Ray Eames

The Fabulous Fifties, CBS, combines style, humor, and imagination. It was rich in touches of quality showmanship and equally rich in the memories of a decade which it revived. In recognition, the Peabody Television Award for entertainment is presented to The Fabulous Fifties, with a special word of praise for producer Leland Hayward and the top talent which appeared in this memorable entertainment special*. *The two-hour special featured comic takes and commentary about the previous decade by, among others, Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews, Mike Nichols and Elaine May, Dick Van Dyke, Shelley Berman, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Jackie Gleason, Eric Severeid and Henry Fonda.

Interviews with the junior designers swept into the 24-7 world of "The Eamery" are the heart of this complex picture of a husband-and-wife creative team that define the era of Mid-Century Modernism. Narrated by James Franco, the film draws from a trove of archival material, primarily the stunning films and photographs produced in mind-boggling volume by Charles, Ray, and their staff during the hyper-creative forty years of the Eames Office.

"Based on the exhibition "Photography and the city", designed by the Eames Office for the Smithsonian Institute". A primer on the modern problems of and future solutions to growing cities.

Using live-action footage, animation, and still photography of a scale model, this film presents the Eames unique multimedia concept for making the museum’s resources more accessible via a central information center and guide to the myriad collections and galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.


The subject of problem solving begins with an explanation of what the Eameses called “the information machine, “a device for presenting information in fragments so that viewers are compelled to see new relationships among events, objects and people.” The narrative accompanying the images points out the relationships between solving both simple and complicated problems, and then demonstrates that complex problems are solved by the computer with the same logical procedures that people use to solve simple ones. Los Angeles International Film Exposition (Filmex) Acknowledgement of participation, 1973.

Short animated film commissioned by IBM - to illustrate Camille Jordan's concept of topology - the fact that a simple closed curve divides a plane into an inside and an outside.

The Fabulous Fifties, CBS, combines style, humor, and imagination. It was rich in touches of quality showmanship and equally rich in the memories of a decade which it revived. In recognition, the Peabody Television Award for entertainment is presented to The Fabulous Fifties, with a special word of praise for producer Leland Hayward and the top talent which appeared in this memorable entertainment special*. *The two-hour special featured comic takes and commentary about the previous decade by, among others, Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews, Mike Nichols and Elaine May, Dick Van Dyke, Shelley Berman, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Jackie Gleason, Eric Severeid and Henry Fonda.

The Fabulous Fifties, CBS, combines style, humor, and imagination. It was rich in touches of quality showmanship and equally rich in the memories of a decade which it revived. In recognition, the Peabody Television Award for entertainment is presented to The Fabulous Fifties, with a special word of praise for producer Leland Hayward and the top talent which appeared in this memorable entertainment special*. *The two-hour special featured comic takes and commentary about the previous decade by, among others, Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews, Mike Nichols and Elaine May, Dick Van Dyke, Shelley Berman, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Jackie Gleason, Eric Severeid and Henry Fonda.

"Based on the exhibition "Photography and the city", designed by the Eames Office for the Smithsonian Institute". A primer on the modern problems of and future solutions to growing cities.

Using live-action footage, animation, and still photography of a scale model, this film presents the Eames unique multimedia concept for making the museum’s resources more accessible via a central information center and guide to the myriad collections and galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.


The subject of problem solving begins with an explanation of what the Eameses called “the information machine, “a device for presenting information in fragments so that viewers are compelled to see new relationships among events, objects and people.” The narrative accompanying the images points out the relationships between solving both simple and complicated problems, and then demonstrates that complex problems are solved by the computer with the same logical procedures that people use to solve simple ones. Los Angeles International Film Exposition (Filmex) Acknowledgement of participation, 1973.

Short animated film commissioned by IBM - to illustrate Camille Jordan's concept of topology - the fact that a simple closed curve divides a plane into an inside and an outside.

Short animated film commissioned by IBM - to illustrate Camille Jordan's concept of topology - the fact that a simple closed curve divides a plane into an inside and an outside.

The life and work of the astronomer Nicolas Copernicus are shown by means of images of his writings and drawings and places he was associated with.

Various kinds of tops are shown spinning.

A Rough Sketch features a linear view of our universe from the human scale to the sea of galaxies, then directly down to the nucleus of a carbon atom. With images, narration, and a dashboard, it gives a clue to the relative size of things and what it means to add another zero to any number. The 1977 film, Powers of Ten, was an expanded and updated version of this 1968 study film. Charles and Ray often gave projects long titles to indicate that they were still exploring their ideas—that the presentation was a model or a type of “sketch.”

A scientific film essay, narrated by Phil Morrison. A set of pictures of two picnickers in a park, with the area of each frame one-tenth the size of the one before. Starting from a view of the entire known universe, the camera gradually zooms in until we are viewing the subatomic particles on a man's hand.

From hardware to software, the basics of then-current computing technology is explained.

The short film uses a variety of familiar examples that have the feedback principle in common to present a broad view of the phenomena present in control mechanisms and social situations.

2ⁿ is a story about the exponential growth of numbers raised to powers. Part of the Mathematica Peep Shows, one of five films made to accompany the Mathematica: A World of Numbers and Beyond exhibition at the California Museum of Science and Industry and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

Created as a demonstration of multi-disciplinary thinking, this film was produced in association with UCLA Mathematics professor, Ray Redheffer. With the exclusive use of storytelling through animation this lively and exuberant presentation of the “architecture of algebra,” the film explains the behavior of specific exponents and concludes with the general laws that all exponential expressions obey – all achieved without the use of narration. Council on International Non-Theatrical Events (C.I.N.E.) Gold Eagle Award, 1975. Columbus International Film Festival Bronze Chris Plaque Award-C, 1975. New York International Animation Festival Bronze Praexinoscope Award, 1975. Melbourne Film Festival Selected for Participation, 1976.

An interesting look at the world of toy trains, shot from the perspective of the little world itself. Originally created for model train enthusiasts, this short film transcends it's intended audience to delight viewers of all ages and interests!

An interesting look at the world of toy trains, shot from the perspective of the little world itself. Originally created for model train enthusiasts, this short film transcends it's intended audience to delight viewers of all ages and interests!

A morality film where Sherlock Holmes solves a case using Boolean logic.

A portrayal of the Mexican Day of the Dead consisting of still shots and narration. Deals with the special objects and events surrounding the annual Mexican celebration of “All Souls Day”. It is not only a rich flood of folk art, but a view of the way that the Mexicans have come to terms with death. Searched out with the help of Alexander Girard and a moving guitar score by Laurindo Almeida.

This film reveals design proposals for the IBM pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair. It incorporates photography and animation to present the concepts, architecture, and overall look of the pavilion and to convey an impression of the exhibition's spirit and content.

Presented without voiceover, various kinds of breads are displayed and broken in a joyous celebration of starch, seed and salt.

Presented without voiceover, various kinds of breads are displayed and broken in a joyous celebration of starch, seed and salt.

Presented without voiceover, various kinds of breads are displayed and broken in a joyous celebration of starch, seed and salt.

In 1957, Charles and Ray designed the Solar Do-Nothing Machine for Alcoa, the Aluminum Company of America. True to the Eameses’ belief that toys are not as innocent as they appear, the machine was one of the first uses of solar power to produce electricity. In the 1990s, Eames Demetrios discovered unedited footage of the wonderful machine. He cut it together to produce a new film that shares a bit of its flavor for future generations to enjoy.

A live action pageant of mechanical toys, animals, puppets, cars, lead soldiers, and dolls—all set in motion. Toy buildings and photographic or painted images of city streets serve as backdrops. Festive elements from circuses, carnivals, and holiday parades are combined into an exuberant procession set to the music of John Philip Sousa. As the film ends, and the last puppet looks up at the sky, a red balloon drifts upward and the music fades out. 
Edinburgh International Film Festival award winner, 1954.

The movie "Clown Face" offers a very rare glimpse into the backstage private world of Circus Clowns. Here, you can look behind the curtain. You will see the clowns in their backstage habitat, Clown Alley, preparing for a circus performance

The lives of Franklin and Jefferson are used as prisms through which to evoke colonial America. With a dynamic timeline and a wealth of images drawn from architecture, science, and politics, the film brings alive the way American history shaped, and was shaped by, these two men. Benjamin Franklin, standing for the best in colonial wisdom, and Thomas Jefferson, representing the opportunities and ambitions of a new nation, together offer a compelling approach to this richly textured area.

The Eames House and Studio is explored via a series of slides.

A short film of the opening of the last museum exhibition prepared by the Eames. The exhibition was called "The World of Franklin and Jefferson" and was to celebrate the bicentennial of the American Revolution.

An early attempt to present communications theory, made to encourage the breaking down of barriers of thinking between disciplines and to discourage thinking of communications in a limited way. Music composed by Elmer Bernstein.

This film was produced to present the Eames proposal to make an American Revolution Bicentennial celebration. The exhibition would compare and contrast the lives of Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, providing a cinematic trip for the viewer through the exhibit, using animation, live-action, and still photography. It was later used by the USIA to provide information to the embassies and museums which would be hosting the exhibition.

A live-action film of a rare sea creature. The tiny transparent life form (only 5/8″ high) has only rarely been observed in its natural habitat. The remarkable Eames macro-photography provides an intimate view of the animal and demonstrates the creature’s symmetrical shape and its movement in the water.

Based on an existing slide show the Eames Office had made about the exhibition, A Computer Perspective (produced for IBM in 1971). The film is a visual survey of the collection of artifacts, ideas, events and memorabilia displayed in the exhibition to represent important milestones in the development of the electronic computer.

Based on an existing slide show the Eames Office had made about the exhibition, A Computer Perspective (produced for IBM in 1971). The film is a visual survey of the collection of artifacts, ideas, events and memorabilia displayed in the exhibition to represent important milestones in the development of the electronic computer.

Based on an existing slide show the Eames Office had made about the exhibition, A Computer Perspective (produced for IBM in 1971). The film is a visual survey of the collection of artifacts, ideas, events and memorabilia displayed in the exhibition to represent important milestones in the development of the electronic computer.

The Greek mathematician Eratosthenes estimates the circumference of the earth.

The Greek mathematician Eratosthenes estimates the circumference of the earth.

The Greek mathematician Eratosthenes estimates the circumference of the earth.

An excerpt from the Charles Eliot Norton Lectures, which Charles delivered at Harvard University in 1970-71. Includes an evocative discussion of what Charles called “The New Covetables” (knowledge not things), illustrated with a rich array of photographs.

This film was made by the Eamses on a weeks notice for a local Los Angeles TV show where jazz musicians improvised to the images live. The music that overlays the released edition is specifically recorded for that edition.