Iwan Serrurier originally designed the Moviola in 1917 as a home movie projector, they were manufactured in 1923 but the price of the projector meant very few sold. An editor at Douglas Fairbanks Studios suggested that Iwan should adapt the device for use by film editors, which Serrurier did in 1924. Iwan Serrurier's son, Mark Serrurier, took over the company in 1946, and sold it to Magnasync Corporation in 1966, the new name was Magnasync/Moviola Corp. In 1980 Moviola Co. was sold to J & R Film Company Inc.