"So Mamma, don't take my Kodachrome away" Paul Simon

In 1917 two friends went to the movies to see a new color film called "Our Navy".  They walked out feeling cheated as the Prizma Color system didn't do a great job representing all colors equally.  Rather than just complain, the two friends went to work and in 1935 invented Kodachrome film.

Kodachrome film was the first successful mass-market film.  It's 74 year product run was due to several factors.  First, the color process allowed the major color groups the ability to produce warm, stunning photographs.  In September 1949, National Geographic used the film to photograph a small basin in Utah.  This basin was later named Kodachrome Basin Stake Park as people came in droves to visit a place that literally leaped off the magazines pages at them.

The second reason for the film's popularity was it's archival longevity.  "It has been calculated that the yellow dye, the least stable, would suffer a 20% loss of dye in 185 years."

The third reason was that until 1954 the price of the film, included processing by the Eastman Kodak company.

Film sales started to decline in the 1980's with the invention of digital camera's.  As sales slid so did the number of labs that processed Kodachrome film.  In 2010 only one processing location remained: Dwayne's Photo in Parsons Kansas.

On December 23, 2010 the last roll of film (shot by the owner, Dwayne Steinle) was processed and Kodachrome film was retired.

How To Use This Story

This is a hero story.  As you read it pick out the elements that might match up with your situation.

• The friends saw something that was billed as amazing, and were not satisfied.  
• They decided to do something about it.
• They found a big company that could help them produce, develop and market their invention.
• Because of the attributes of the film it was in use for 74 years - A tremendous product cycle.
• Newer technology forced it into obsolesce.

Learn to see what elements of a story can help you with your situation.  Spend some time researching the story, and asking yourself questions so you are well prepared to answer most questions that might come up.  Compare the above story with your situation and show how, just like in the story, certain things must take place in order for your group to be successful long-term.

Sources:

Breed, Jack . "First Motor Sortie Into Escalante Land." National Geographic Sep. 1949: 369-404. Print.

"Kodachrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Jan. 2011. .

"Kodachrome Basin State Park - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Jan. 2011. .

Sulzberger, A.G.. "For Kodachrome Fans, Road Ends at Photo Lab in Kansas." New York Times [New York City ] 29 Dec. 2010: n. pag. The New York Times. Web. 4 Jan. 2011.

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