HispanicBusiness

Kodachrome, the film that gave photographers "those nice, bright colors" and was the inspiration for Paul Simon's 1973 hit song of the same name, will be retired after 74 years, Eastman Kodak Co. announced Monday.

Sales of Kodachrome, the world's first commercially successful color film, currently make up less than one percent of its still-picture film business, the Rochester, N.Y.-based company said in a statement Monday. Kodak cited the rise in popularity of newer Kodak films and digital imaging technologies. It estimates current supplies of the film first introduced in 1935 will last until early this fall.

"Kodachrome film is an iconic product and a testament to Kodak's long and continuing leadership in imaging technology," Mary Jane Hellyar, president of Kodak's Film, Photofinishing and Entertainment Group, said in a statement. "It was certainly a difficult decision to retire it, given its rich history. However, the majority of today's photographers have voiced their preference to capture images with newer technology -- both film and digital."

Also, Kodak said, the film is complex to manufacture and process. There is only one photofinishing lab in the world, the company said, that still processes the film, Dwayne's Photo in Parsons, Kansas.

Kodak said it is the global leader in the film business, with about 70 percent of its revenues coming from its commercial and consumer digital segments.

Over the past 3 years, the company said, it has brought seven new professional still films and several new motion picture films to market. "These new still film products are among those that have become the dominant choice for those professional and advanced amateur photographers who use Kodak films," the company said.

One of the most well-known professional photographers to use Kodachrome is Steve McCurry, whose image of a young Afghan girl with her haunting eyes on the cover of National Geographic magazine in 1985 captured the attention of millions of viewers. In addition to its use to capture some of the best-known images in history, Kodachrome was also a popular choice of the Baby Boom generation for their family slide shows.

As part of a tribute to the iconic film, Kodak said it will donate its last rolls to George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film in Rochester. The house contains the world's largest collection and cameras and related items.

A celebration of the film's history can be found online in a gallery of images, including McCurry's Afghan girl photograph. The gallery can be found here.

Simon's "Kodachrome" reached No. 2 on Billboard's Hot 100 list in 1973. He sang: "I love to take a photograph. So mama don't take my Kodachrome away."