Colorama: The World's Largest Photographs

by George Eastman (Editor), Alison Nordstrom

Billed as “The World's Largest Photographs,” Eastman Kodak's 18-by-60-foot Coloramas brought photography to the masses with a spectacular display of communicative power. During its 40-year run in Grand Central Terminal in New York City, the Colorama program presented a panoramic photo album of American scenes, lifestyles and achievements from the second half of the twentieth century. Produced in association with the George Eastman House Collection, Colorama explores the history of these colossal images. A selection of the most striking images are beautifully reproduced, making these images available to viewers nostalgic for American life in decades gone by, as well as people with a personal connection to the original display in Grand Central Station.

Genres: Photography

80 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

George Eastman (July 12, 1854 – March 14, 1932) was an American innovator and entrepreneur who founded the Eastman Kodak Company and popularized the use of roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream. Roll film was also the basis for the invention of motion picture film in 1888 by the world's first film-makers Eadweard Muybridge and Louis Le Prince, and a few years later by their followers Léon Bouly, Thomas Edison, the Lumière Brothers, and Georges Méliès.

He was a major philanthropist, establishing the Eastman School of Music, and schools of dentistry and medicine at the University of Rochester and in London; contributing to RIT and the construction of MIT's second campus on the Charles River; and donating to Tuskegee and Hampton universities. In addition, he provided funds for clinics in London and other European cities to serve low-income residents.

In his final two years Eastman was in intense pain caused by a disorder affecting his spine. On March 14, 1932 Eastman shot himself in the heart, leaving a note which read, "To my friends: my work is done. Why wait?"

The George Eastman House, now operated as the International Museum of Photography and Film, has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eastman Kodak's 18-by-60-foot Coloramas were a staple of Grand Central Station for 40 years. Part advertising and part meditative flight from the city these pictures were the photo album of America and help take weary commuters away from their daily rush. A wonderfully researched book that is filled with vibrant photos that will take you back to a place now long gone.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

For forty years Kodak – Eastman Kodak – had a display in Grand Central Terminal of photography (of course) to persuade Americans that they, too, needed to own a Kodak Camera. And what better place to convince the masses of the need to record their posterity, if not for all of Grand Central to see, then for their family than Grand Central? These photographs were a mere 18’ x 60,’ and yes, that’s feet. Not inches. They began to display these photographs in 1950, during the Cold War and continued until 1990.

This was such a fun, nostalgic peek back into time. An iconic peek at childhood birthday parties, sock hops (dances), families on vacation, and lots of Americana, it’s a bit like a mini-time travel experience. The colours are vividly 50’s-early 60’s for many, of course, and there’s a basic simplicity to each shot that is fairly representative of that time, to say nothing of the fashion, and hairstyles.

With Grand Central one of those places most people generally equate with rushing, rushing and more rushing to get somewhere else before they’re late, miss their train, their meeting, etc., etc., etc. I’d like to think that these photographs brought a smile to start or end a workday, and brought just a little bit more colour to the lives of some of the people who took the time to notice.

[e · Rating 3 out of 5]

campy, cheesy...
yet oddly beautiful.

[LaLa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dude Kodak stole the technology to make these from the Germans after the war. That's WILD These essays really highlight the sociology of the pictures