The first hologram was created in 1948 by Denis Gabor, due to lack of a coherent light source the image lacked the vivid colouration and clarity of modern holograms
n 1962, a Russian, Yuri Denisiuk devised a method of white light transmission which allowed holography to leave the laboratory environment
Stephen Benton, working for Polaroid, devises the Rainbow Smear method in 1968
1971, Denis Gabor receives the Nobel prize for Physics for his invention of holography.
Taken from http://www.ic.ac.uk/templates/text_3.asp?P=2507
From 1980 onwards holograms have been used commercially and as an art form