Herbert Kalmus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Herbert Kalmus
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Kalmus in 1936
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| Born |
Herbert Thomas Kalmus
November 9, 1881 |
| Died | July 11, 1963 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Scientist Engineer |
| Known for | Co-founder of Technicolor Developing color motion picture film processes |
Herbert Thomas Kalmus (born November 9, 1881 – died July 11, 1963) was a brilliant American scientist and engineer. He played a huge part in making movies colorful! Kalmus was the co-founder and president of the famous Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation. Thanks to his work, movies went from black and white to a world of amazing colors.
Contents
Life and Work
Early Life and Education
Herbert Kalmus was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts. He loved learning and went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He earned his first degree there in 1904. The "Tech" part of the company name, Technicolor, is partly a nod to this school!
After MIT, he continued his studies. He earned his doctorate degree at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. Later, he worked as a researcher at MIT again. He also taught physics and other science subjects at Queen's University in Canada.
Starting Technicolor
In 1912, Kalmus teamed up with another MIT graduate, Daniel Frost Comstock. They started a company called Kalmus, Comstock, and Wescott. This company focused on industrial research and development.
They were hired to look at a new movie system. This made them very interested in how movies were made. They especially loved the idea of making movies in color! This led them to create Technicolor in 1915. Kalmus became the president and main boss of the company.
Working with Color
Kalmus worked closely with his wife, Natalie Kalmus. She became the "color coordinator" for almost every Technicolor movie made between 1934 and 1949. Even though they divorced in 1922, they kept working together for many years. This helped make sure Technicolor movies always looked their best.
Awards and Recognition
Herbert Kalmus received many important awards for his work. In 1938, he got the Progress Medal from the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. This award recognized his big steps forward in movie technology.
In 1952, he received another award for Technicolor's improvements in making color film. He was also made an honorary member of the SMPTE, which is a big honor in the movie industry. The US government also recognized his scientific research.
Family Life
Herbert Kalmus had two daughters. His god-daughter, Cammie King, later became his step-daughter. You might know her from the famous movie Gone With the Wind (1939). She played the part of Bonnie Blue Butler. Herbert Kalmus also wrote a book about his life called Mr. Technicolor.
Legacy
- Herbert Kalmus has a special star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California. This shows how important he was to the movie world.
- A beach in Hyannis, Massachusetts, called Kalmus Beach, is named after him.
