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Pan Am Airlines Wings to Alaska (1965)

1965 · Short film · 27 min

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Synopsis

This 1965 color film about Alaska is one of a series of Pan Am Airlines “Wings to” travelogues. It is produced by Henry Strauss Productions, who made many educational and corporate films. It begins with a colorful ‘focus leader’ for the film operator and the opening credits (:06-:50), followed by a montage of sights shown later in the film (:51-2:44). A Pan American Jet Clipper leaves Seattle for Alaska (2:45-3:08). A map of Alaska is shown (3:09-3:48). The Jet Clipper taxis and the passengers disembark down the jet bridge (3:49-4:08). The sun is shown never setting at various hours in mid-summer (4:20-4:42). The spring breakup of ice begins (4:45-5:18). A dog team pulls an Eskimo sled to the sea as the men get in a boat to hunt seals, whales, and white bears (5:27-6:29). Skins hang on the side of a house (6:59). The village celebrates in dance, song, and playing kilauts when a whale is caught. The festivities include a blanket toss (7:05-8:05). Totems of the Ketchikan Indians are shown (8:06-8:50). St. Michael’s Cathedral in Sitka is an Orthodox Church built in 1848 (8:51-9:07). New totems are built and painted (9:08-9:27). Children learn to perform the traditional dances in native costumes (9:28-10:08). Scenes of 1960s stores and houses are shown (10:13-10:54). Children participate in a sack race, swim, and eat at a festival on the Yukon beach (10:55-11:20). Men fish for salmon. The trawlers bring in a variety of fish to sell before leaving the dock (11:30-13:35). Some…

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Details

Running time
27 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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