Amazon's CustomFlix offers National Archive films

By Jennifer Netherby -- Video Business, 7/30/2007

JULY 30 | Amazon.com’s DVD-on-demand service CustomFlix Labs has inked a deal with the National Archives and Records Administration to make historic films, documentaries and newsreels available on disc, the company said today.

Universal newsreels from 1920 to 1967, covering everything from the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the 1960 Nixon-Kennedy debate, are available starting today through CustomFlix.

Public domain films and films from the U.S. Defense Department and U.S. Information Agency will be available in the future.

"The National Archives and Records Administration houses an amazing collection of motion picture titles that historically have been hard for the general public to access," said Dana LoPiccolo-Giles, CustomFlix co-founder and managing director. "Our DVD on Demand service will make these titles readily available for purchase on Amazon.com to be enjoyed by history buffs today, as well as for future generations to come."

Discs of available films are manufactured when they are ordered and shipped to customers within 24 hours.

U.S. archivist Allen Weinstein said the deal will make films in the archives more accessible to the public, noting that up to now, people had to go to the research room in College Park, Md., to view or copy films.

Films are available for free at the National Archives Maryland location, but sell for around $20 on Amazon.