I don't necessarily agree with the article's assertion that humans actually like widescreen better than 4:3. Widescreen was a marketing gimmick dreamt up by Hollywood in the 50s SPECIFICALLY to thwart TV. It was one of the few gimmicks that worked (after smell-a-vision, and 3D glasses). Originally, all movies were 4:3 because they were based on 35mm film frames glued together in a strip with sprocket holes along the side (as per Edison's request to George Eastman back in 1889). Apparently Hollywood and the public thought that 4:3 was perfectly fine for the next 60 years. When TV was being invented they could have chosen any aspect ratio at all, yet they decided, in order to be compatible with movies they would also adopt the industry standard 4:3 (which, ironically, used to be called the "Academy Aperture").

When Hollywood saw their market slipping because of TV they tried all sorts of weird things to make sure their movies wouldn't be compatible with TV sets -- widescreen was just one. It had nothing to do with what people prefer - it was totally gimmick.

In fact, there is a tremendous amount (anamorphic lenses, lens masks, etc.) that movie makers have to go through in order to produce widescreen films since 35MM film stock ALWAYS WAS AND STILL IS 4:3!!! There is no widescreen film stock...

People may have been conditioned over the years to think that widescreen = expensive Hollywood and 4:3 = cheap TV, but all the information I have ever seen about this actually points to the opposite -- people actually prefer taller than wider.

Background

In 1889 George Eastman developed 35mm film with a 1.33 to 1 aspect ratio (usually expressed as 4:3). In 1927 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially made this the industry standard, it later became known as the Academy Aperture. Just about every film made from 1917 to 1952 used this aperture. (There are no "widescreen" versions of King Kong, Casablanca, or Gone With The Wind)


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