles used to watch the film. To experience the film in all of it's third dimension glory, you not only must have the aforementioned items, but also a CRT television. You have to go totally retro to experience the true 3-D of Friday The 13th Part 3, but to die hard fans it would be totally worth it!

 

Image courtesy Good Squid