Area influence on movie industry featured at Galt

Lethbridge and area has had a long association with the movie industry, from presenting films on the big screen to serving as a film backdrop, and even to producing people who have gone on to work in the industry.

A new exhibit coming to the Galt Museum & Archives will showcase southwestern Alberta’s varied connections to films. The exhibit, “Cinescapes: Movies in Southwestern Alberta,” will open May 19, then will be the focus of “The Curator Presents…” event May 27 from 2-3 p.m., with Galt curator Aimee Benoit presenting an insider’s view of the exhibit.

The launch event will include redcarpet treatment for visitors and fun movie trivia presented by Chris Epplett of the University of Lethbridge History Department.

Museum admission fees will apply, but the event is free to Galt annual pass and invitation holders.

While the city has long been home to venues showing films (Lethbridge’s first theatre opened in 1907), the area also has a long history as a location for filmmakers, beginning back in 1920 with “Cameron of the Royal Mounted,” a silent movie produced by Ernest G. Shipman. The Galt exhibit will feature a clip from that film.

“Cinemascapes” will also feature southern Albertans who have been involved in the movie industry, including Faye Wray, who starred in the 1933 classic “King Kong.” She originally hailed from Cardston. More recently, Eugene Brave Rock from the Kainai Reserve was featured in the 2017 film “Wonder Woman.”

“A lot of people from Lethbridge and southwestern Alberta have been successful in various aspects of filmmaking,” says Benoit.

“Cinemascapes” will feature handson items and audio-visual components to give visitors a real behind-the-scenes look at moviemaking.

The exhibit will be on display until Sept. 3.