For the First Time Ever, See Rare Black-and-White Footage of These Hollywood Icons in Color

In case you weren't aware, the Smithsonian Channel has been airing a very cool program called America in Color, which digitizes and colors black-and-white footage from American history. Trust us when we say that watching rare black-and-white images from decades in the past magically blossom into vibrant, realistic shades of color is something that we never get tired of seeing.
Now, ahead of the show's Dec. 23 episode focusing on the biggest stars of Old Hollywood, the Smithsonian Channel gave us an exclusive sneak peek at some of the rare footage it restored. Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Charlie Chaplin, Joan Crawford, Jimmy Stewart, Shirley Temple, and more make glamorous appearances, so check out a brief glimpse at the process above!