Technicolor collection

Special Collections
Margaret Herrick Library © 2013


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