[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 number93.177.7

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 a model city diorama with model ships in the “bay”. Most of the footage is panning over the model, but there is a brief view of people walking by to view the diorama.

0:31 - Closeup pan of model city with waterfront
0:57 - Closeup of model: Bay City Air Port
1:11 - Closeup of model: tiny paddle wheeler, Gila Ship Model Factory
1:23 - Closeup pan around model waterfront and airfield: Martin Aircraft
2:13 - Closeup pan over model bridge and train depot
2:50 - Film goes dark
2:56 - Slow movement around room interior of people looking at dioramas, one labeled “Ship Model Shop” with ships, city, and waterfront
3:11 - Closeup of of naval ships “at sea” in diorama, slow panning over ships and waterfront
3:55 - Medium shot looking down at the diorama
4:06 - Hand reaches into frame and picks up and puts down one model ship
4:16 - Closeup of diorama sky with miniature airplane
4:27 - Extreme closeup and pan over diorama, out of focus
4:46 - Closeup of a different model bridge and panning over model city
5:09 - Film runs out, turns white

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".