Special Collections and Archives, part of the Missouri State University Libraries, is pleased to announce the addition of a new online digital collection:  the Martin Kirchner Collection (LA 51).

Martin Kirchner was a projectionist with the Gillioz Theatre in Springfield, Missouri, from its opening in 1926 until his death in 1963. He was an active member of the Projectionists Union, Local 447 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada.

This collection contains documents and photographs related to Kirchner’s personal life and to his work, including stereograph cards he created while working in the projectionist’s booth at the Gillioz in 1953.  These images are presented in several 3-D viewing formats and show twin projectors during a 3-D showing of the film House of Wax.  Incidentally this was also the first major film shown across the country with stereo audio.

This online collection is the culmination of three internship projects: the first in 2019 with intern Chris Drew processing the collection; the second in Spring 2022 with intern Daniel Gordon digitizing much of the collection; and the third in Fall 2022 with intern Tyler Jennerjohn creating the various three-dimensional viewing formats.

For more information, see the finding aid or contact the Archives with questions.