Wetzel Whitaker

Who was Wetzel Whitaker?

"Judge" Wetzel Orson Whitaker was a prominent Mormon filmmaker. Most of the films he was involved in, such as The Windows in Heaven, Johnny Lingo and Pioneers in Petticoats, were made in cooperation with his brother Scott Whitaker. The two of them ran the BYU Motion Picture Studio during this time, receiving commission from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to make films.

Whitaker was born in Heber City, Utah and grew up primarily in Utah and Colorado. His nickname came from his brother calling him "Judge", comparing him to the local justice of the peace. He attended the Art Institute of Chicago and became the Art Director for the St. Louis Times. In the 1930s he moved to California, where he worked many years for Walt Disney as an animator.

From 1953 on, Whitaker directed the BYU Motion Picture Studio. In 1971 he was given an honorary doctorate by BYU and he retired from his work at the motion picture studio in 1974. Judge was succeeded by Jesse Stay, his Assistant Director.