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Coronet Films

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Coronet Films, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 25 July 2025
Coronet Films
Company typePrivate
IndustryFilm production, Educational films
Founded1934
FounderDavid A. Smart, Alfred Smart, John Smart
Defunct1997
FateMerged with MTI Films, acquired by Phoenix Learning Group, Inc.
SuccessorPhoenix Learning Group, Inc.
Headquarters
Glenview, Illinois
,
United States
Area served
United States, educational institutions
Key people
David A. Smart, John Smart, Jack Abraham, Hal Kopel, Sheldon Sachs, Bob Kohl, Tom Riha
ProductsDocumentary shorts, social-guidance films, educational films on zoology, science, geography, history, mathematics
OwnerPhoenix Learning Group, Inc.
ParentGulf and Western Industries (post-1984)

Coronet Films—also identified as Coronet Instructional Media Inc.—was a prominent American producer and distributor specializing in documentary shorts for educational institutions, predominantly utilizing the 16mm film format, throughout the period from the 1940s until the 1980s. Now under the ownership of Phoenix Learning Group, Inc., its extensive catalog covered topics such as zoology, science, geography, history, and mathematics. However, it gained particular recognition for its post-World War II social-guidance films addressing themes like dating, family dynamics, manners, and civic responsibility.

Overview

The company was established in 1934 by David A. Smart alongside his brothers Alfred and John, with its initial copyrighted releases appearing in 1941, beginning with Aptitudes and Occupations. Their production facility was situated in Glenview, Illinois. David Smart, who also published Esquire and Coronet magazines, chose the latter’s name for the film company. While the Coronet magazine ceased publication in 1976, Coronet Films continued its operations beyond that point.

During the Second World War, Coronet created instructional films for military purposes and achieved early acclaim through full-color nature documentaries featuring common bird species, filmed by experts such as Olin Sewall Pettingill Jr. and Dr. Arthur A. Allen. The company distinguished itself by adopting Kodachrome color film well ahead of its competitors and managed expenses by offering both color prints and more economical black-and-white options—an essential consideration for schools operating under tight budgets.

After David Smart passed away in 1952, control of Coronet transitioned to his brother John and Jack Abraham. Coronet’s production volume exceeded that of industry leader Encyclopædia Britannica Films, averaging over one film longer than 11 minutes every week. While rival companies emphasized cinematic excellence, Coronet’s narrations during the 1950s and 1960s often adopted a more instructional tone. Nevertheless, it produced well-regarded travel documentaries and wildlife films. Starting in 1957, a Special Productions division overseen by Bob Kohl and Tom Riha began creating more ambitious projects alongside the standard offerings.

The 1970s brought a creative transformation under general manager Hal Kopel (who took charge around 1972), who updated the filmmaking style and began acknowledging directors and creative personnel—responding to critiques of earlier productions being overly formal or "stodgy". Many of the older titles were revised to align with contemporary educational requirements.

By the early 1980s, Coronet shifted its emphasis toward distributing externally produced content rather than creating films internally. Vice president Sheldon Sachs (appointed in 1979) spearheaded Perspective Films to broaden distribution efforts with acclaimed works such as Sparky Greene’s American Shoeshine. In 1981, Coronet expanded by acquiring Centron Corporation.

Following a merger with MTI Films in 1984, Coronet along with its acquisitions became part of Gulf and Western Industries; however, Bob Kohl later repurchased Centron to operate it independently. Subsequently, Simon & Schuster moved scaled-down production activities to New Jersey. In May 1997, Phoenix Learning Group obtained distribution rights to Coronet’s extensive film library.

Personal-guidance films

Beginning with Shy Guy (1947), which featured a young Dick York, the studio regained prominence through its "personal guidance" film series designed to educate students on social subjects. Among the prominent titles are Are You Popular?, Everyday Courtesy, What to Do on a Date, and the Korean War-era collection Are You Ready for the Service?

Director Ted Peshak was instrumental in their creation, although psychological consultants frequently received formal credit. While many productions were originally shot in color, most extant copies exist only in black and white, reflecting schools’ preference for more economical formats. Production largely halted following David Smart’s passing in 1952, with sporadic releases continuing into the 1970s, such as Beginning Responsibility: A Lunchroom Goes Bananas.

These films, representative of post-World War II educational media, later acquired an unintended comedic quality amid cultural transformations after the 1960s. Some have entered the public domain, though a considerable number remain under private ownership. Their kitschy nature led to appearances on programs like Pee-wee's Playhouse and Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K), where their production values and messaging were humorously critiqued. MST3K episodes featuring these works included Are You Ready for Marriage? and What to Do on a Date. Additionally, Coronet’s films were satirized by Rifftrax, a group founded by former MST3K cast member Michael J. Nelson.

In 1978, Coronet participated in producing The Great American Student, a parody compilation utilizing footage from earlier films, distributed as an educational film spoof. Historian Geoff Alexander regarded it as a distinctive example of self-mockery and an important historical artifact within the genre.

Selected filmography

Highlighted below are key titles demonstrating the breadth of the company’s extensive collection:

{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|

  • Act Your Age (1949)
  • The African Continent (1963)
  • Alaska: A Modern Frontier (Revised) (1948)
  • Am I Trustworthy? (1950)
  • American Square Dance (1947)
  • Ancient Egypt (1952, revised 1976)
  • Ancient Rome (1949)
  • Appreciating Your Parents (1950)
  • Aptitudes and Occupations (1941)
  • Are You a Good Citizen? (1949)
  • Are You Popular? (1947)
  • Are You Ready for Marriage? (1950)
  • Attitudes and Health (1949)
  • Banks and Credits (1948)
  • Basketball for Girls Fundamentals (1948)
  • Beethoven and His Music (1953)
  • Beginning Responsibility: Being on Time (1951)
  • Beginning Responsibility: A Lunchroom Goes Bananas (1970, revised 1978)
  • Beginning Responsibility: Taking Care of Things (1951)
  • Beginning to Date (1953)
  • The Benefits of Looking Ahead (1950)
  • Better Use of Leisure Time (1950)
  • Birds of Inland Waterways (1946)
  • Bookkeeping and You (1947)
  • The Boyhood of Thomas Edison (1954)
  • Build Your Vocabulary (1948)
  • Building Better Paragraphs (1953)
  • Capitalism (1948)
  • Choosing Your Marriage Partner (1952)
  • Choosing Your Occupation (1949)
  • Citizenship and You (1959)
  • City Fire Fighters (1947)
  • Cleanliness and Health (1949)
  • 'Clothes and You: Line and Proportion' (1954)
  • 'Communism' (1952)
  • 'Control Your Emotions' (1950)
  • 'Date Etiquette' (1952)
  • 'Dating Do's and Don'ts' (1949)
  • 'Developing Friendships' (1950)
  • 'Developing Responsibility' (1949)
  • 'Developing Self-Reliance' (1951)
  • 'Developing Your Character' (1950)
  • 'Earning Money While Going to School' (1950)
  • 'The Earth: Changes in its Surface' (1960)
  • 'Everyday Courtesy' (1948)
  • 'Exercise and Health'(1949)
  • 'Exploring Space: Beyond the Solar System'(1978)
  • 'Facing Reality'(1954)
  • 'Family Life'(1949)
  • 'Forests and Conservation'(1946)
  • 'Fossils: Clues to Prehistoric Times'(1957)
  • 'Friendship Begins at Home'(1949)
  • 'Fun of Being Thoughtful'(1950)
  • 'Fun of Making Friends'(1950)
  • 'Fun that Builds Good Health'(1950)
  • 'Fun with Words - Words That Rhyme'(1970)
  • 'Getting Ready Emotionally'(1951)

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Production

Several Coronet titles have entered the public domain and are accessible as archival materials, such as:

References

Notes


External links

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