This early 1950’s color travelogue showcasing the then Territory of Alaska is also an advertisement for Old Gold cigarettes. We’re dropped in media res into the natural wonders of the soon-to-be state, and afterwards the film transitions into how the residents of Alaska live. We’re shown both newer homesteaders and the burgeoning cities of the North, and the film even focuses on the rituals of some indigenous peoples of the region. The final quarter follows a United States Air Force unit as they take off to patrol against Soviet incursion. An Alan Shilin Production.

00:06 TITLE CARD 00:10 Deer, elk in winter forest 00:25 Mountain goats, owl, ducks 00:49 Salmon leap up a cascading river 01:00 Black bear catch salmon 02:20 Black bears fight 02:17 Athabascan fish wheel in action 03:18 Prospector pans for gold 03:54 F.E. Company Gold Dredge No. 10 “The Queen” in action near Fairbanks 04:34 Man steps into frame, lights Old Gold cigarette 05:19 Woman homesteader, dog approach log cabin; sign “W. MERRITT” 05:51 Farm with mountain in the distance; Jeep pulls farm equipment 06:19 Steamboat White Horse on Yukon River 06:39 Rotary snowplow train moves through snow drifts 07:10 Downtown Fairbanks during afternoon snow storm, O’Marra Bus Lines bus passes 07:24 Downtown Anchorage; Model Cafe 07:37 Modern log homes 08:01 Military parade: Marching band from Fort Richardson, United States Army, Alaska (USARAK), spectators watch 08:29 Man wearing Honorable Service Lapel Button (“Ruptured Duck”) reaches into breast pocket for pack of Old Gold cigarettes 08:33 United States Air Force airmen marching in review 08:42 Closeup of tracks of M4 Sherman tank 08:46 M24 Chaffee tank 09:00 Inuit peoples at Point Hope eat whale meat 09:36 Whale fin (“Muktuk”) is sliced into steaks, passed out 09:49 Inuit man performs drum ceremony 10:37 Blanket toss (“Nalukataq”) 11:18 Inuit man atop igloo scans horizon with binoculars 11:50 Dog sleds take off, move across ice 12:21 Inuit men stalk seal 13:00 Men take aim at seal, shoot 13:31 Dead seal 14:08 Little Diomede Island; whale spouts in water, Inuit men catch birds with nets 14:54 United State Air Force base entrance; Alaskan Air Command plaque 15:02 Lockeed F-80 Shooting Star fighter jet being fueled, serviced 15:11 Air Force pilots relax, play cards 15:55 Pilots scrambled, run to their planes 16:36 Ground crewman helps pilot into jet 16:50 Name of pilot, ground crew stenciled on plane: Capt. J.W. Hicks Jr., S/Sgt McCarthy, Sgt. Fanning 17:01 F-80 engine ignition procedure; pilots signal, fuel cables removed 17:28 Aircraft taxi, take off 18:11 Aircraft at altitude, patrolling 18:40 Denali (Mount McKinley) 18:46 Totem pole 19:10 THE END

Alaska is a U.S. state on the northwest extremity of the country’s West Coast. It is by far the largest U.S. state by area, comprising more total area than the next three largest states Texas, California, and Montana combined. Approximately half of Alaska’s residents live within the Anchorage metropolitan area. Alaska was occupied by various indigenous peoples for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. The area went through several administrative changes before becoming organized as a territory on May 11, 1912. It was admitted as the 49th state of the U.S. on January 3, 1959.

Old Gold cigarettes were introduced in 1926 by the Lorillard Tobacco Company and, upon release, would become one of its star products. Lorillard was acquired by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in 2015. While hard to find, Old Gold is still manufactured and available in the United States.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com