[Home Movies of Gila River Naval Model Shop / circa 1943 – 1944]

Maker Hoyt A. Martin

Date1943-1944

Mediumplastic, cardboard

DimensionsH: 3 in, W: 3 in

ClassificationsMoving Images

Credit LineGift of the Hoyt A. Martin Family

Object number93.177.5

DescriptionBlack and white home movie footage of the Naval Model Shop at the Gila River concentration camp, filmed by Hoyt A. Martin circa 1943-1944. The footage shows the interior of the model shop with people at work, a list of shop personnel, a long sequence of workers walking past the camera holding model ships, and views of model ships made in the workshop.

0:30 - Interior of Gila River Model Naval Model Shop with people working at work benches and standing at tool stations.
0:47 - Men at drafting tables.
0:57 - Interior of model shop with workers, sign “Machining Dept” at ceiling.
1:09 - Top-down view of Naval Model Shop Personnel list, then panning down list of names.
1:58 - Camera is posted outside. Door opens, individual workers walk quickly out the door holding ship models, some smile at the camera.
3:13 - One man moves slowly and displays a 360 degree view of his model.
3:28 - Shots of individual model ships displayed on a flat surface. Indoor footage is grainier.
4:22 - Camera pans over the fleet of model ships.
4:38 - Head and shoulders view of one younger man speaking and smiling.
4:56 - Brief view of older Caucasian man (possibly Hoyt Martin, the filmmaker)
4:58 - Film runs out, turns white.

Names on personnel list:
Hoyt A. Martin (Chief of Divison)
Errol M. Ishii (Plant Superintendent)
Fujio Shimada
Tony Iwanaga
George Ogura
Walt Inai
Takeshi Sakanashi
Tadashi Imai
George Wada
Frank Tanaka
George Shimada
Carl Yamada
Richard Yamada
Tomio Teraura
David Yahanda [sic]
James Inouye
Genzo Soraoka
Sam Yamasaki
Mitsumi Takayama
George Matsuo
Harry Hirasuna
Joe Amai
Hide Ishimine
Masaichi Nakamura
Motoi Satomi
Kikuo Kochi
Kazuo Inuzuka
Harry Inokuchi
Harry Kurotori
Shig Nakasaki
Robert Yamasaki
Chic Yamaguchi
Roy Yagami
George Akiyoshi
Emma Kataoka
Yoshie Kato
Chiyoko Kaita
Florence Kakiuchi
Kay Masuda
Chiyoko Saika
Ayako Saji
May Sano
Rowena Tamori
May Shiozaki
Fusako Yamaguchi
Marjori Isozaki
Chiyoko Kotsubo
Sachi Fujioka

1 film reel [formerly 3 Kodak film boxes, see note] with 16mm moving images from Gila River. Information from donor file indicates "3 home movies -- taken by Hoyt A. Martin - manager of the factory". Other notes on the sheet say "Gila River Ship Model building factory, was a Navy program, war defense program".