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Kodak Shutters Kodachrome

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 22, 2009 10:40 AM CDT

(Newser) – Kodak is discontinuing its storied Kodachrome film line, the company announced today. Introduced in 1935, Kodachrome was the first commercially successful color film, and was immortalized in a Paul Simon song in 1973. But these days it represents less than 1% of Kodak’s film sales, and only one lab in the world—Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kansas, processes it, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports.

“It was certainly a difficult decision to retire it, given its rich history,” said one Kodak executive. To honor that history, National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry will shoot one of the final rolls, donating the prints to the photography museum named for Kodak founder George Eastman. Any other remaining rolls will also be donated to the museum.

In this Sept. 15, 2008 file photo, a roll of Kodachrome 64 is is loaded into a film camera in Tonawanda, NY.
In this Sept. 15, 2008 file photo, a roll of Kodachrome 64 is is loaded into a film camera in Tonawanda, NY.   (AP Photo/David Duprey, File)
In this photo taken on Sept. 15, 2008, a roll of Kodachrome 64 is seen in Tonawanda, NY.
In this photo taken on Sept. 15, 2008, a roll of Kodachrome 64 is seen in Tonawanda, NY.   (AP Photo/David Duprey)
In this photo taken on Sept. 11, 2008, a roll of Kodachrome 64 is seen at Color Tech in Amherst, NY, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008.
In this photo taken on Sept. 11, 2008, a roll of Kodachrome 64 is seen at Color Tech in Amherst, NY, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008.   (AP Photo/David Duprey)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
NewserScooter
Jun 23, 2009 2:07 AM CDT
Film is dead, long live Digital !
Mad
Jun 22, 2009 10:13 AM CDT
Bet you failed Photo 101, huh? The chemicals are similar, but in different strengths and (as stated above) fairly precise temp tolerances, plus each process had its own criteria
cityeyes
Jun 22, 2009 9:50 AM CDT
It saddens me that this is gone but stupid Lomo cameras still live on. People have their priorities totally screwed up.

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