Bartlett Manufacturer “Swims With Sharks” in Upcoming 3D Television Event

BARTLETT , TN , Aug. 11, 2000 – American Paper Optics, Inc. recently produced over six million 3D glasses for the 13 th annual Shark Week episode premiering on Discovery Channel on Sun., Aug. 13.

The 3D eyeglasses, manufactured with the Pulfrich (dark and clear) 3D lenses technology, have a special lens color combination system which works exclusively with the productions of Telcast International, the Germany company which produced the Shark Week episode in 3D. The Shark Week 3D glasses, distributed throughout the United States and Canada, are available at Discovery Channel stores and LensCrafters outlets. The 3D broadcast will air at 8 o’clock central time with a repeat showing on Sun., Aug. 20.

Since 1990, owner and 3D aficionado, John Jerit has transformed a “silly” paper novelty business into a 3D-eyeglass empire with the worldwide distribution of over 500 million 3D glasses for promotions involving movies, television, web sites, theme park attractions, laser light shows, and fireworks displays.

Jerit, named “Small Business Executive of the Year” in 1998 by the Memphis Business Journal and penned one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s up-and-coming young millionaires in 1999, has changed the way millions of people view the world–one pair of 3D glasses at a time.

American Paper Optics received national notoriety in 1991 as the manufacturer of 11 million 3D glasses for the Nightmare on Elm Street sequel, Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare. Jerit soon followed up by producing eight million glasses for a television promotion of Fox’s Married with Children and Revenge of the Nerds IV.

In 1995, Jerit introduced a retail phenomenon into the mainstream marketplace with Holiday Specs, 3D Christmas Glasses. These special paper eyeglasses allow the wearer to see holiday messages surrounding bright points of light. The line has sold over three million pairs to a variety of retail stores ranging from gift and greeting card shops to floral and seasonal specialty stores.

In the summer of 1997, Jerit and American Paper Optics provided 20 million 3D glasses for Televisa, a major network television station, for a month-long 3D broadcast in Mexico City. Last year Jerit met the challenge of producing more than 21 million 3D glasses for the international distribution of National Geographic magazine which featured Mars Pathfinder and Titanic 3D images. In October 1999, Jerit overcame a seemingly impossible deadline by delivering more than five million 3D viewers in less than three weeks for BirthdayExpress.com, an Internet shopping service on the worldwide web.