Kodak Shutters Kodachrome

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 22, 2009 10:40 AM CDT
Kodak Shutters Kodachrome
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)

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. (More Kodak stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X