Marty’s House: The Brightest Spot in Murray

After much insisting from his wife, Marty Slack put up a few strands of Christmas lights 21 years ago.

Each year, Marty, 48, added a few new items. His children were young and the idea was if there were no lights, Santa didn’t come.

Now the display is a spectacular array of moving lights and music.

“My favorite part is seeing my grandchildren’s eyes light up when they see it,” said Dave Godfrey, 60, of Murray.

The show draws people from other towns, states and countries. “I heard about this from a friend four years ago and we come every year,” said Sandy Hepworth who is from Portland, Ore., and was visiting relatives in the area.

The lights are up from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, beginning at 5:20 p.m., ending at 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The music is shut off at 9:30 p.m. After Christmas Day, the show ends at 10 p.m.

Marty’s house is at 5631 Whispering Pine Circle (5631 South 820 East). Go to www.christmasutah.com for directions and more information.

“It makes people happy and gives them memories,” he said. “That’s why I do it.”

Marty’s display has evolved from static decorations to moving pieces with synchronized music. People began driving by in the 90s. Marty, who plays the French horn, set up his brass quartet in the garage and performed several nights a week.

By 2001, he launched his website and the house drew huge crowds. City police were concerned about traffic backing up to Vine Street, so they began offering traffic control services.

Now Marty encourages people to park outside the neighborhood and walk to his house. There are a few parking spaces on the cul-de-sac where people can sit in their cars and see the lights. Motorists can tune into Marty’s radio station, 99.9 FM, to follow along with his music.

By 2003, he had synchronized his lights with music and voices via a computer program.

This year’s light display is a 20-minute show with dozens of entertaining animated segments. And this is only half of what Marty usually puts up. He had work demands this year and ran out of time. There are over 100,000 bulbs in the display. Marty said his electric bill in December rises about 20 percent above what it is in October; it’s actually less than the family pays for air conditioning in the summer, he said.

Marty starts putting up the display in September, doing a little bit at a time. He generally does it all by himself since it’s complicated and can be dangerous. “It’s like painting a picture,” he said. “You can’t go up to a portrait artist and offer to help him.”

Marty’s light display has changed people’s lives. One year a woman wrote to Marty and said she had had tragedy in her life and was depressed. She visited his light show every night for a week and “it reminded her about Christmas she had as a kid and all the good times she had” and that made her feel better. She wrote Marty a letter thanking him, he said.

One man told Marty his father had Alzheimer’s. The family brought the elderly man to see the lights and he brightened up and even danced in the street.

People have even gotten engaged in front of the display.

The neighbors support Marty’s hobby, but he does worry when a new neighbor moves in.

Marty’s light display has made national news several times. People around the world have copied some of his ideas for their own display. He is okay with that, as long as they are using it to make people happy – not selling it.

“I don’t do this for any type of recognition,” Marty said. “It’s just a gift to the community.”

Each of Marty’s display pieces has sentimental value and meaning. A big favorite for children is the video of the Santa in the window, the talking trees and the bubble blowing machine.