Academy Award®
In the early days of color motion pictures, it was difficult to make an adequate master film from which to produce multiple release prints for theaters. The variability of the cameras and scenes composing a motion picture meant that a great deal of time and money was spent as highly skilled technicians would try to create a master film of consistent and high color quality. The Technicolor Corporation contracted with Stanford Research Institute (now known as SRI International) in 1952 to develop a near-instantaneous electro-optical alternative to the existing manual process. SRI developed an accurate transfer system that specified the processing parameters for the new film prints. SRI's project leader Bill Evans used a high-quality, closed-circuit color television system that operated with color cathode ray tubes, which were manufactured in SRI's Vacuum Tube Laboratory. In December 1952, a prototype system was delivered and immediately put into production. SRI's system was so accurate that it gave the correct processing parameters for the very first time. By saving costly film and enabling release prints to generate revenues more quickly, the Technicolor electronic printing timer greatly benefited the motion picture industry. |
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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented the 1959
Scientific and Engineering Award jointly to SRI International and
Technicolor Corporation for the design and development of the
Technicolor electronic printing timer. This outstanding achievement
honors the contributions of William Evans and S.E. Howse from SRI, and
Wadsworth E. Pohl, Werner Hopf, and Thomas P. Dixon from Technicolor
Corporation.
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