Alaska Film Archives

[1982 Valdez Winter Carnival and winter activities]
[1982 Valdez Winter Carnival and winter activities]
Footage includes 1982 Valdez Winter Carnival scenes including families on a sled hill, snowmachines, Valdez scenes, a man and woman being interviewed (silent), church, and more snowmachines. Valdez winter activities include scenes of people playing baseball on snowshoes, totem pole sculptures, the Valdez harbor, and people in costumes jumping off a boat and swimming.
[1988 ivory carver; BIMA dredge at Nome]
[1988 ivory carver; BIMA dredge at Nome]
The filmmaker's original labeling scheme has film AAF-20,005 numbered as Bacon 1-01 and titled "Eskimo carver with old bold [bow] drill: WP [workprint]-100 feet." AAF-20,005 has not yet been digitized - it is the workprint for AAF-20,006, which the filmmaker's original labeling scheme has numbered as Bacon 1-02 and titled, "1988 ivory carver with drill in mouth: ECN [Eastman Color Negative]-100 feet." Reed Bovee interviewed filmmaker Bill Bacon in 2010, and the following information about these films is based on Bovee's notes from that interview: "Box 1 - 3 Small Reels, 1 Large Reel - Kotzebue, Nome, Original reels and Work Prints. BIMA is a floating dredge. Huge dredge was digging up gold bearing sand off Nome. Also other shots of Nome on same reel, ivory carver Pat, close up of head shots of dogs, dog team packed with dogs, tourists panning for gold and riding dog sleds, breakwater, tug and barge coming into channel, Front Street of Nome, ivory shop cut in to ivory carver, downtown Nome, the Nugget Inn on Front Street of Nome, Dredge 5 working." [Note that this description does not entirely match actual footage on reels - it is likely that portions of this description were meant for AAF-20,084].
[1988 ivory carver; BIMA dredge at Nome]
[1988 ivory carver; BIMA dredge at Nome]
The filmmaker's original labeling scheme has film AAF-20,008 numbered as Bacon 1-04 and titled "BIMA dredge: ECN,ECL-1,200 feet." Reed Bovee interviewed filmmaker Bill Bacon in 2010, and the following information about these films is based on Bovee's notes from that interview: "Box 1 - 3 Small Reels, 1 Large Reel - Kotzebue, Nome, Original reels and Work Prints. BIMA is a floating dredge. Huge dredge was digging up gold bearing sand off Nome. Also other shots of Nome on same reel, ivory carver Pat, close up of head shots of dogs, dog team packed with dogs, tourists panning for gold and riding dog sleds, breakwater, tug and barge coming into channel, Front Street of Nome, ivory shop cut in to ivory carver, downtown Nome, the Nugget Inn on Front Street of Nome, Dredge 5 working." [Note that this description does not entirely match actual footage on reels - it is likely that portions of this description were meant for AAF-20,084].
[Adler-Tollefson Family films - 7]
[Adler-Tollefson Family films - 7]
This film contains scenes of family activities that appear to be mostly outside the state of Alaska.
[Adler-Tollefson Family films - 8]
[Adler-Tollefson Family films - 8]
This film contains scenes of family activities that appear to be mostly outside the state of Alaska.
[Adler-Tollefson Family films - 9]
[Adler-Tollefson Family films - 9]
This film contains scenes of family activities that appear to be mostly outside the state of Alaska.
[Air shots of Kotzebue 1981]
[Air shots of Kotzebue 1981]
The filmmaker's original labeling scheme has AAF-20047 numbered as Bacon 11-01 and titled “Air Shots of Kotzebue 1981.” 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: “Chilkat dancers, carving on the largest totem pole - The Japanese were having a World’s Fair and they wanted to have the largest totem pole so they went to Haines to have it carved; it was huge - Inuit Circumpolar Conference meeting in Nuke, Greenland in 1980, beluga hunting in Kotzebue - In the evening when the hunters bring in the whales they cut them up and hang them to dry - Nome inside shots of Omiak - When he went to Egg Island, big Omiak Eskimos climbed up the cliffs and got the bird eggs, puffin and seagull eggs - They get up there and drop the eggs down to a guy that catches them, and then he gives them to a guy in a boat where he has a basket with grass in it and they fill up the baskets - Bill got up the hill and it was so slippery from bird droppings that he kept slipping so he could not get down - They had to go around and climb up to the top and drop a rope down to him and pull him up - Says it was really embarrassing.” Notes on the film box are as follows: “Barrow Nulakatuk, ICC Meeting Inuvik NWT Canada 1960, ICC meeting Nuuk Greenland July 1, 1980, Eskimos going to ECC Island out from Nome 1950, Kotzebue beluga hunters return at night 1950” and “Reel 1: Original, Air shots of Kotzebue Oct. 31 1981.”
[Alaska Environmental Center collection films and videos 1]
[Alaska Environmental Center collection films and videos 1]
The original Betamax videotape is labeled, “Larry Sutton, Northern Alaska Environmental Center; Alpha Video Betacam 3-26-87; Ulrich Ganz, Wilbur Mills.” The video contains silent footage of mountains and rivers in Alaska, kayakers in a variety of settings, people hiking, birds and nests, Dall sheep, bears, caribou, and tundra flowers.
[Alaskans]
[Alaskans]
The filmmaker's original labeling scheme has AAF-20081 numbered as Bacon 18-03 and titled “People - Alaskans.” 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: “Stan Price at his home - He is an old-timer who lived on Saxman Island - There were these bears and he knew them and he could walk around and they never bothered him because he knew them - He had a garden there - There is his obituary in the box - Riverboat in Nenana - It was put in down river from the bridge - They wanted to bring the riverboat up to Fairbanks so they had to wait until high water to get the boat up to Chena but it could not fit under the bridge - There was a big pole in the way so they had to take a big saw and cut enough of the pole to make it under the bridge - Homesteader Paul Elbert’s new D9 cat. He is cleaning his farmland outside of Fairbanks in a place called ‘Happy Valley.’” Notes on the film box are as follows: “Stan Price at his home with the bears, Rusty Heurlin at his log home in Ester June 1974, break-up 1961, Riverboat Nenana under the bridge in Nenana, coming up the Chena River tying up in Fairbanks, Obituary of Stanton Price” and “Reel 3: People – Alaskans.”
[Burrows Advertising commercials 1]
[Burrows Advertising commercials 1]
AAF-16092 is labeled, “Burrows No. 1 - Bill Burrows Master Edit Tape” and contains the following Fairbanks-area television commercials from about 1989: Mike’s Chevron and Dale’s Chevron - Dairy Queen Parfait; J.C. Penney - Jewelry; Tesco - Parts; J.C. Penney - Fall Wardrobe; Mike’s Chevron - Air Conditioning July 1988; Young’s Gear and Drivelines 1 to 3 - Spring 1989; Tip Top Chevrolet - Indiana Jones; Auto Service Company - What It Takes and Reasons; Tip Top Chevrolet - No Fine Print No. 1; Compeau’s - Skidoo Long Track and Performance; Auto Service Company - Service; Mike’s Chevron and Dale’s Chevron - Dairy Queen Sundae Paper Bag; Auto Service Company - August All Trac; and Tip Top Chevrolet - 1989 Sellathon.
[Burrows Advertising commercials 2]
[Burrows Advertising commercials 2]
AAF-16093 is labeled, “Burrows No. 2 - Bill Burrows Edit Master 9/89,” and it contains the following Fairbanks-area television commercials from 1989: Tip Top Chevrolet - Set Your Sights; Auto Service Company - Touch Down 1 and 2 and Cars Stacking; Mike’s Chevron - Atlas Tire Sale; Tip Top Chevrolet - Last Crusade and Anniversary ’57 Chevy; Young’s Gear and Drivelines - Positraction; Auto Service Company - Year End Clearance; Tip Top Chevrolet - 1990 Excited Lumina, 1990 Excited Tracker, 1990 Excited Storm, 1990 Excited 10 seconds, Bear Tracker, and Christmas 30 seconds and 10 seconds; Young’s Gear and Drivelines - C.V. Special; Tip Top Chevrolet - Back to the Future; Tesco - Electronics and Design and Parts; Mike’s Chevron and Dale’s Chevron - Super Dog; Tip Top Chevrolet - Anniversary 1990 [producer notes indicate this spot is “ok to use for 1993 sale”]; Campbell Sports - Pre-Season Bike; FLOT - Opera; Campbell Sports - Screens, Pre-Season Softball, and 90 Days; Dairy Queen 50 year anniversary; and Tip Top Chevrolet.
[Burrows Advertising commercials 3]
[Burrows Advertising commercials 3]
AAF-16094 is labeled, “Burrows No. 3 - Bill Burrows Edit Master” and contains the following Fairbanks-area television commercials from about 1990: Campbell’s Sports - Cycle Madness; Mike’s Chevron - U-Haul; Young’s Gear and Drivelines - Full Load; Cambell’s Sports - Rental and Trek Fest; Mike’s Chevron - Tire Sale 2; Tip Top Chevrolet - Reasons (with Roy, Deb, Ron, and Phil), Reasons (with Steve, Pat, Royce, and Larry), Reasons (with Jim, Scotty, Ron, and Roy), and Reasons (with Ralph the Dog); Fairbanks Camper Sales - Flair; Tip Top Chevrolet - Dick Tracy; Mike’s Chevron and Dal’s Chevron - Troy Dairy Queen; Tip Top Chevrolet - Golden Days 1990; Auto Service Company - Calibre; Compeau’s; Auto Service Company - No Trouble; Mike’s Chevron - Full Service; Tip Top Chevrolet - Southside and Bunny Hops Stationery; Campbell’s Sports - Season; Pike’s Landing - Menu 1 and 2; Mike’s Chevron - Atlas Tires; Sourdough Fuel - Saver; Tip Top Chevrolet - Mission, New Showroom 30 seconds, New Showroom 10 seconds 1 and 2; Shoppers Forum - Family 1 and 2; Tesco - Parts, Lighting, and Electronics; Fairbanks Fast Foto - Christmas Gift; Shoppers Forum - Yes Virginia 1-3; Compeau’s - Christmas Package; Campell’s Sports - Kids; and portion of car commercial rap.
[Bush pilot John Thompson]
[Bush pilot John Thompson]
The filmmaker's original labeling scheme has AAF-20080 numbered as Bacon 18-01 and titled “Bush Pilot John Thompson.” 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: “Stan Price at his home - He is an old-timer who lived on Saxman Island - There were these bears and he knew them and he could walk around and they never bothered him because he knew them - He had a garden there - There is his obituary in the box - Riverboat in Nenana - It was put in down river from the bridge - They wanted to bring the riverboat up to Fairbanks so they had to wait until high water to get the boat up to Chena but it could not fit under the bridge - There was a big pole in the way so they had to take a big saw and cut enough of the pole to make it under the bridge - Homesteader Paul Elbert’s new D9 cat. He is cleaning his farmland outside of Fairbanks in a place called ‘Happy Valley.’" Notes on the film box are as follows: “Stan Price at his home with the bears, Rusty Heurlin at his log home in Ester June 1974, break-up 1961, Riverboat Nenana under the bridge in Nenana, coming up the Chena River tying up in Fairbanks, Obituary of Stanton Price” and “ Reel 1: Bush pilot John Thompson.”
[Camping, outdoor scenes, and scenes from an airport]
[Camping, outdoor scenes, and scenes from an airport]
This footage features a woman on a swingset next to a lake, a woman and a man paddling a canoe, palm trees, a beach, a city, a woman modeling dresses and furs in front of a brick house, a well-dressed woman and man getting into a car in winter, driving, a woman and man getting out of a car, a landscape viewed from a moving vehicle, an airplane on the tarmac, two women boarding an airplane at an airport, an airplane being fueled at an airport, women picking produce in a field, a group of people eating at a picnic table, and airplanes taking off at the airport.
[Carving totem]
[Carving totem]
The filmmaker's original labeling scheme has AAF-20051 numbered as Bacon 11-05 and titled “Carving Totem for Japan World's Fair.” 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: “Chilkat dancers, carving on the largest totem pole - The Japanese were having a World’s Fair and they wanted to have the largest totem pole so they went to Haines to have it carved; it was huge - Inuit Circumpolar Conference meeting in Nuke, Greenland in 1980, beluga hunting in Kotzebue - In the evening when the hunters bring in the whales they cut them up and hang them to dry - Nome inside shots of Omiak - When he went to Egg Island, big Omiak Eskimos climbed up the cliffs and got the bird eggs, puffin and seagull eggs - They get up there and drop the eggs down to a guy that catches them, and then he gives them to a guy in a boat where he has a basket with grass in it and they fill up the baskets - Bill got up the hill and it was so slippery from bird droppings that he kept slipping so he could not get down - They had to go around and climb up to the top and drop a rope down to him and pull him up - Says it was really embarrassing.” Notes on the film box are as follows: “Barrow Nulakatuk, ICC Meeting Inuvik NWT Canada 1960, ICC meeting Nuuk Greenland July 1, 1980, Eskimos going to ECC Island out from Nome 1950, Kotzebue beluga hunters return at night 1950” and “Reel 5: Carving totem, Chilkat dancers, carving on largest totem pole outside, Eskimo dance at Nulakatuk, blanket toss, beluga kill.”
Children of Eek and their art
Children of Eek and their art
Teacher Paul Forer introduces the school children in Eek to different techniques in drawing pictures.
[Chilkat dancers, totem pole construction]
[Chilkat dancers, totem pole construction]
The filmmaker's original labeling scheme has AAF-20,004 numbered as Bacon 12-5 and titled "Chilkat Indian Dancers, World's Largest Totem Pole Construction, Carl Heinmiller, Whale House, Klukwon, Potlatch Trough: Orig [original]-300 feet." See AAF-20,054 -- AAF-20,061 for associated items originally labeled Bacon 12-1 through 12-4, and Bacon 12-6 though 12-9. Reed Bovee interviewed filmmaker Bill Bacon in 2010, and the following information about these films is based on Bovee's notes from that interview: "Box 12 - 9 Reels, 1 black & white picture - Picture in box of Carl Heinmiller dancing. Picture doing the bear dance. Whale House clan at Klukwan inside Whale House. Different upright poles; they had moved the old Whale House. They had four posts and one was a Strong Man Totem that describes a man pulling a killer whale apart and his father fell out of the whale. A Girl and Worm Totem pole; she was put into the totem pole to save until she became eligible for the chief to marry. She wanted to get out so a worm came along and ate all around the wood so she could escape. Potlatch trough was a huge log approximately 30 feet long. They dug all the wood out, carved it with head on the front, legs on the back and that is where they put all the food for a potlatch..."
[Chuck Gray film collection addition 1]
[Chuck Gray film collection addition 1]
The original reel and can notes for AAF-10075 are: “Shee fishing, 1987 review, miscellaneous Clearwater, and miscellaneous fishing.” The footage includes the Blankenship Trading Post in Kiana, men eating inside a cabin, people fishing from boats, an airplane on skis, men setting beaver traps, an airplane cockpit, men hunting (in Wisconsin?), a tracked vehicle, a cabin home in winter, fishing and river travel in Alaska, a moose, a fox, people dipnetting, airplanes on floats, and a boat with “Kobuk Camp” painted on the side.
[Chuck Gray film collection further addition 6]
[Chuck Gray film collection further addition 6]
Footage features scenes of flying supplies in to establish a hunting camp in the Brooks Range. Airplanes include a Pilatus Porter, Cessna 170 (?) and Piper Super Cub. Additional footage includes moving supplies with an Argo off-road vehicle and a ground squirrel.
[Chuck Gray film collection further addition 7]
[Chuck Gray film collection further addition 7]
This footage features men clearing land with a small John Deere dozer, building a small cabin, and hunting sheep.
[Collapsed roof on building]
[Collapsed roof on building]
This video shows a building labeled "J & O Drilling," a collapsed building covered in snow, the inside of a collapsed building with the roof of the building resting on a large truck inside, a camper in the collapsed building, and a view of the inside roof of the collapsed building.
[David and Mike Doxey Film collection 1]
[David and Mike Doxey Film collection 1]
This original film was labeled "Umiat." Footage includes snowmachine travel, ice fishing, a large burbot, pulling nets, Umiat (?), people working on snowmachines, several DeHaviland Twin Otter airplanes arriving, scenery and snowmachine travel, a dead moose killed by wolves (?), and additional North Slope scenes.
[David and Mike Doxey Film collection 2]
[David and Mike Doxey Film collection 2]
Footage includes a family ice fishing, men with ptarmigan, Summit Lake on Richardson Highway, a cabin, a hunting camp, riverboats, freeze-up and windy winter scenes, snowmachines, camping on Homer Spit, river scenes, grayling fishing, and hunting camp scenes.
[David and Mike Doxey Film collection 4]
[David and Mike Doxey Film collection 4]
This film is labeled "Hunting 1980, Anaktuvuk 1981, Minto 1981, Yukon 1981." Footage includes a family at a hunting camp, airplanes, a man hand-propping a Super Cub airplane on skis, an airplane in flight and landing on snow, a Cessna on skis landing, men on snowshoes ice fishing, airplanes taking off, aerial view of a Cat train, Mike Doxey and Jerry Halberg travelling by riverboat and pike fishing, a Yukon 800 riverboat, a Cessna floatplane taking off from a lake and returning to land, aerial view of forest fires, travel by riverboat, fishing and a tent camp, ice pans on a river, and a man pulling a fishing net.
[Dog mushing and travel, Haul Road and skiing 1]
[Dog mushing and travel, Haul Road and skiing 1]
AAF-10401 is made up of several smaller reels of film. Handwritten notes on the original film boxes are as follows: “Dog sledding Alaska M 73/74?” “Coming into Seattle, Wash on jumbo jet, flight back to Fairbanks, snowmobiling with pastor and Roadie in Canwell.” “Chena River.” “B-52 good, Ferrons snow machines.” “Yukon the cat small part of roll.” “Flight to Fort Yukon, Circle, Arctic and cross fox, Lilly, wedding coming out of church – good picture X fox (winter) Atigun Pass, also silver fox gobbler knob, short picture tanker at PS1 flags flying, flying to Fort Yukon with Steve, Bev and I.” “Flight and Wyoming.” “Wyoming, me on horseback, corral.” “Wyoming hunting 3.” This film contains footage of dog mushing near Fairbanks, a helicopter landing, an Alaska Dog Mushers Association and Open North American sign, airplanes and aerial views, snow machines, river travel and an old cabin, a boy fishing, a USAF military airplane, snowmachines, a church, a kitten, aerial views, village scenes, a fox, a wedding, more aerial views, outside travel, Yellowstone National Park, and horseback riding.
[Dog mushing and travel, Haul Road and skiing 2]
[Dog mushing and travel, Haul Road and skiing 2]
AAF-10402 is made up of several smaller reels of film. Handwritten notes on original film boxes are as follows: “Trading post w/ Bev PO etc. – Bev in Gemes[?] stove, winter time.” “Truck Haul Road turning in Coldfoot Camp, Bev with Chena Dogs, Steve S, OK.” “Wild Lake with Gordons, river trip, truck.” “Jon and I skiing, snowmobiling at Chandler good.” “Jon and Dad at Chandlar skiing, cat train good, my new truck with Boss in Fbks.” “Skiing over Camaro, Haul Road winter accidents.” “Jon, Greg, sheep, skiing.” “Greg and Jon skiing down Atigun Pass, Fbks post office.” “Atigun Pass south, Flying with Les Zerbik[?] Waren McAllister.” This film contains footage of airplanes and cabins, a US Post Office, Haul Road scenes, airplanes on floats, fishing, snow machines, skiing, an ice-road train?, ski jumping over a car, overturned trucks on the Haul Road, dall sheep, winter scenes and skiing along the Haul Road, and aerial views of mountains and a road.
[Drag racing, air show, parade, construction, family, Haul Road 1]
[Drag racing, air show, parade, construction, family, Haul Road 1]
AAF-10405 is made up of several smaller reels of film. Handwritten notes on original film boxes are as follows: “Upside down truck, ag plane 28 mi, grizzlies feeding.” “Jon racing Eric’s car in drags.” “Jon’s Camarao 128 mph, Glennallen airshow 85.” “Glacier Bay 2, Jon popping wheelies, Severn’s.” “Sheep running on Atigun Pass, Bev and Katie with truck, Sheep on Atigun Pass and Katie B with cat 1983.” “Fire bombing, Henry’s, parade 1983.” “Golden Days parade 1983.” “Last part of Jon on porch very young, caribou.” “Stream[?], grizzly, Chezhs house, gold dredge, Cleary Summit, Bob Farmer, wife, Bev, Fairbanks Cr.” “Plane landing at Atigun Vern Bates, Wiseman caribou under pipeline, owl [?], Wiseman village, unloading truck at Wiseman, Vern Bate down in Haul Rd, Good pick adult caribou shot glimpse grizzly, caribou under pipeline.” This film contains footage of an overturned truck, flowers, a biplane airplane, bears, an airplane crashed on a road, drag racing, parachutists, an airshow, a post office, caribou, ice formations?, flowers, the Fairbanks airport, Alaskaland, a Golden Days celebration in Fairbanks, firebombers dropping retardant, motorcycles, family scenes, a cabin-building, an owl, a homestead, an airplane on a road, bears, caribou, and the pipeline.
[Drag racing, air show, parade, construction, family, Haul Road 2]
[Drag racing, air show, parade, construction, family, Haul Road 2]
AAF-10406 is made up of several smaller reels of film. Handwritten notes on original film boxes are as follows: “Good of mud going up Chandlar shelf, get caribou from Song River, caribou truck, caribou on Peterbuilt hood, Jason and Loren 18 mo old on porch.” “Children Jason, Loren, Larissa, Summer 1981, Nani’s house.” “Grandchildren sliding 1983.” “Jason, Priscilla, Bev, Jason on Haul Road, Livengood Gold Mining Camp.” “Train, RR crossing, Bud Wilson and I Atigun Pass, L and Larry wedding.” This film contains footage of men building something from wood, road construction on a muddy road, men with caribou racks posing near a truck, young children playing and posing for the camera, family scenes, a family in winter sledding downhill on an innertube and down a roadway on runner sleds, a snowmachine pulling people and sleds uphill, a mountain reflection in water, people at ERA Helicopters Inc.'s North Slope Operations Center in Deadhorse, a Wien airplane taxiing on a runway, a child with a trucker driving a truck, a man changing a tire on a truck, llamas or alpacas along a road, an overturned truck, driving on a muddy road as seen from the driver’s perspective, construction on a very muddy road, a wedding, a just-married car in winter, a truck driving on icy roads, railroad crossings with Alaska Railroad cars going by, truckers putting chains on tires, snowy roads and trees, and dog mushing activities near Fairbanks.
[Dredge, Nome]
[Dredge, Nome]
The filmmaker's original labeling scheme has film AAF-20,084 numbered as Bacon 19-2, and it's titled, "Dredge: 600 feet." Reed Bovee interviewed filmmaker Bill Bacon in 2010, and the following information about these films is based on Bovee's notes from that interview: "Box 19 - 2 Medium Reels - To do with the mining in Nome 1988." [Note that description information for AAF-20,008 was likely intended for AAF-20,083 -- AAF-20,084 as follows: "BIMA is a floating dredge. Huge dredge was digging up gold bearing sand off Nome. Also other shots of Nome on same reel, ivory carver Pat, close up of head shots of dogs, dog team packed with dogs, tourists panning for gold and riding dog sleds, breakwater, tug and barge coming into channel, Front Street of Nome, ivory shop cut in to ivory carver, downtown Nome, the Nugget Inn on Front Street of Nome, Dredge 5 working."]