Alaska Film Archives

[Art class]
[Art class]
Film contains scenes of a classroom full of artists sketching and painting as a male model sits in a chair at the front of the classroom. Fred Machetanz sketches and paints, and he instructs other artists at their easels or as they look over his shoulder. Fred Machetanz looks at and talks about a display of sketches, swatches and paintings with labels such as “1935 Alaska Unalakleet” and “Materials, Pigments, Glazing,” etc.
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.
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.
[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.
[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.
[KTVF news stories, hospital construction, Main School, College Post Office]
[KTVF news stories, hospital construction, Main School, College Post Office]
Some segments of film contain audio, and others are silent. Specific dates and other information noted on the original film are given here in parentheses. The footage includes breakup scenes, melting snow and ice, a Dairy Queen, downtown Fairbanks streets, a story about the arrival of spring (undated) (sound), people gathered to listen to a speaker (story titled "U of A Rally #2") (undated) (silent), Dr. Wells being interviewed about an art workshop for children, kids working on crafts (undated) (sound), a fire Marshall and others testing fire retardants (undated) (sound), open piles of burning trash at the City of Fairbanks Refuse Disposal Area (story titled "Dump Fire") (undated) (sound), an architect being interviewed about progress on the construction of the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, exterior and interior views of hospital construction, a check being presented to Dr. William Wood (undated) (sound), scenes from a science fair at Ryan High School (undated) (sound), a story about the development of the Easter egg (undated) (sound), a person in an outhouse costume with sign encouraging a "yes" vote on the sewer bond issue (undated) (sound), men being interviewed about damage and disrepair at Main Junior High School, kids going to class (undated) (sound), men being interviewed about a pilot training program at the University of Alaska (undated) (sound), interior and exterior views of College Post Office (undated) (silent), outdoor wedding ceremony scenes (undated) (silent), police investigating a crime at an apartment building (1971) (silent), Senator Ted Stevens addressing a group of teenagers at the Alaska Boys State mock legislative session at Copper Valley School, Senator Stevens talking about the proposed Cannikin Atomic test on Amchitka Island (June 14, 1971) (sound), a meeting, a story about a school board and budget cuts (June 9, 1971) (sound), a swearing-in ceremony (June 15, 1971) (silent), a meeting (story titled "Assembly") (June 5, 1971) (silent), meeting scenes (segment titled "Alaska DLON [?]") (June 7, 1971) (silent), a man being interviewed about a new BLM firetruck (probably 1971) (sound), a man being interviewed about telephone wires and ductwork installation (segment titled "Mobius - MUS") (June 25, 1971) (sound), a state trooper investigating a charge of flag abuse at a cabin involving a couple displaying an American flag with a peace sign on it (1971) (sound), a policeman driving on a course, and a policeman being interviewed about car safety features (1971) (sound).
[KTVF news stories, interviews, Kaktovik Post Office, Fairbanks schools]
[KTVF news stories, interviews, Kaktovik Post Office, Fairbanks schools]
Some segments of film contain a soundtrack, and others are silent. Specific dates and other information noted on the original film are given here in parentheses. The footage includes a man being interviewed about the city dump (August, 1972) (sound), a man being interviewed about his life in Barrow and about environmental aspects of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline (August 14, 1972) (sound), people cleaning up the fairgrounds and repairing buildings at the Tanana Valley Fairgrounds (August 14, 1972) (silent), a woman being interviewed at the University of Alaska Fairbanks about a leadership seminar, students in a classroom (August 15, 1972) (sound/silent), a man speaking to an audience (no date) (silent), people attending a Unimart conference and viewing Alaskan art and other items (August 15, 1972) (silent), scenes from the Tanana Valley Fair (August 14, 1972) (sound), men stepping off a airplane, military men talking to a man in civilian attire (title of segment is "Froehlke") (August 16, 1972) (silent), road construction (title of segment is "Big Bend") (August 18, 1972) (silent), exterior and interior views of the Whole Earth Exchange building in Fairbanks (August 19, 1972) (silent), the Pompeo Hall building, a man being interviewed about Assembly budget matters (August 21, 1972) (sound), a man meeting with a young couple near City Hall in downtown Fairbanks (title of segment is "Couples") (August 22, 1972) (silent), a man looking at a book (August 23, 1972) (silent), scenes from an International Arctic Aviation Conference (February 25, 1972) (sound), Golden Heart trophies being displayed on a table (August 23, 1972) (silent), new University of Alaska ambulance being demonstrated (August 24, 1972) (sound), the Kaktovik Post Office modular building being loaded onto an Interior Airways Hercules cargo airplane, Assistant Regional Postmaster General Russell E. James being interviewed (August 24, 1972) (sound), exterior and interior views of Fairbanks Main School, views of the building's deterioration (August 29, 1972) (sound), men signing documents (August 30, 1972) (silent), a church building's exterior, classroom scenes at Monroe School (August 30, 1972) (silent?), smoke in the distance (title of segment is "Grass Fire") (August 30, 1972) (silent), firefighters battling a house fire (title of segment is "Byrdsong Fire") (September 1, 1972) (silent), views of various Fairbanks hotels, a woman being interviewed about elderly residents being removed from hotels so that buildings can be torn down (September 2, 1972) (silent/sound), Central American oil facilties and workers (segment titled "Equador Oil") (September 2, 1972) (silent), a man being interviewed, a demonstration garden at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (September 2, 1972) (sound), bonfires [?] (no date) (sound), Lathrop High School, classroom scenes, buses, a man being interviewed about traffic concerns (September 6, 1972) (silent/sound), a man being interviewed about new weather service offices (September 7, 1972) (sound), Fairbanks fire department trucks (September 9, 1972) (silent), spectators watching firemen participate in various events at a firefighter competition (September 9, 1972) (silent), interior views of dorm rooms at the University of Alaska (September 11, 1972) (silent), people in an assembly, Mayor John Wright[?] of North Pole speaking, and the christening of a new building (title of segment is "North Pole Sewer and Water") (September 11, 1972) (silent).
[KTVF news stories, interviews, meetings]
[KTVF news stories, interviews, meetings]
Some segments of this film contain a soundtrack, and others are silent. Specific dates and other information noted on the original film are given here in parentheses. The film features interior views of a conference room; a story about new chairs for council members (December 4, 1972) (sound); military personnel at a public hearing (segment is titled "Blair Lakes") (December 5, 1972) (silent); a public meeting with Mike Gravel, Ted Stevens, Harold Gillam, and others in attendance; exterior views of Moore Hall at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (segment is titled "Building") (December 8, 1972) (silent); a public hearing about budget issues; Fairbanks Mayor Harold Gillam and others being interviewed about Alaskaland budgeting (December 12, 1972) (silent and sound); a military general being interviewed about his experiences in Alaska and his upcoming assignment in Germany (segment is titled "Hall") (December 20, 1972) (sound); members of the Joint Federal Land Use Planning Commission, including Joe Josephson, Chuck Herbert, and Harry Carter, meeting with an audience at a public hearing (December 14, 1972) (silent); a story about a Christmas cabin decorating contest at Alaskaland sponsored by the Fairbanks Lions Club (1972) (sound); views of the Tanana Chiefs Fairbanks Native Community Center building; women, including Poldine Carlo, Hannah Solomon, and Etta Lord, making and selling artwork and crafts (December 16, 1972) (sound); a story about an African-American Santa Claus in Fairbanks (December 16, 1972) (sound); managers of RCA Alaska Communications being interviewed about their plans to handle the high number of Christmas Day phone calls (December 17, 1972) (sound); author William Cashen mingling with people at a reception; views of his book, "Farthest North College President;" a photo of Charles Bunnell (December 20, 1972) (silent), Judge Van Hoomissen being interviewed about his ruling on juvenile cases and the press (December 21, 1972) (sound); airport crowds in Fairbanks; a story about students leaving Fairbanks for the holiday break; scenes at other local schools (December 22, 1972) (sound); a man being interviewed about exhaust pipe conversions on school buses (December 22, 1972) (sound); a Christmas feast being prepared and served to inmates at a state jail (December 25, 1972) (sound); a story about carbon monoxide levels in the Fairbanks are; views of car and power plant exhaust; men examining monitor printouts (1972) (sound); howitzers being fired at Fort Wainwright as a 21-gun salute to deceased President Harry Truman (1972) (sound); and a reporter interviewing passers-by at Gavora Mall about their plans for the New Year (December 30, 1972) (sound).
[KTVF news stories, UAF construction, high school graduations, raft race]
[KTVF news stories, UAF construction, high school graduations, raft race]
Some segments of film contain audio, and others are silent. Specific dates and other information noted on the original film are given here in parentheses. The footage includes a man talking about stamps commemorating the U.S. Postal Service, scenes of workers sorting mail, a Fairbanks post office building (1973) (sound), a panel of people discussing economic development in Fairbanks (segment titled "Development Hearing" (May 3, 1973) (sound), a child's hearing being tested at the Fairbanks Public Health Clinic (May 5, 1973) (sound), artwork being displayed, a banquet, Dr. William Wood and others speaking (segment titled "University") (May 5, 1973) (silent), a warning sign about poison used at a dump (segment titled "Rat Poison") (May 7, 1973) (silent), a display about library service cuts at the Fairbanks library (May 8, 1973) (silent), women looking at and talking about Alaskan artwork (May 8, 1973) (sound), men speaking about founding a group to promote the development of Alaska's natural resources (May 10, 1973) (sound), police and spectators looking at the aftermath of a car and motorcycle collision in downtown Fairbanks (May 10, 1973) (silent), the construction of a bridge over railroad tracks at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (May 12, 1973) (silent), people picking up trash along a roadside (May 12, 1973) (silent), banquet scenes (segment is titled "Host") (May 18, 1973) (silent), people walking along a roadside, road signs for Hillcrest and Yankovich and Lawlor Roads (segment titled "Hope Walk") (May 26, 1973) (silent), a graduation ceremony (segment titled "Monroe Grads") (1973) (silent), soldiers firing howitzers during a Fort Wainwright ceremony (segment titled "Memorial Day") (1973) (silent), race boats going under a Chena River bridge (segment titled "Fairbanks to Nenana Outboard Race") (1973) (silent), a drawing of the Medical and Dental Arts Facility, views of 19th Avenue and the Lathrop Street area (May 29, 1973) (silent), an awards ceremony and banquet (segment titled "Career Ext. Center") (May 3, 1973) (silent), a graduation ceremony (segment titled "Eielson Grad") (May 21, 1973) (silent), a lengthy report about the 1970 raft race from Fairbanks to Nenana on the Tanana River, a reporter interviewing raft crews, and scenes of many colorful and wildly-decorated rafts on the river (1970) (sound).
[Machetanz original]
[Machetanz original]
Footage features close-up images of animals and human subjects in Machetanz paintings.
[Machetanz paintings]
[Machetanz paintings]
Film contains close-up images of animals and human subjects in Machetanz paintings, including paintings from 1967 and 1970
[Wrangell scenes]
[Wrangell scenes]
The filmmaker's original labeling scheme has AAF-20063 numbered as Bacon 13-02 and titled “Wrangell, Petroglyphs, Lumber Mill, Chief Shakes House.” 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: “Bight Saxman Museum and Nathan Jackson family - He is one of the greatest Tlingit artists - He is a carver - Film of him carving on a totem.” Notes on the film box are as follows: “Ketchikan, totem poles, Saxman, Nathan Jackson family - Wrangell, petroglyphs, Chief Shake’s house, town shots” and “Reel 2: Original, ECN, Wrangell, overall shots of town, petroglyphs, Cha Johnson, street scene in rain, lumber mill, and Chief Shake’s house.”