Dating to the 1960s, this episode of the TV show “America!”, hosted by actor Jack Douglas, is entitled “Prairie Paradise”. It showcases a ranch located near Jackson Hole, the Grand Tetons mountain range in Wyoming, and other locales. A bonus segment at the end of the episode shows the Legend City amusement park in Phoenix, Arizona. The park opened on June 29, 1963 and was demolished in 1983.

Jack Douglas introduces the episode (00:07). The Teton Range (00:23), the cabins at a dude ranch, and a long line of horseback riders along the mountainside (00:27). Titles (00:41). Cars drive through the mountains (00:42). The rich landscapes of the mountains (00:59) Travelers arrive in small planes at the local airport (01:15) and are welcomed by the “Turpin Meadow Ranch” owner (01:28). Cars reach the ranch (01:37). Landscape footage (01:44). The accommodation cabins at the ranch showed from the outside (01:56) and the inside occupied by a mother and her two sons (01:56). The ranch host, Burt Turner, explains available activities (02:10). Call for dinner (02:44). Ranch guests enter the dining hall (02:52). The chef is cooking in the kitchen (03:21). The ranch’s horse ranger speaks to the camera about how he cares for the horses (03:41). The horses are brought into a fenced area (03:53). Children learning how to ride horses (04:10) and attempt horse jumping (05:14). Burt Turner speaks to the camera about the children (05:46). A ranch employee calls guests for a Barbeque (06:05). The guests are eating grilled food by the riverside (06:18). The guests gather around a campfire (06:46). At the ranch Burt Turner shows a home movie (06:55). Guests are sat at tables playing dice games (07:01). The walls are decorated with bull moose and sheep heads (07:09). The sun sets over the mountaintops (07:14). Ranch employees pack supplies onto horsebacks (07:22). Guests and employees ride up the mountain (07:41). A cowboy is building a fire at the campsite (08:09). All riders arrive (08:13). Food is cooked over the fire and eaten (08:15). They ride back to the ranch (08:24). A man wearing waders strides through the river fishing (08:31). The fish are smoked in an upcycled refrigerator by the fisherman’s wife (08:44). A young English girl speaks to the camera about working on the ranch (09:10). A guest speaks to the camera about returning to Turpin Meadow Ranch every year (09:33). Footage of mountains and river (09:50). Guests are participating in a painting class in the meadows (10:26). Art school director speaks to the camera about the artist association (10:43). Landscape footage of mountains and meadows (11:59). The sunset over the mountains (12:17). The river between the mountainsides in daylight (12:24). Footage of the rich landscape (12:39). Guests are river rafting (13:28). “Snake River Float Trips” written on the door of a red truck (12:49). The rough water flows through river (13:23). They pause by the riverside, and eat chicken cooked over a bonfire (13:36). The river rafting continues (13:44). A ferry raft crosses the river operated by river currents (13:50). The town of Jackson with an old-time western atmosphere (14:18). A horse carriage arrives to the local theater with actors in costumes (14:32). The actors perform and the audience applause (15:00). On the street actors perform a comic stage robbery and pedestrians watch (16:26). Store-front signs are lit up after sunset (17:01). A married couple sing and play instruments (17:18). A sign from the “Triangle X Ranch” dude ranch (19:09). Numerous people riding horses on a meadow (19:14). A raven is sitting on a fence (19:19). The ranch guests are square-dancing inside a hall (19:24). A ranch employee is speaking to the camera about square-dancing (19:29). Footage of the mountains at nightfall (20:16). Landscape footage in daylight (20:45). A mountain with a “white scar” stemming from a great earth slide in 1925 (20:55). A damp erupted leaving only one building in the solitary town, Kelly (21:15). “Post Office” sign on the building (21:45). Visitors at “Tiny Chapel” admiring the mountain view behind the alter (21:55). Landscapes (22:16). Jack Douglas makes an outro (22:41) and introduces “An American Extra” feature (22:44). The feature contains footage and information about the “Legend City” entertainment park in Phoenix, Arizona, including different roller coasters and other amusements (22:47).

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com