Tru-Vue stereoscopic model train filmstrips

Tru-Vue was a stereoscopic viewing system and line of films first marketed in the 1930s. Two simultaneous exposures of the same object or scene were made from slightly different angles. When seen through a special viewer, the paired photos com­bined to form a three-dimen­sional image. Although stereo­scopic photo cards and viewers had been around since the 1890s, Tru-Vue was certainly among the first to use 35 mm filmstrips. 

The filmstrips, with 14 or 15 monochrome scenes to the roll, were packaged in cardboard cartons. The list price was 35 cents per filmstrip; the viewer sold for 65 cents. A lever underneath the eyepieces advanced the film without moving the viewer, making the experience continuous – “virtual real­ity” for the Depression era. 

“See the world through Tru-Vue” was the corporate slo­gan, and roughly three-quarters of the filmstrips advertised were of natural wonders, animals, national parks, architec­ture, and exotic cities of the world. Other categories dealt with re-enactments of historical events (created on very low budgets), sports, and show busi­ness. 

Tru-Vue’s children’s section included a circus visit, nursery stories, popular comic charac­ters, and several titles dealing with Santa Claus and toys. The two filmstrips showing the austere and dingy interior of my American Flyer’s seven-store Halsted Street plant in Chicago are No. 215 Night Before Christmas and No. 223 Santa’s Workshop (boys). Both filmstrips were likely photographed in summer 1933, but for some reason Santa’s Workshop was not copyrighted and released until 1938. 

The cost-consciousness that pervaded all Tru-Vue produc­tion is witnessed by the exten­sive use of existing locations rather than studio setups. The tight budget extends to the baggy rented costumes and dime store beards worn by Santa and his little helpers in these two films. We do not know the identity of the man por­traying Santa, but his “elves” (the filmstrip calls them “gnomes”) were Robert and Kermit Cuff, young sons of American Flyer Vice President James Cuff. 

Recently, contributor Eric Beheim shared these photos of another Tru-Vue filmstrip, No. 233 Sandy’s Railroad.

This filmstrip shows Lionel equipment being operated on a rather elaborate model train layout by model railroader “Sandy McDonald” who, we must assume, likely built the layout.

The copyright year on this subject’s title card has been blacked out for some reason. The date “August 1946” is printed at the filmstrip’s end. According to Tru-Vue authority John Waldsmith, this is the date when the filmstrip itself was produced, so the images date from some time before then.

Join the discussion of Sandy’s Railroad in our Trains.com forum.

The December 1998 issue article by John Grams features more on the prewar American Flyer filmstrip. Read the entire article in our digital archive.

A child is at the controls.

Into the station comes our streamliner. It doesn’t stop long, so we’ll have to hurry.

We board the train, settle back in the observation lounge, and begin our journey.

Almost at once we approach a beautiful lake.

And find it is a part of a very attractive country estate.

We glide past a farm with many animals.

 . . . and continue across a bridge over a deep gulch. The farm set shown here has been identified as Skyline set No. 661.

Next, we notice a freight train unloading sheep into a corral.

. . . than a freight train taking on coal.

As we enter a tunnel, we see a tank car being filled with oil.

The steam engine exits the tunnel, heading toward a small town.

We notice a lovely park and playground.

Further on, at a siding soldiers unload an armored car and a giant spotlight.

Night falls, and all too quickly, our pleasant and exciting journey ends.