For as long as I can remember I have always wished I could go to “Sun Valley, Idaho” during the early days of the 1940s and 50s. Skiing down the hill next to Bing Crosby and Gary Cooper (seriously, could you imagine???!!), drinking hot chocolate in my super stylish ski sweater with reindeer or skiers on it and ending my day sleeping in a chic ski cabin. Sigh…how fun! If I actually really think about it I think I fell in love with the whole idea after seeing the 1941 movie “Sun Valley Serenade” with Sonja Henie, which was such a magical and fun movie. Whatever the reasons, we can all agree as Vintage fans that Sun Valley of the past really did look like a vintage lovers dream.
So, as per tradition with my blog, lets look at some fun 1940s images & travel ads from this skiers paradise.
Let’s Visit Sun Valley!
1940’s Vintage Images & Travel Posters / Ads
First lets start off with Glenn Miller “It Happened in Sun Valley”, to get us in the mood….
Vintage 1940s Travel Poster for Sun Valley, Idaho featuring a woman in a downhill skiing outfit getting ready to hit the slopes.
Gary Cooper and Claudette Colbert looking so amazing. Love the sweater Mister Cooper. 1940s photo.
“Winter sports under a summer sun…Sun Valley Idaho”.
I love the skaters in the back of the below picture, so very cute.
1946 photo of skiers enjoying the sun after a good day of skiing. This is an outstanding photo! The two girls on the left are my favs for style. Look at the vintage hairstyles?! Drool.
1940s photo of a group of skiier’s in a car being driven somewhere in Sun Valley to enjoy the slopes.
As a past skier I do have to say that it is fun to ski when you can wear a t-shirt. Or in this ad..no shirt. Possibly a 1940s travel ad.
Here is another image from 1946 from a photo series by George Silk of skiers enjoying the warmth of the sun. That swimsuit has two thumbs up from me! Plus..anyone want a sandwich?
I just adore the 1940s looks in the travel ad. Look at all the fun things you can do beside skiing?
Would you like some entertainment while you ski? I’m a sucker for an accordion 🙂
There you have it, Vintage 1940s Sun Valley. Dreamy isn’t it?
FURTHER READING:
- Vintage Ski Posters 1930s-1950s
- Vintage Travel (Archived Blog Posts)
Lastly I will leave you with a superb number from Sun Valley Serenade with the Nicholas Brothers and Dorothy Dandridge.
Liz 🙂
These images are great! Maybe you could tag them “fashion” or “style” so others can see how neat they look.Heck, I would call them “art” more than most art. Makes me wish I were in Sun Valley, and I’ve never seen more than two inches of snow in my life.
Very good point on the tags. Thanks! I will do that as you are very right about how fashionable they are 🙂