KODACHROME, THE COLOR FILM THAT took over the photography world in 1935 and brought new life to the motion picture industry will be retired at the end of this year, Kodak announced today.
Associated Press photo
The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reported today:
“It was certainly a difficult decision to retire it, given its rich history,” Mary Jane Hellyar, outgoing president of Kodak’s Film, Photofinishing and Entertainment Group, said in a statement.
However, according to Kodak, Kodachrome now represents a fraction of 1 percent of the company’s camera film sales. And only one photofinishing lab in the world, Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kansas, still processes Kodachrome film, according to Kodak.
Kodak will donate the last rolls of Kodachrome film to the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film. National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry will also shoot one of the last rolls of Kodachrome and donate the images to the Eastman House
It was the world’s first commercially successful color film. But since color film is largely made now with entirely different ingredients, it became uneconomical to continue with the Kodachrome which currently was being made only once a year. It has largely been replaced by their Ektachrome brand.
Because of the complexity, only Dwayne’s Photo, in Parsons, Kan., still processes Kodachrome film. The lab has agreed to continue through 2010, Kodak said. Hellyar estimates the retail supply of Kodachrome will run out in the fall, though it could be sooner if devotees stockpile. In the U.S., Kodachrome film is available only through photo specialty dealers.
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