Descriptive Summary
Important Information for Users of the Collection
Biography
Collection Scope and Content Summary
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Technicolor collection
Date (inclusive): 1918-1965
Collection number: 213
Creator:
Technicolor, Inc.
Extent:
21.5 linear feet of papers.
3 linear feet of photographs.
Repository:
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Languages:
English
Important Information for Users of the Collection
Access
Available by appointment only.
Publication rights
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Margaret Herrick Library. Researchers are
responsible for obtaining all necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the appropriate companies
or individuals before quoting from or publishing materials obtained from the library.
Preferred Citation
Technicolor collection, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Technicolor, Tom Tarr, Maria Tarr (on behalf of the Tom Tarr estate), and Clara Nielsen, 1977-
1989
Biography
The Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation, an American company that developed a motion picture
process for color cinematography, was formed in 1915. The process was developed by engineers Herbert
Kalmus and Daniel Comstock. Hundreds of films were released with the credit "Color by Technicolor" during
the company's heyday in the 1940s and 1950s. Technicolor has received more than half a dozen scientific
and technical awards from the Academy, and was honored with a 1939 Special Award. Long the industry
standard for color printing, Technicolor maintains a laboratory in North Hollywood, California.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The Technicolor collection spans the years 1918-1965 and encompasses 24.5 linear feet. The collection
contains business records, including film continuities; a stock shot card index; notes for a series of
Technicolor educational lectures; miscellaneous files containing script material, correspondence, and
clippings; four scrapbooks; and Technicolor motion picture film frames. The 49 film continuity volumes
span the years 1936-1962 and offer detailed scene continuity and film footage counts on approximately
3,750 features and short subjects. The photograph series consists of 8,392 items, primarily original 35mm
Technicolor motion picture film frames for 137 films.
Arrangement
Arranged in the following series: 1. Production files; 2. Subject files; 3. Scrapbooks; 4.
Photographs, subseries A-C as follows: A. Motion picture production; B. Biography; C. Subject
Indexing Terms
Technicolor, Inc.
business records