Saddle up for a ride through film making in Arizona’s Little Hollywood

PHOENIX – Sedona’s history as a Hollywood filming location began in 1923 with an adaptation of Zane Grey’s book Call of the Canyon. Since then, over 100 films have been shot on location in Sedona, its iconic towers of red rock attracting dozens of Westerns at the height of their popularity in the mid-twentieth century. Film production became such an important industry in Sedona that a lodge, sound stage, and numerous film sets were erected over the years. The actors and activity surrounding the sets often drew in tourists, setting the stage for Sedona’s flourishing tourism industry today. Photos of John Wayne, Joan Crawford, and Elvis Presley are just a few of the over 80 photographs shared in the Arizona's Little Hollywood- Movies Made in Sedona collection.

“We are thrilled to share images from our collection that illustrate some of those moments when the casting of Sedona scenery, movie stars and residents led to memorable cinematic moments,” said Janeen Trevillyan, historian and museum board president. “This is the Sedona Heritage Museum’s third collection to be added to the Arizona Memory Project, an outreach platform otherwise not feasible for a small volunteer organization like ours.”

Researchers of the Arizona's Little Hollywood- Movies Made in Sedona collection on the Arizona Memory Project can view the collection indefinitely and on any digital device at http://go.azsos.gov/sedonamovies.

For questions about this or any digital collection, or for cultural institutions interested in sharing collections on the Arizona Memory Project, contact [email protected].

The Arizona Memory Project provides free online access to the wealth of primary sources in Arizona archives, museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions. The Arizona Memory Project is supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

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