Alaska Film Archives

[Hill family films]
[Hill family films]
This film reel is made up of 12 smaller reels of film. Reel 1 is labeled “Ivory Carving of Pt. Barrow” with postal markings on the box indicating a film processing date of 1949. It contains footage of men making ivory carvings, a dog, carvings on a shelf, and a sunset. Reel 2 is labeled “Skee pictures, Mexico fishing, seal” with postal markings on the box indicating a film processing date of 1949. It contains footage of people skiing, scenes from outside of Alaska, dogs, and people on boat. Reel 3 is labeled “Fish camps, good pictures of Bear Hill and cabin with picturesque” with markings on the box indicating an approximate film processing date of 1950. It contains footage of river travel, men at a cabin with a bear hide, and people with dog team. According to Cynthia Hill Reed in 2013, the bear-skinning scene occurs near Rampart and includes: Cynthia's grandmother, Mary Shanahan Hill; Cynthia's father, Jay G. Hill; Cynthia's uncle, Jack (John) Hill; and possibly Cynthia's grandfather, Rudy Hill. Reel 4 is labeled “Parachute Jump and Dog Races” with markings on the box indicating an approximate film processing date of 1950 to 1952. It contains footage of a parachute jump and dog races on the Chena River in Fairbanks. Reel 5 is labeled “Fairbanks, Our Big Bear, and Skiing” with markings on the box indicating a film processing date of approximately 1950. It contains footage of downtown Fairbanks, people skiing, and a ski lift. Reel 6 is labeled “Construction Polaris Building, Pregnant Betty, Melinda, Dogs and Cats, Betty Unpregnant coming home from [?] with Genneg[?]” with markings on the box indicating a film processing date of approximately 1952. It contains footage of the Polaris Building's construction in Fairbanks in 1952. According to Cynthia Hill Reed in 2013, the Polaris Building was built by her grandparents, Mary and Rudy Hill. Reel 7 is labeled “Native Dancers Fairbanks” with markings on the box indicating a film processing date of approximately 1954. It contains footage of Alaska Native dance scenes as filmed from bleachers. Reel 8 is labeled “Dog Races 1952 – Horace Smoke won with Kenja (leader) – Very Good – Terry” with markings on the box indicating a film processing date of approximately 1954. It contains footage of dog mushing and spectators. Reel 9 is labeled “Dog Races and Fair” with markings on the box indicating a film processing date of approximately 1955 or 1956. It contains footage of dog races. Reel 10 is labeled “Hospital – Johnny Mike – Summer Outing – Fishing Trip – Salmon" with markings on the box indicating a film processing date of approximately 1954 or 1955. It contains footage of family scenes and fishing. Reel 11 is labeled “Jax Mary and Rudy first film guy at SP with crane” with markings on the box indicating a film processing date of approximately 1956 or 1957. It contains footage of people posing and a crane at work. Reel 12 is labeled “Walt and Me in LA” and “Mary Hill Carmen - Very Good of Mary Terry” with markings on the box indicating a film processing date of approximately 1963. It contains footage of a crane at work, people posing, and a show with trained seals.