History: Movies, slides and traveling museum

Publisher’s note: This is reprinted from the January 1974 Lake Tahoe Historical Society newsletter.

By Nancy Felling

Lake Tahoe will soon be in the movies again, according to Lake Tahoe historical Society president Bill Craven. The history of the Tahoe Basin is being filmed as a joint project of the society and David Phillips, a graduate cinematography student at the University of Southern California.

The half hour color and sound presentation will be used by the society as part of its educational program, Craven said.

Filming began last fall and the movie, which will also be used by Phillips in obtaining his master’s degree, is scheduled to be completed this summer.

The movie will be available to Tahoe schools in both California and Nevada for use in conjunction with social studies programs. It will also be available for use by community organization and for showing at campgrounds during the summer.

Another visual aid currently being prepared by the society is a series of slide presentations on the various economic and influential periods on Lake Tahoe’s past. The slide program is being developed by South Tahoe Intermediate School teacher Chuck Lucas. Lucas serves as a member of the board of directors of the historical society.

In keeping with his philosophy that one of the most important jobs of the society is educational. Craven said he would like to see a traveling mini-museum established. He explained that a portable museum could take displays of various aspects of the basin’s past to schools and community centers.

Craven feels there is a possibility that old time residents who have hesitated to make a permanent donation of artifacts to the museum would donate items for a short term traveling display.

In addition to a mobile museum, Craven said the society is looking at other locations for its permanent collection. The Log Cabin Museum opened by the historical society in 1970 is just about outgrown.

In addition, it is impractical to keep the present museum open during the winter. According to Craven, there is a need not only for more display area but also for storage and workroom facilities.

Craven, manager of Fallen Leaf Lodge, said another major obligation of the group is preservation of artifacts and sites of historic importance. He said he would hope that some members of the organization would become specialists in evaluating which aspects of the past are of value and should be saved.

Although the society is unable to finance all preservation projects, Craven believes it should continue to take an active role in obtaining funds for his work.

For example, if the steamship “Tahoe” is ever raised from its water grave, Craven said he felt the society should play some part in it preservation and display.