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Margie of the Wasatch motion picture

 Collection
Identifier: A0699

Scope and Contents

The film Margie of the Wasatch (1940s) is an early promotional film for the Utah ski industry. Filmed at Alta Ski Area in Little Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City, the movie uses a narrative about two ski instructors competing for the affection of beautiful ski tourist Margie to showcase the Wasatch Mountains and the lessons, facilities, and services available at the resort. This film has been digitized and is available to view on DVD.

Dates

  • 1940s

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials must be used on-site; no use of original material, access copies will be made available for viewing. Five business days advanced notice required. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Margie of the Wasatch motion picture must be obtained from the Special Collections Multimedia Archivist.

Historical Note

During the decline in silver mining in the town of Alta, Utah in the early twentieth century, the United States Forest Service employed world champion skier Alf Engen to invesigate the area as a winter sports site and, on his recommendation, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) planted hunderds of trees to replenish the area's deforested slopes. In 1937 mining deed owners George Watson and William O'Connor eased their tax burden by donating 1600 acres of surface rights to the United States Forest Service for use as a ski area. The ski area opened in 1938, and the Alta Lodge and Collins chairlift began operations in 1939. The 1940s saw the opening of the Rustler (1947) and Peruvian lodges (1948), the origin of the Alta Ski Patrol, the opening of a center for avalanche research, and the training of Company B, 503 Parachute Battalion for service in World War II. Margie of the Wasatch was filmed during this era of early growth.

Extent

1 16mm film

Abstract

The film Margie of the Wasatch (1940s) is an early promotional film for the Utah ski industry. Filmed at Alta Ski Area in Little Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City, the movie uses a narrative about two ski instructors competing for the affection of beautiful ski tourist Margie to showcase the Wasatch Mountains and the lessons, facilities, and services available at the resort. Alta began operations in 1939.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Alta Lodge.

Processing Information

Processed by Molly Creel in 2012.

Creator

Title
Guide to the Margie of the Wasatch motion picture 1940s
Author
Finding aid created by Molly Creel
Date
© 2012
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863