Fotomat
Encyclopedia
Fotomat was a once-widespread retail chain of photo
development drive-thru kiosk
s located in shopping center parking lots. Fotomat Corporation was founded by Preston Fleet
in San Diego, California
, in the 1960s, (the first kiosk was opened in Point Loma, California, in 1965), and became a public company in 1971 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) in 1977. At its peak around 1980 there were over 4,000 Fotomats throughout the United States
, primarily in suburban areas. Fotomats were distinctive for their pyramid-shaped gold-colored roofs and signs with red-lettering, usually positioned in a large parking area such as a supermarket or strip mall
, as the Fotomat huts required a minimal amount of land and were able to accommodate cars driving up to drop off or pick up film. They sold Kodak-brand film and other photography-related products, and offered one-day photo finishing. Fotomat often hired female employees to work in the small buildings and called them "Fotomates." The Fotomate uniform was a royal blue and yellow smock top. Male employees were called "Fotomacs" and their uniform was a light blue polo shirt.
Fotomat had both company-owned stores and franchise
s. This led to lawsuits between Fotomat and its franchisees over territories.
In the early 1980s, Fotomat Corporation was acquired by Konishiroku Photo Industry Ltd., which sold it to Konica Photo Imaging
in 1986. It was later sold to Viewpoint Corporation in 2002.
The company's main product, one-day development, was made obsolete by one-hour photo development. Fotomat's main product has since become the online digital photo software site Fotomat.com which, discontinued the online service on September 1, 2009. Users were still be able to maintain their local albums through the toolbar, though after September 1 all online functions ended. Fotomat's message recommends that online customers switch to the Kodak Gallery service.
Fotomat has made some sparse appearances in American popular culture, namely the well-known hut with the yellow mansard roof
. In the opening of the TV Series Crazy Like a Fox
, a car smashes through a Fotomat, destroying it. A similar business was ruined in the opening scene of Police Academy
, although that photo hut was in the shape of a gigantic camera (to likely avoid a reference). In That '70s Show
, Steven Hyde
works at the parodied "Fotohut" under his hippie boss Leo.
Initially, only Paramount Pictures
entered into an agreement with the chain to offer their movies for rent. Among the 131 titles available were The Godfather, The Godfather, Part II, Grease, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Meatballs, French Postcards, American Hot Wax, The War of the Worlds, The Onion Field, Hurricane, I Go Pogo: The Movie, Pretty Baby, The Psychic, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Fraternity Row, Black Sunday, Marathon Man, Death Wish, Murder on the Orient Express, Barbarella and Airplane!.
These titles were distributed directly by Fotomat and were of a uniform design with a black, die-cut cardboard case and a black label that included a white title as well as Paramount's stylized logo, but otherwise no artwork or color. In addition, a Fotomat logo accompanied by a four-tone sound would play before the start of each movie. The logo included an artistic representation of the company's famous yellow mansard roof.
On March 4, 1980, Walt Disney Home Entertainment
began offering their first ever videos for rental through Fotomat. The first titles released were Pete's Dragon, The Black Hole, The Love Bug, Escape to Witch Mountain, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier, The North Avenue Irregulars, The Apple Dumpling Gang, Hot Lead and Cold Feet, Kids Is Kids, On Vacation WIth Mickey Mouse and Friends and The Adventures of Chip and Dale.
By 1982, local video stores had begun to offer customers cheaper video rentals without the overnight wait time and Fotomat shut down the service.
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
development drive-thru kiosk
Kiosk
Kiosk is a small, separated garden pavilion open on some or all sides. Kiosks were common in Persia, India, Pakistan, and in the Ottoman Empire from the 13th century onward...
s located in shopping center parking lots. Fotomat Corporation was founded by Preston Fleet
Preston Fleet
-External links:* *...
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, in the 1960s, (the first kiosk was opened in Point Loma, California, in 1965), and became a public company in 1971 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
(NYSE) in 1977. At its peak around 1980 there were over 4,000 Fotomats throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, primarily in suburban areas. Fotomats were distinctive for their pyramid-shaped gold-colored roofs and signs with red-lettering, usually positioned in a large parking area such as a supermarket or strip mall
Strip mall
A strip mall is an open-area shopping center where the stores are arranged in a row, with a sidewalk in front. Strip malls are typically developed as a unit and have large parking lots in front...
, as the Fotomat huts required a minimal amount of land and were able to accommodate cars driving up to drop off or pick up film. They sold Kodak-brand film and other photography-related products, and offered one-day photo finishing. Fotomat often hired female employees to work in the small buildings and called them "Fotomates." The Fotomate uniform was a royal blue and yellow smock top. Male employees were called "Fotomacs" and their uniform was a light blue polo shirt.
Fotomat had both company-owned stores and franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
s. This led to lawsuits between Fotomat and its franchisees over territories.
In the early 1980s, Fotomat Corporation was acquired by Konishiroku Photo Industry Ltd., which sold it to Konica Photo Imaging
Konica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
in 1986. It was later sold to Viewpoint Corporation in 2002.
The company's main product, one-day development, was made obsolete by one-hour photo development. Fotomat's main product has since become the online digital photo software site Fotomat.com which, discontinued the online service on September 1, 2009. Users were still be able to maintain their local albums through the toolbar, though after September 1 all online functions ended. Fotomat's message recommends that online customers switch to the Kodak Gallery service.
Fotomat has made some sparse appearances in American popular culture, namely the well-known hut with the yellow mansard roof
Mansard roof
A mansard or mansard roof is a four-sided gambrel-style hip roof characterized by two slopes on each of its sides with the lower slope at a steeper angle than the upper that is punctured by dormer windows. The roof creates an additional floor of habitable space, such as a garret...
. In the opening of the TV Series Crazy Like a Fox
Crazy Like a Fox (TV series)
Crazy Like a Fox is an American television series set in San Francisco, California, that aired on CBS from December 30, 1984 to May 3, 1986.-Overview:...
, a car smashes through a Fotomat, destroying it. A similar business was ruined in the opening scene of Police Academy
Police Academy (film)
Police Academy is a 1984 comedy film directed by Hugh Wilson, and starring Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall and G.W. Bailey. It grossed approximately $146 million worldwide and spawned six more films in the Police Academy series.-Plot:...
, although that photo hut was in the shape of a gigantic camera (to likely avoid a reference). In That '70s Show
That '70s Show
That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that centers on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in the fictional suburban town of Point Place, Wisconsin, from May 17, 1976, to December 31, 1979...
, Steven Hyde
Steven Hyde
Steven James Hyde III, known as Hyde by his friends, is a fictional character from the Fox sitcom That '70s Show, portrayed by Danny Masterson. He is Eric Forman's best friend and by the end of season one, his de facto adopted brother...
works at the parodied "Fotohut" under his hippie boss Leo.
Video Rental Service
In addition to photo developing, Fotomat was one of the first companies to offer movies for rent on videocassette, starting in December 1979, a new concept then. Customers would browse through a small catalog, call a number and order the movie or movies of their choice. The following day, the customer would pick up the VHS at the Fotomat kiosk of their choice. The rental cost $12 per title (the equivalent of $35.50 in 2010) and the customer could keep it for five days after which they would return it to the kiosk. The price was later reduced to $9.95 for a five-day rental. The service was called "Fotomat Drive-Thru Movies," which played off of the method of renting the film by "driving through" one of their 35,000 kiosks.Initially, only Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
entered into an agreement with the chain to offer their movies for rent. Among the 131 titles available were The Godfather, The Godfather, Part II, Grease, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Meatballs, French Postcards, American Hot Wax, The War of the Worlds, The Onion Field, Hurricane, I Go Pogo: The Movie, Pretty Baby, The Psychic, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Fraternity Row, Black Sunday, Marathon Man, Death Wish, Murder on the Orient Express, Barbarella and Airplane!.
These titles were distributed directly by Fotomat and were of a uniform design with a black, die-cut cardboard case and a black label that included a white title as well as Paramount's stylized logo, but otherwise no artwork or color. In addition, a Fotomat logo accompanied by a four-tone sound would play before the start of each movie. The logo included an artistic representation of the company's famous yellow mansard roof.
On March 4, 1980, Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is the home video distribution division of The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment also operates as Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Also, "Buena Vista" translated in Spanish is "Good View"...
began offering their first ever videos for rental through Fotomat. The first titles released were Pete's Dragon, The Black Hole, The Love Bug, Escape to Witch Mountain, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier, The North Avenue Irregulars, The Apple Dumpling Gang, Hot Lead and Cold Feet, Kids Is Kids, On Vacation WIth Mickey Mouse and Friends and The Adventures of Chip and Dale.
By 1982, local video stores had begun to offer customers cheaper video rentals without the overnight wait time and Fotomat shut down the service.
