Alton Morton independent film collection
Collection
Identifier: A0320
Scope and Contents
The Alton Morton independent film collection (1947-1968, 2011) consists of amateur and professional films by Utah filmmaker and inventor Al Morton. Morton's films includes narrative films about river running on the Green and Colorado Rivers as well as tourism films featuring Utah's scenic desert Southwest and national parks commissioned by the Utah Tourist and Publicity Council and other public organizations. Although Morton also made other narrative, art, and family movies, the bulk of the films in the collection feature river running and Utah's scenic areas. The collection also includes an interview with Morton's daughter, Darlene Phillips, about her father's filmmaking career.
This collection consists of VHS copies of Morton's films. With the exception of the interview with Darlene Phillips, originals are held by Utah Historical Society
All materials have been digitized and are available to for access on DVD and CD. This collection is part of the Utah Independent Film Archive (UIFA).
This collection consists of VHS copies of Morton's films. With the exception of the interview with Darlene Phillips, originals are held by Utah Historical Society
All materials have been digitized and are available to for access on DVD and CD. This collection is part of the Utah Independent Film Archive (UIFA).
Dates
- 1947-1968
- 2011
Creator
- Morton, Alton, 1905-1985 (Person)
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 Alton Morton independent film collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Multimedia Archivist.
Permission to publish material from the Alton Morton independent film collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Multimedia Archivist.
Biographical Note
Alton "Al" Morton (1905-1985) bought his first 8mm camera with money earned as a Salt Lake City area mail carrier, his first steady job after the Great Depression. In 1942, Morton helped to found the Utah Cine Arts Club, an organization of amateur filmmakers whose members participated in a national culture of art, innovation and exchange predating the independent film movements of New Hollywood and the 1960s.
Like other members of the Utah Cine Arts club and similar organizations across the country, Morton invented his own cinematic tools - splicers, tripods, waterproof camera housings, etc. - to help him turn his favorite hobbies into complex narrative films. An avid boater and river runner, Al Morton transformed river trips with his friends, notable river guides like Don Harris and Jack Brennan, into carefully edited cinematic adventures that screened at public venues in the Salt Lake Valley and at other cinema clubs across the nation. Al Morton was named a Fellow of the Amateur Cinema League in 1946.
Like other members of the Utah Cine Arts club and similar organizations across the country, Morton invented his own cinematic tools - splicers, tripods, waterproof camera housings, etc. - to help him turn his favorite hobbies into complex narrative films. An avid boater and river runner, Al Morton transformed river trips with his friends, notable river guides like Don Harris and Jack Brennan, into carefully edited cinematic adventures that screened at public venues in the Salt Lake Valley and at other cinema clubs across the nation. Al Morton was named a Fellow of the Amateur Cinema League in 1946.
Extent
3 VHS
2 CD
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Alton Morton independent film collection (1947-1968, 2011) consists of amateur and professional films by Utah filmmaker and inventor Al Morton. Morton's films includes narrative films about river running on the Green and Colorado Rivers as well as tourism films featuring Utah's scenic desert Southwest and national parks commissioned by the Utah Tourist and Publicity Council and other public organizations. The collection also includes an interview with Morton's daughter, Darlene Phillips, about her father's filmmaking career. This collection is part of the Utah Independent Film Archive (UIFA).
Arrangement
Materials are arranged by subject matter
Processing Information
Processed by Roy Webb in 1998.
Creator
- Morton, Alton, 1905-1985 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Alton Morton independent film collection 1947-19682011
- Author
- Finding aid created by Roy Webb
- Date
- © 1998
- 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
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu