For most of the last 34 years, going all the way back to the very first Zephyr issue in March 1989, I’ve always enjoyed sharing my love of history, and especially the photographic documentation that I’ve been able to post over the past three-plus decades. The collections that I have been entrusted with are some of my most treasured and cherished possessions. Of course I’m referring to the work of my dear friend Herb Ringer, who gave me all his thousands of transparencies, as well as his journals, travel logs, and a collection of other historic “artifacts” that I plan to share with you soon.
And it’s been 20 years since Marti Fridley called me up and asked if I’d like to have her mother’s photo collection. Edna Fridley spent every free hour of her life wandering the Colorado Plateau, often under the leadership of her favorite guides, Ken Sleight and Harry Aleson. Like Herb’s work, her photos are invaluable. Marti told me to come by her trailer, the RV Court that was just north of Tom Tom’s VW Museum. She carried out box after box and we loaded them all into the backseat of my car. I was overwhelmed.
Finally, I have more than one hundred Kodachrome transparencies that Charles Kreischer gave me 50 years ago, of his trips down Glen Canyon and their travels around the Colorado Plateau. They are some of the highest quality images I have ever seen of Glen Canyon.
But these are still images. Trying to locate movie film, especially going back to the 1940s and 1950s has been almost impossible. Sometimes the best I could hope for were John Ford Westerns and one of George Stevens’ last films, “THe Greatest Story Ever Told.” All the exterior scenes were shot in Glen Canyon, as the dam was being built.
But one exception came to me a few years ago, via a DVD that was mailed to me anonymously.. On it was a very rough copy of a silent 16mm film —a travelog of sorts— shot in 1949 by Ray Garner and his wife Virginia. I grabbed a few screenshots and clips from that DVD and I believe you can even find the clips on The Zephyr facebook page. But again the quality was poor and even distorted—- the image was stretched when it was digitized.
But recently, and sheerly by accident, I found the film in its entirety on the internet. It had been donated to the National Archives and though the film quality still pales by today’s standards, it is the history in these films and images that I love, more than the film quality itself. Ray and Virginia Garner started making films in the late 1930s. Ray’s first known project was a film about ascending the Grand Teton with a group of Boy Scouts in 1936. Sadly the film has been lost. But it was the beginning of an independent filmmaker career and soon, a wonderful collaboration with his new wife Virginia. Though the title of the film I’m offering here gives credit to Ray, Virginia, or “Jinny” as she was known to everyone, was not only his equal in the filming, production and presentation of what were often silent films, she was certainly more photogenic and appears often in them. That’s’ what gives these 16mm movies such a personal feel. As I understand the story, they toured the country with their movies and at various gatherings, they would narrate the film in person as it was being shown.
Ray and Virginia came to Southeast Utah in May 1949. They spent the summer wandering the Four Corners, from what was then a very empty Arches National Monument, to the Needles, more than 15 years before it would become a part of the new Canyonlands National Park. They traveled south through Tuba City and scaled Agathla Peak on the Navajo Reservation and even drifted as far south as Sedona.
I have pulled dozens of screenshots from the film and tried to restore them as much as possible. And at the bottom of this page and in further installments, I’ll include the link to the Garners’ one hour motion picture in its entirety.
In this post, I concentrate on their visit to Arches National Monument, and their camp at the Devils Garden. If you know Arches at all, you’ll know exactly where they pitched their tent. I also have a couple images of Moab, shot at the corner of Main and Center Streets, as they park their Chrysler Woody (or whatever they called their wood-paneled station wagons back then). Again, you’ll know precisely where the film was shot, and yet you’ll be stunned by the changes.
I’ll include more biographical information about the Garners in future posts, but briefly, Ray was born in 1913 and died in 1989. Virginia came along in 1915. She met and married Ray in 1938; it was the start of a 50 year partnership that took them all over the world, from canyon country to Egypt and to equatorial Africa. They were not wealthy by any means. but they were lucky to have caught the attention of the Harmon Foundation. The non-profit organization created to support the arts and history was the brainstorm of former Alaska Governor William Harmon. The governor was fairly prosperous and the Harmon Foundation was his legacy. He, in fact, died in 1928, before he ever saw the work of the Garners. But his generosity and support of projects like theirs is a tribute to the governor and his vision; the Garners were grateful to him and to the foundation for decades.
According to Virginia Garner’s obituary, she and Ray even “made a film on learning to fly at the U.S. Army air base at Tuskegee, Alabama. Here, they were taught to fly by members of the famed African-American combat unit which came to be known as the Tuskegee Airmen. In a rare tribute, ‘Jinny’ was made an honorary Tuskegee airman.” She died in 2007.
I’ll include more stories about their incredible life together soon, but for now, here is the first installment of images (and a link to the film) “The Desert— Exploring the Southwest”… Jim Stiles
RAY & JINNY GARNER COME TO MOAB, UTAH & ARCHES NATIONAL MONUMENT…CAMPING 1949-style
WHERE NEXT? DUE TO A ‘RAIN DELAY,” THE GARNERS HEAD SOUTH
I NEED YOUR HELP! It’s been fun really, trying to identify some of the various filming locations, and with the help of more knowledgeable friends, I’ve been able to pinpoint most of them (like the image above). But the photo below has us stumped…my best guess is Indian Creek on the Needles Road, near Newspaper Rock. But there also clues that it might be near Sedona. I’d appreciate your input and suggestions…JS
THE LINK TO THE MOVIE IN ITS ENTIRETY… THE FILM IS 57 MINUTES LONG AND THERE’S NO SOUND…
TO COMMENT ON THIS POST, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE…THANKS…Jim
Thanks for your note. I mention several times in the text that it was shot on 16 mm film and I’m fairly aware that video cameras didn’t exist in 1949. Facebook limits the number of characters that one can see on a small device so I was looking for a word that would immediately tell the viewer that these were based on a movie. It occurs to me that “filmmaker” might have been a good option but in today’s world I’m not even sure that would have been clear enough. But
Like I said I did reference 16 mm film in the text, so hopefully everyone will know that it wasn’t shot on a smartphone.
Nope…It’s a late 1940s Chrysler Town and Country Station Wagon. Read the comments by Donna Andress below. In fact, I’m looking at and have saved a photo of the car that I found on Google. Even the same color with the windshield shade. Just Google it or try this Pinterest link.
Jim, google “1947 Chevrolet woody wagon”, compare the pictures to the car in this article, paying close attention to the grille and fenders, and let me know what you think.
PS: Really glad you are keeping the Zephyr alive, especially with all the emotional trauma you have had to cope with the last year. I think it’s better than ever, and I have been a reader since the first issue. Great articles without the fluff. Keep it going bro, from a former fellow Moabite before gentrification.
Hey Marc, if you look at the film to find this image (right after images of the Sedona area early in the film, but that doesn’t say much about where this image was taken) you’ll see that the vehicle actually drives through the water and it’s a pretty healthy depth. My recollection of Shonto is that that the creek there is like others in the region south of Navajo Mountain, ie, a very small amount of water in a small sandy wash cut into the Navajo Sandstone. It seems to me there would have to have been some kind of small dam in Shonto in 1949 to create that much water to drive through. Do you know where we can find old photos of Shonto that might shed light on this image?
Another great piece of history! I loved the old pump up Coleman stove and in 1969 during a month long trip to the canyon country it served me well.
In the photo captioned, “old road out of Tuba city looking south”, that road is still there only now it’s paved and is US 160 coming up from the very green Moencopi wash, the junction with US 89, Cameron, and Flagstaff. The Hopi village of Munqapi is located in that valley.
Tuba City was named after Tuuvi, a prominent Hopi, by the Mormon settlers in that area who had a tin ear when it came to listening to the Hopi language.
After taking over all the best pasture land and springs in the area from the resident Hopis, the Mormons were forced to leave the area by the United States Government. This may have been the only time in American history that land which belonged to the original inhabitants was returned to them after being taken over by non-natives.
Now I’m gonna go watch that film with no sound and weep at what we’ve lost to the hordes who visit them now.
Thanks for the info on the Mormons in the area, I always wondered why the wash close to Hwy 89 is called “Jacob Hamblin Wash”, now I know why.
Years ago I reconstructed that photo of the south entrance to Tuba City and discovered that the old road is what is now known on google maps as Kerley Rd, and that road is nicely graded but still not paved I believe. Kerley Road goes straight into the “Navajo side” of Tuba City, and when they re-aligned the modern day US 160 entrance to Tuba City, I’m thinking it was a deliberate attempt to “split the difference” between the Navajo and Hopi “sides” of Tuba City. When I first came to the area in the 1990’s, the Hopi side of the new highway in Tuba was almost completely undeveloped and the Navajo side only had some gas stations and maybe the grocery store. I’m sure there’s a lot more back story to that, since the new alignment basically took all the traffic away from the old Navajo “downtown” Tuba City.
You could be right. I’ll check it out on my next trip to Tuba City. There’s a lot of recent development on both sides of the the junction where AZ State Route 264 ends at US 160 and there’s now a traffic light there. On the Hopi side there’s the Moenkopi Legacy Inn and a Denny’s restaurant and Upper Munqapi (the correct Hopi Spelling of Moencopi/Moenkopi) is right up to the Legacy Inn on one side of 264 and up to the big Hopi Travel Plaza on the other side. The older and original Lower Munqapi is still down in the valley. On the Navajo side of US 160 there is lots of development as well including a huge Supermarket. Interesting factoid: the gas station on the Navajo side back in the “60s, “70s and “80s pumped more gas than any other station in Arizona due to the fact that to the many tourists coming from or going to Monument Valley and four corners in the north and coming from or going to Flagstaff or the Grand Canyon east entrance always stopped there to gas up.
“Downtown Tuba City”, has not died as it has a major I.H.S. Hospital, Mcdonalds,Taco Bell, a Codetalkers Museum, and the old Tuba City Trading post is now a museum and gift shop. Not to mention three high schools, and it’s a regional administrative center for both the Navajo tribal government and B.I.A.
Some of the old multi-storied orange sandstone buildings built by the Mormons are still there as well.
and of course during the mid 20th century it was very common for towns all over the USA to re-route their main highway away from the original commercial center…it had to be done, there just wasn’t enough room for a major highway in the middle of town…
Great history on early Tuba City. But note the recent land grab reversal of Bruce’s Beach in Los Angeles County of Manhattan Beach historical property. Sometimes…justice prevails…but not often.
Chrysler Corporation called their “woodies”Chrysler Town and Countries. Gail’s Grandfather, C. C. McDaniel, had the first Chrysler-Plymouth agency in Las Vegas, NV. He opened it in 1932 at First and Ogden Streets. Cars not being produced during World War Two, he took the real estate exam! But then the war was over, he got 4 Town and Countries in. They sold immediately and if I remember correctly they were about $3500 per car. They were such beautiful cars, and I think the first of that type, that Granddad and his salesmen drove them out to Hoover Dam for photographs. Even one of the new owners, Tom Campbell, drove his out there. He’d already taken delivery.
What a tremendous story. “Town and Country Chrysler.” Very classy. I’d think $3500 was pretty pricey in those days. Do you have any photos of them? Anyway Donna, your comments have become a vital part of every Zephyr post. You’re our bonus Zephyr contributor.
Just watched the entire film. Lots of interesting images of exploration that could only be done when you’re essentially the only one doing it all year. O the joys of tramping in unknown places in the early 20th century.
Jinny is indeed getting silverware from the cook box; it showed clear in the moving picture.
Jim, the Woody is definitely not a Chrysler or Chrysler product. Determining by the grille, the fender side torpedo bulges, and general lack of gaudy chrome ornamentation, I’d bet that car to be a Chevrolet, prolly about a ’47. Very cool car though.
Thanks for making us aware of this footage.
I think Jinny is taking forks out of the drawer–the motion blur simply distorts them.
This must have been shot on 16mm film, no? Curious as to why you refer to them as “videographers”, (asks the filmmaker who uses a video camera).
Thanks for your note. I mention several times in the text that it was shot on 16 mm film and I’m fairly aware that video cameras didn’t exist in 1949. Facebook limits the number of characters that one can see on a small device so I was looking for a word that would immediately tell the viewer that these were based on a movie. It occurs to me that “filmmaker” might have been a good option but in today’s world I’m not even sure that would have been clear enough. But
Like I said I did reference 16 mm film in the text, so hopefully everyone will know that it wasn’t shot on a smartphone.
Nope…It’s a late 1940s Chrysler Town and Country Station Wagon. Read the comments by Donna Andress below. In fact, I’m looking at and have saved a photo of the car that I found on Google. Even the same color with the windshield shade. Just Google it or try this Pinterest link.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/534239574520979320/
Jim, google “1947 Chevrolet woody wagon”, compare the pictures to the car in this article, paying close attention to the grille and fenders, and let me know what you think.
PS: Really glad you are keeping the Zephyr alive, especially with all the emotional trauma you have had to cope with the last year. I think it’s better than ever, and I have been a reader since the first issue. Great articles without the fluff. Keep it going bro, from a former fellow Moabite before gentrification.
WHERE IS THIS?
Appears to be Shonto Trading Post, Navajo Reservation.
Hey Marc, if you look at the film to find this image (right after images of the Sedona area early in the film, but that doesn’t say much about where this image was taken) you’ll see that the vehicle actually drives through the water and it’s a pretty healthy depth. My recollection of Shonto is that that the creek there is like others in the region south of Navajo Mountain, ie, a very small amount of water in a small sandy wash cut into the Navajo Sandstone. It seems to me there would have to have been some kind of small dam in Shonto in 1949 to create that much water to drive through. Do you know where we can find old photos of Shonto that might shed light on this image?
Another great piece of history! I loved the old pump up Coleman stove and in 1969 during a month long trip to the canyon country it served me well.
In the photo captioned, “old road out of Tuba city looking south”, that road is still there only now it’s paved and is US 160 coming up from the very green Moencopi wash, the junction with US 89, Cameron, and Flagstaff. The Hopi village of Munqapi is located in that valley.
Tuba City was named after Tuuvi, a prominent Hopi, by the Mormon settlers in that area who had a tin ear when it came to listening to the Hopi language.
After taking over all the best pasture land and springs in the area from the resident Hopis, the Mormons were forced to leave the area by the United States Government. This may have been the only time in American history that land which belonged to the original inhabitants was returned to them after being taken over by non-natives.
Now I’m gonna go watch that film with no sound and weep at what we’ve lost to the hordes who visit them now.
Thanks for the info on the Mormons in the area, I always wondered why the wash close to Hwy 89 is called “Jacob Hamblin Wash”, now I know why.
Years ago I reconstructed that photo of the south entrance to Tuba City and discovered that the old road is what is now known on google maps as Kerley Rd, and that road is nicely graded but still not paved I believe. Kerley Road goes straight into the “Navajo side” of Tuba City, and when they re-aligned the modern day US 160 entrance to Tuba City, I’m thinking it was a deliberate attempt to “split the difference” between the Navajo and Hopi “sides” of Tuba City. When I first came to the area in the 1990’s, the Hopi side of the new highway in Tuba was almost completely undeveloped and the Navajo side only had some gas stations and maybe the grocery store. I’m sure there’s a lot more back story to that, since the new alignment basically took all the traffic away from the old Navajo “downtown” Tuba City.
You could be right. I’ll check it out on my next trip to Tuba City. There’s a lot of recent development on both sides of the the junction where AZ State Route 264 ends at US 160 and there’s now a traffic light there. On the Hopi side there’s the Moenkopi Legacy Inn and a Denny’s restaurant and Upper Munqapi (the correct Hopi Spelling of Moencopi/Moenkopi) is right up to the Legacy Inn on one side of 264 and up to the big Hopi Travel Plaza on the other side. The older and original Lower Munqapi is still down in the valley. On the Navajo side of US 160 there is lots of development as well including a huge Supermarket. Interesting factoid: the gas station on the Navajo side back in the “60s, “70s and “80s pumped more gas than any other station in Arizona due to the fact that to the many tourists coming from or going to Monument Valley and four corners in the north and coming from or going to Flagstaff or the Grand Canyon east entrance always stopped there to gas up.
“Downtown Tuba City”, has not died as it has a major I.H.S. Hospital, Mcdonalds,Taco Bell, a Codetalkers Museum, and the old Tuba City Trading post is now a museum and gift shop. Not to mention three high schools, and it’s a regional administrative center for both the Navajo tribal government and B.I.A.
Some of the old multi-storied orange sandstone buildings built by the Mormons are still there as well.
and of course during the mid 20th century it was very common for towns all over the USA to re-route their main highway away from the original commercial center…it had to be done, there just wasn’t enough room for a major highway in the middle of town…
Great information and another excellent contribution to history. Thanks.
Great history on early Tuba City. But note the recent land grab reversal of Bruce’s Beach in Los Angeles County of Manhattan Beach historical property. Sometimes…justice prevails…but not often.
Chrysler Corporation called their “woodies”Chrysler Town and Countries. Gail’s Grandfather, C. C. McDaniel, had the first Chrysler-Plymouth agency in Las Vegas, NV. He opened it in 1932 at First and Ogden Streets. Cars not being produced during World War Two, he took the real estate exam! But then the war was over, he got 4 Town and Countries in. They sold immediately and if I remember correctly they were about $3500 per car. They were such beautiful cars, and I think the first of that type, that Granddad and his salesmen drove them out to Hoover Dam for photographs. Even one of the new owners, Tom Campbell, drove his out there. He’d already taken delivery.
What a tremendous story. “Town and Country Chrysler.” Very classy. I’d think $3500 was pretty pricey in those days. Do you have any photos of them? Anyway Donna, your comments have become a vital part of every Zephyr post. You’re our bonus Zephyr contributor.
Just watched the entire film. Lots of interesting images of exploration that could only be done when you’re essentially the only one doing it all year. O the joys of tramping in unknown places in the early 20th century.
Jinny is indeed getting silverware from the cook box; it showed clear in the moving picture.
Jim, the Woody is definitely not a Chrysler or Chrysler product. Determining by the grille, the fender side torpedo bulges, and general lack of gaudy chrome ornamentation, I’d bet that car to be a Chevrolet, prolly about a ’47. Very cool car though.
I think Bill Pytleski is right. See:
https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1948-CHEVROLET-FLEETMASTER-WOODIE-WAGON-182093
Well
Maybe so.