Origins of the Exhibition

In March, 1952 - when stereo photography was on everyone’s mind - the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind sponsored a “Snow Ball,” an annual fund-raising event. A feature of the intermission was an invitational exhibition of 3-D photography. Well-known personalities, including actor Harold Lloyd and the drugstore chain’s Myrtle Walgreen, were invited to exhibit. Many members of the Jackson Park Camera Club’s 3-D section also exhibited.

The Club’s Formation

The “Snow Ball” became the foundation stone of the Chicago Stereo Camera Club. A group of stereographers, under the guidance of Robert L. McIntyre, Camera Editor of the Chicago Tribune, organized the club with hosting the Chicago Lighthouse International Exhibition of Stereo Photography as one of its primary purposes. The club joined the Photographic Society of America, resulting in shows conforming to PSA’s rigid exhibition standards. Workshop parties were often held, and club members participated to support, serve, and cheer those doing the work. At public presentations, ladies of the club wore gowns and the gentlemen dressed accordingly, reflecting the club’s esteemed position in Chicago society.

Legacy

Today, the Chicago Lighthouse International Exhibition of Stereo Photography is proud to be listed as one of the longest continuing contributors to The Chicago Lighthouse.