Alaska Film Archives

[Farrar buggy, scenes outside Alaska]
[Farrar buggy, scenes outside Alaska]
The original film is labeled “Ray Farrar and buggy, me and Champ, Tom shoveling snow – Michigan, Toni on water ski, Siebert and deer.” The film contains scenes of a dog pulling a loaded sled, brief aerial views of a town and an airport landing strip, a large vehicle with many tires moving across the tundra, sections of pipe being hauled by vehicle, a demonstration of a vehicle’s ability to travel smoothly over rough terrain, a small airplane taking off from an airport, John Baker repairing the tail of an airplane, snow storm scenes, a workshop's interior, a deer near a barn, a man posing with a deer, a pheasant in snow, men moving a raft of logs, a water chute and logging operation, a man water skiing, and an airplane on floats landing on water. Some scenes were filmed outside Alaska.
[Ferry from Haines to Skagway, Dyea graveyard and waterfront]
[Ferry from Haines to Skagway, Dyea graveyard and waterfront]
The filmmaker's original labeling scheme has AAF-20042 numbered as Bacon 10-02 and titled “Ferry from Haines to Skagway, North Star, Dyea Graveyard, Water Front, Old Buildings.” Reed Bovee interviewed filmmaker Bill Bacon in 2010, and the following information about the group of films that includes this film is based on Bovee's notes from that interview: “Carl Heinmiller repairs mask - He started the saving of the Tlingit culture - Carl was a WWII veteran - He came back and bought the houses for Chilkat at Haines - He bought two or three of the quarters that the army used and had them repaired - State ferry coming into Haines, pass by North Star landing at Skagway, the old pilings at the waterfront at Skagway; that is where the ships used to come in - It is all worn out now - This is where they used to have the dock.” Notes on the film box that pertain to this film are as follows: “Reel 2: 1986, Ferry from Haines to Skagway, Old Dyea, LeConte State Ferry leaves Haines for Skagway, pass by North Star, landing at Skagway, Dyea graveyard, Dyea old piles at waterfront, Dyea old buildings.”
[Ferry, Tenakee Hot Springs, dock]
[Ferry, Tenakee Hot Springs, dock]
The filmmaker's original labeling scheme has AAF-20041 numbered as Bacon 10-01 and titled “Ferry Pass-Bys, Tenakee Hot Springs, Dock Ferry.” Reed Bovee interviewed filmmaker Bill Bacon in 2010, and the following information about the group of films that includes this film is based on Bovee's notes from that interview: “Carl Heinmiller repairs mask - He started the saving of the Tlingit culture - Carl was a WWII veteran - He came back and bought the houses for Chilkat at Haines - He bought two or three of the quarters that the army used and had them repaired - State ferry coming into Haines, pass by North Star landing at Skagway, the old pilings at the waterfront at Skagway; that is where the ships used to come in - It is all worn out now - This is where they used to have the dock.” Notes on the film's box that pertain to this film are as follows: “Reel 1: 1986, Original, Ferry pass-by’s, Tenakee hot springs from the water, on ground – flying kites, street scenes, dock ferry, people selling on the dock."
Films North
Films North
Film contains scenes of artist Fred Machetanz beginning work on a painting in his studio, outside in winter stacking firewood, and in his studio finishing a painting of polar bears.
[Finish glaze work]
[Finish glaze work]
Film contains close-up scenes of a 1976 Machetanz painting.
[Fire fighters at Vundik Lake]
[Fire fighters at Vundik Lake]
This film gives a detailed view of many aspects of fighting the Vundik Lake forest fire in the Yukon Flats. Footage includes fire fighters lying and detonating long rope-like explosives along the moss, helicopters delivering supplies, a flying boxcar airplane dropping retardent, fire fighters using waterbags and branches to beat back fire on the ground, a helicopter with a water bucket dropping water on the fire, a sign reading "Welcome to Vundik Lake", a fire fighters' camp, aerial views of a PBY Catalina water bomber scooping water from Vundik Lake, and aerial views of the fire line and fire fighters.
[Football games, basketball games]
[Football games, basketball games]
This footage shows a night time football game being played outdoors and under lights on a baseball field that was converted into a football field [possibly Griffin Park in Fairbanks?], a football game being played on a snowy field in Fairbanks, and women's basketball games being played in a gymnasium. [Teams in both the football and basketball games wear red and gold uniforms, so they might be from West Valley High School in Fairbanks].
[Fort Chilkoot region]
[Fort Chilkoot region]
The first section includes intertitles is titled "Transportation in Alaska." Footage includes a car on a narrow road and being pulled through snow by horses, Native men in a small boat poling on a river, a boat identified as a "war canoe," men with horses in a pack-train, a man on snowshoes, sled dog teams pulling sleds, ocean travel on a ship in rough seas, a White Pass and Yukon Railroad rotary snowplow working and travel on the route, a flying boat, aerial views of the A-J mine in Juneau, a puppy pulling a child on a small sled followed by an intertitle of "the end". Additional footage includes a young boy and man walking a black bear on a chain, troops on snowshoes and skiis in parade grounds at Fort Chilkoot, a child playing in snow, a man shovelling snow, a child sledding, people riding in a dogsled and mushing through a town and woods, men with a horse drawn sled, children sledding and skiing, a young girl, people with a baby during baptism, family scenes with children inside a home, and couples including a military officer dancing and mugging for the camera.
[Fort Wainwright 1970s]
[Fort Wainwright 1970s]
This film contains scenes from the early 1970s of troops at Fort Wainwright boarding a C-130 aircraft, aerial views of the landscape, and scenes of soldiers with parachutes exiting the aircraft.
[Fred and Sara Machetanz]
[Fred and Sara Machetanz]
Film contains scenes of Fred Machetanz working on a 1975 painting and signing his name in the corner, driving on a snowy road, and painting in his studio. This is followed by scenes of Sara Machetanz skiing with a white dog and snow-covered mountains near Palmer.
[Fred Machetanz]
[Fred Machetanz]
Film contains scenes of artist Fred Machetanz at work in his studio, sign for “Hilscher Highway – Private Road,” scenes of driving along a snowy road as seen from inside a car, and signs pointing toward Machetanz property.
[Fred Machetanz outdoors and indoors]
[Fred Machetanz outdoors and indoors]
Film contains scenes of Fred Machetanz and another man using a chain saw and ax to fell and cut up trees for firewood, men driving along a snowy road, and Fred Machetanz stacking firewood then painting in his studio
[Fred Machetanz painting]
[Fred Machetanz painting]
Film contains scenes of Fred Machetanz’s studio and the artist at work inside his studio. He uses his fingers to blend color on a painting, draws with charcoal, and applies color to another painting.
[Ft. Richardson and ATG and Lend-Lease aircraft with Russian markings at Nome, Turnagain by the Sea development and ATG... 3]
[Ft. Richardson and ATG and Lend-Lease aircraft with Russian markings at Nome, Turnagain by the Sea development and ATG... 3]
Part 3 (AAF-1544) footage includes a sternwheeler, Eskimo dancers, a bear cub, Eskimo men gathering eggs and catching birds in flight, a tent, umiaks, loading freight in Nome, hauling meat with dog sleds, Governor Gruening swearing in Alaska Territorial Guard members, ATG members with rifles and during marching drills, Muktuk Marston, a snowblower in Nome, ATG headquarters in Nome (image reversed), Governors Gruening and Dewey, title screens and a map, a dog team and reindeer hooked to a sled, Muktuk Marston with a puppy and swearing in ATG members, dog team travel, aerial views of mountains, captive bear cubs, Governor Dewey in a red parka, and more aerial views of mountains.
[Fur Rendezvous, dog races, Fairbanks, Anchorage and Matanuska Valley]
[Fur Rendezvous, dog races, Fairbanks, Anchorage and Matanuska Valley]
Footage includes a merry-go-round and a wolf dance at the Fur Rendezvous, the World Championship sled dog races in Anchorage, the Open North American sled dog races in Fairbanks, Roland "Doc" Lombard with a trophy, giant cabbages, Chilkat dancers in Haines, High Ridge, downtown Fairbanks, the University of Alaska campus in Fairbanks, Dr. Vic Hessler, an ice bridge across University Avenue in Fairbanks, a man tying reindeer to a truck bumper, a fur auction, dog races and an Eskimo Wolf Dance at the Fur Rendezvous, a radar site, soldiers eating a meal in a field during winter, military base housing, berries, harvesting grain, dogs, an Anchorage sign, a small well-drilling truck in High Ridge, Ernest Gruening, a health clinic, a mechanic working on a truck, a ski plane being moved and taking off from High Ridge lake during winter, Sara Machetanz paintings, Traeger Machetanz, a statehood headline, fly fishing, an Air France plane, glaciers in the Southeast, and men taking a canoe upriver to fish for grayling.
[Fur Rendezvous, polar bear, Kotzebue, Nome, Unalakleet, kayak races]
[Fur Rendezvous, polar bear, Kotzebue, Nome, Unalakleet, kayak races]
Footage features an Alaska Native dance demonstration in front of a crowd on an Anchorage baseball field, a blanket toss, and dog mushers racing across a flat area; polar bears on ice in Northern Alaska; the Kotzebue waterfront, fish drying on racks, children, the post office, the trading post, the Wien Arctic Hotel, a whalebone, and Alaska Native women and a man with closeup views of their faces; Native dancing in Nome with King Island Chief Aulaġana (John Olarana or Olaranna) and others, a blanket toss, and fish drying on racks; the Unalakleet waterfront with kayaks and an airplane on floats, kayak races, and a demonstration of a kayak roll by a man wearing a gutskin parka. The film is made from three shorter reels of film spliced together. The original boxes are labeled as follows: 1) Fur Rendezvous – 100’ $30.00 - #60013. 2) #54 Polar Bear - $15.00. 3) #28 Kotzebue, Unalakleet, Nome, Kayak Races.
[George Steck collection 01]
[George Steck collection 01]
This footage includes downhill ski races at Skiland on the Steese Highway, views from Cleary Summit during summer, a Ski Patrol competition at Skiland, a Goldpanner baseball game at Growden Park, people skydiving and testing a parachute on the ground, and a black bear hide. Footage at Murphy Dome includes antennae and dishes covered with hoar frost, an Aktiv Fischer Snow Trac operating, a snowman, buildings, Caterpillar tractors, and husky dogs playing.
[George Steck collection 02]
[George Steck collection 02]
This footage from Nenana includes the tripod on the Tanana River, a bridge, Nenana Ice Poll Tower and Watchman's building, and town scenes.
[George Steck collection 03]
[George Steck collection 03]
Scenes from the Miss Fairbanks contest in March of 1968. The footage also features singing and ballet performances.
[George Steck collection 04]
[George Steck collection 04]
Footage includes winter scenery near Murphy Dome, very snowy streets and cars at Second and Cushman in Fairbanks, mushers preparing for sled dog races downtown, and sled dog races on Second Avenue.
[George Steck collection 05]
[George Steck collection 05]
Footage includes the opening ceremony and activities for the Eskimo Olympics filmed inside the Gold Dome at Alaskaland.
[George Steck collection 06]
[George Steck collection 06]
Footage features Women's North American sled dog racers starting from the Alaska Dog Mushers Association on Farmers Loop.
[George Steck collection 07]
[George Steck collection 07]
Footage from around Fairbanks includes participants in a Safe Driving Auto Rodeo held in the Penneys parking lot on Cushman Street.
[George Steck collection 08]
[George Steck collection 08]
This footage features scenes from the Big Dipper ice arena in March of 1969. It includes ice show performers and Olympic medal winner Jo Jo Starbuck.
[George Steck collection 09]
[George Steck collection 09]
Footage includes skiers, rope tow, and Roger Evans throwing snowballs at the camera. Notes on the original film can say "May 67, Skiland view from head of tow, closeup of group including Bob Parrish, tow shack operator hans Fischer about to make a run, Frank Marion making run down bowl, group at bottom of bowl, Keith Harris skiing with case of beer, GP on hill throwing snowballs"
[George Steck collection 10]
[George Steck collection 10]
This footage features various people waterskiing on Birch Lake in July of 1967.
[George Steck collection 11]
[George Steck collection 11]
This film was recorded shortly after the opening of the Alaska 67 Exposition Park, A-67, and prior to the August 1967 flood. Footage includes perspectives from the Ferris Wheel, an upside down perspective from the Ferris Wheel, a hammer ride, a nurse fashion parade, views of the park and people in costumes, and a hot air balloon launch.
[George Steck collection 12]
[George Steck collection 12]
Footage featuring A-67, including equipment and people panning for gold at the mining village, people in costumes, views of park buildings, the Riverboat Nenana, and a band.
[George Steck collection 13]
[George Steck collection 13]
Footage includes the Binley Family Riverboat Discovery I, a group of people traveling down the Tanana River to Nenana on the Discovery, and people stopping for a picnic and to look at old buildings along the way.
[George Steck collection 14]
[George Steck collection 14]
Footage includes a parade in Fairbanks for the opening day of Alaska 67 Exposition A-67, an opening day ceremony with a boy scout color guard and military band, Captain Jim Binkley at a podium with dignitaries (including Governor Wally Hickel and Burl Ives), a ride around the park on an A-67 train, scenes from around the park, a woman on stilts, and a hot-air balloon being launched