Image: A film still showing two men resting whilst on an expedition (SPRA 0253.01.06, Fonds 253: Jerry Stojan family fonds)
Movie Monday highlights videos from the Archives’ film collection. Every week, an archival film will be featured on our YouTube channel and here on our blog. The Movie Monday project is made possible with the generous funding support of Swan City Rotary Club of Grande Prairie.
Today’s Movie Monday features more footage from Jerry Stojan’s outdoor adventures. This 8mm film was taken circa 1959 and includes content ranging from what appears to be mining, to a helicopter in flight.
The world’s first practical helicopter took flight in 1939. The Bell 47 – which is likely the type of helicopter seen in this film – became the first helicopter certified for civilian use. It was introduced in 1946 and came to Canada in 1948. More than 5,600 of the machines were manufactured between 1946 and 1974. The 47G, with its full “bubble” canopy, was introduced in 1953 and became the most common model. At the time this film was taken, helicopters would have been a relatively new mode of transportation.
The helicopter appears twice in the film – once to pick up some type of cargo, and later returning to pick up two of the men who were on the expedition. Presumably at least one man remained on the mountain, as someone films the departure of the helicopter.