[Home Movies of Amache (Granada) / circa 1944]

Date1944

Mediumacetate

DimensionsFilm Format: 8.00 mm

ClassificationsMoving Images

Credit LineGift of the Family of Tomojiro Sagara

Object number2001.32.1

DescriptionColor and black and white home movie footage of the Amache concentration camp at Granada, Colorado by Tomojiro Sagara, circa 1944. Footage shows summer and wintertime at Amache, including children playing in the snow, people playing sports, views of buildings, flowerbeds, and an outing at a river.

Baby/toddler in stroller are most likely Irene Masako Sagara and/or JoAnne Akiye Sagara (daughters of cameraman Tomojiro Sagara). The boy standing by the snowman and pushing the baby stroller is likely George Tomokazuo Sagara (son of Tomojiro Sagara).

Timecode list:
(color)
0:30 – Summertime outside barracks; closeups of toddler girl walking near raised flowerbeds; views of flowerbeds.
1:06 – Man shoveling dirt / digging a shallow trench.
1:15 – Raised flowerbeds; woman walking by flowerbeds and same toddler girl (some overexposed) walking and sitting on flowerbed edges. (** some “double vision” blurriness **)
1:56 – Young boys running and playing in open space between barracks.
2:19 – Views of mess hall exterior (“Only 8E Block Residents Served” sign by door); panning along barracks exteriors; flowerbeds. (** some “double vision” blurriness **)
3:03 – Girl walking towards camera operator with shallow basin; views of flowerbeds and planters. (** some “double vision” blurriness **)
3:31 – Field of tall grass and sunflowers with barracks in the background. (** some “double vision” blurriness **)

(black and white)
3:48 – Wintertime outside barracks; views of snowmen and barracks with icicles and snow on the ground. Men skiing in open space between buildings.
4:16 – Two men in the distance ski along an access road near a short guard tower, one falls down.
4:21 – Young man walking; an adult shovels snow; woman and children walk along a shoveled path; frozen trees by barracks; men walking towards camera operator.
4:53 – Truck approaching from a distance, snowy field in foreground.
5:03 – Woman walks towards camera operator; views of snowy barracks and frozen trees; young adults walking and one waves at camera.
5:33 – Close up of a man taking a photograph of a family in the snow.
5:44 – Same photographer crouches to talk to two young children (the younger is crying).
5:54 – Man walks away from camera operator; boy poses in front of snowman.
6:18 – Photographer takes photos of young woman with little girl in bonnet.
6:28 – Woman walking with empty pail through deeper snow, laughing at camera operator. Young people cross empty area; boy poses with snowman again.
6:50 – People (young and elderly) cross snowy ground to enter a mess hall. A man hits a large piece of pipe with a stick (a makeshift “dinner bell”?).
7:14 – Young women walk toward the camera operator, one by one and in groups.
7:40 – Baby in Taylor Tot-style stroller sits in barracks entry door. A boy pushes the baby down a walkway between snowbanks.

(color)
8:06 – Summertime, co-ed softball game in an empty dirt area.
8:45 – Young women on seesaw and swings (close up and further away).
9:25 – Adult in apron walking outside barracks. Toddler sits and bounces in stroller from 7:40 outdoors on dirt.
10:23 – Snow again, panning views of barracks in low light.
10:45 – Panning views from a distance of large buildings (school?), and barracks from a hill in snow, daytime.
11:22 – Closer views of barracks in snow. Figure sweeping snow. People walking towards camera operator.
11:37 – View down dirt road with sparse snow, buildings in the distance.
11:56 – Baby in stroller from 7:40 at front porch of barracks, small black and brown dog walks towards camera operator. Baby has stuffed doll in some shots.
12:37 – Momentary outdoor shot, then back to snowy landscape. Young people walking in the snow; a man stands under the “only 8E block residents served” sign at mess hall.
12:54 – A man walks quickly through the snow carrying two pails of coal. A woman clears a path with a shovel.
13:16 – Girl laughs; young boy packs a snowball and throws it at the camera operator. A boy completely covered in snow shakes his arms.
13:51 – Boys crawl out from under barracks building, turn around, and dive back under. All are caked with snow.
14:03 – Panning views of snow-covered buildings and giant icicles.
14:27 – People running, walking, and navigating paths through snow near buildings. One woman carries two teakettles. (Some overexposure.)
15:01 – Man rings mess hall gong; children and adults approach the mess hall. Some make snowballs on the way in. People also walking between barracks, one hides from camera operator. People walk through shallow snow, one girl wears sunglasses.
16:59 – Baby in stroller and dog from 11:56 sit outside on a path between snowdrifts.
17:18 – No snow anymore – young women walking. Little girls play outside a barracks. Close ups of various children. Small boy pushing baby stroller. Toddlers walking with assistance; sitting in grass.
18:49 – Toddler sits in dirt and grabs handfuls. Other child tries to make toddler stand, toddler cries.
19:25 – Burros walk in the distance. Outing by a small river and railroad bridge. Everyone crowds under the bridge to sit in the shade. (** some “double vision” blurriness **)
21:41 – Film ends.

Color and b&w super 8 home movie footage of life in Amache concentration camp in Winter and Summer of Colorado circa 1944 during World War II. Winter scenes include snowmen; people playing; walking, going to mess hall in snow; shoveling snow; child in stroller by self and with dog; nisei playing softball game by barracks, teenage girls playing on seesaw and swings. Summer scenes include two girls on a porch, children with barracks in background, going to school and playing in dirt, various shots of barracks, burros and group outing near river (blurry).;1 film reel : si., b&w and col. ; 8 mm. original reversal pos. , Title provided by cataloger. , Enclosed in 5.875 in. diameter blue tin and reel. Reel is full. , Original label on reel tin: Camp.