Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club

Why should you join the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club?Here are just four good reasons:Reason #1:Mary and I are both Alaskans who grew up in Anchorage, Alaska.Reason #2:Every edition of our publication and podcast is filled with memories of the Anchorage, Alaska, you love.Reason #3:Every edition is special.Join UsSo here’s your invitation to join the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club.Yes, You Can Share This with friends and FamilyThanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.Until Next TimeMike and MaryAnchorage, Alaska Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

In the photo above, Mike and Mary of the Anchorage Memories Club are standing in front of the old Denali Elementary School circa 1990s.You, and well, most all of us, remember where we attended the first grade. Mike and Mary, pictured above, have a unique memory. Both began their education as first graders in Anchorage’s Denali Elementary School. “We didn’t attend at the same time. I began some years ahead of Mary, and after the first grade, our family moved to the Mountain View area of Anchorage, where I attended Mountain View Elementary,” says Mike.In the photo above is Mary of Anchorage Memories. She is posing with her third-grade class at Denali Elementary. Her teacher (left side) is Mrs. McGraw.Fire Trucks and Ice Skates at Denali Elementary?by Mary of the Anchorage Memories ClubI was in the third grade in 1960. I was so excited on that dark, cold, crisp morning as my classmates and I stood in the playground watching the firemen. They were filling the previously prepared ice skating rink with water from the fire trucks hoses. Finally, the day came when we could ice skate. It was very cold; however, I was wearing my mittens and scarf. And after skating several times around the rink, I warmed up.I started ice skating at the age of four. I was the youngest of eight, and ice skating was a sport my mother wanted her children to do. So, I was an experienced skater and helped my classmates who had never skated before. I felt a deep sense of pride helping them.As spring came, the ice skating rink melted, and we hung up our skates. At recess time, my friends and I grabbed jump ropes and ran around in our sneakers, having loads of fun.I went to Denali Elementary School from first grade through the sixth. Walking from 2nd Ave to 9th Ave with my family and friends.Denali Elementary School was damaged in the 1964 Alaska earthquake, and all the students had to finish out the school year at Mountain View Elementary. That was the first time I rode in a school bus. We were the second shift that started around noon.I was truly thankful for the firemen and their bright red fire trucks for coming back year after year to make us a really “cool” ice skating rink.BONUSTake a look at My Green Double-Bladed Ice Skates by Mary Jane DoughertyYes, You Can Share This EditionAnd when you do share this, your friends and family will be so happy that they will gift you with the largest flat-screen TV (292 inches) for your home theatre. Wow.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.Mike Recalls His First Days at Denali in the 1950s.We lived on Fairbanks Street, just a couple of blocks from Denali. On my first day, Mom walked with me to school.My teacher’s name was Mrs. Rauch. She was a very nice lady.While at school, I discovered that those leather-looking airplane pilot caps were the cool thing for boys to wear to school. A little too cool in Alaska’s colder months. In the photo above is first-grade Mike, wearing his pilot hat with borrowed goggles. In the background, Mike’s dad and friends work on their race car. The hat was actually a dumb-looking skullcap with snaps to hold your goggles in place, should the wearer happen to run into bug-infested skies on his way to school. Mom and Dad bought me the hat but declined the goggles. I proudly wore my hat to Denali. My taste in hats aside, I was off on a great adventure. The first grade in Anchorage, Alaska, is where I was introduced to Fun with Dick and Jane, Sally, Puff, and Spot. Those five characters would, along with Mrs. Rausch, teach me how to read and write… So I guess I have them to thank for the Anchorage Memories Club.Fun Lunch BoxesBack then, Denali didn’t have a lunchroom, so we brought our lunches from home in brown paper bags or lunch boxes. Girls often had Dale Evans, Tinker Bell, or Alice in Wonderland lunch boxes. The boys favored Roy Rogers, Peter Pan, or Superman. For the record, I was a Superman lunch box guy.RecessAfter lunch and a last gulp of hot chocolate, we headed for the playground.Of course we had oodles of fun on the swings, slide, and merry-go-round. Plus, we met kids from the other classrooms. One of the other kids, Bobby Kallander, would become my brother-in-law around 15 years later.Mike's mom just happened to take the photo above. About 14 years later, Mary was looking at the picture and said, “Hey, Mike is standing right behind my brother Bobby.”In the red circle, Mike is on the left and Bobby is on the right.Anchorage Elementary SchoolsWhat elementary school did you attend?If you lived in Anchorage, you might have attended one of the following:Mountain View Elementary first opened in 1956Northern Lights Elementary first opened in 1959Ptarmigan Elementary first opened in 1967If you don’t know, a ptarmigan is an Alaskan bird, pronounced “tar-mi-gan.” And, if your parent was in the Air Force or Army in Anchorage and serving at Elmendorf Air Force Base or Fort Richardson, you may have attended elementary school on one of those military bases. We thank your parent(s) for their service.MemoriesWhat elementary school did you attend in Anchorage? What are your memories?From Our North Stars (that’s you)From our Star the Reindeer memories.Gary has this memory:“The reindeer was always in their yard on 10th and D. We could go by and pet him when we were out that way.”Jackie remembers:“My husband, Bob, rented a basement apartment from the Stewarts in the mid-60s, and several times was allowed to take Star for a walk. Great memories of both Star and the Stewarts!”Claudia’s memory:“I remember walking by Star's home and sticking my little fingers through the chain-link fence for her to lick them. It was such a magical experience for a little girl. Each time I visited Anchorage, I would go and see Star.”Cindy had this comment:“My late husband, Bob Pendleton, came to Alaska in 1962 and went to work for the Stewarts, who often took young aspiring photographers under their wing, giving them a job plus a great start in learning how to be an Alaskan. Star was an integral part of it all. What a delight she was for the children of Anchorage, as well as all the big kids (like me)!”In the photo above is Bob Pendleton with Star the Reindeer.The above is a watercolor of Star the Reindeer by Alaskan artist, Cindy Pendleton.Connect with Mike and MaryIt’s been a “few” years now since we were all in elementary school. But it’s fun to remember those times we shared as we began our academic careers.And as Sherlock Holmes says, “Elementary, Watson.”Do you have a comment?You can also reply to this email.Or, you can Contact Us right here.Until Next TimeMike and MaryThe Anchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

In the picture above is Star the Reindeer with Oro Stewart.Photo above by Albert WhiteheadDo you know the story of Star the Reindeer?To know Star, you first need to meet Ivan and Oro Stewart.The Stewarts first came to Anchorage from Kodiak in 1944 and opened Stewart’s Photo Shop. Now anyone who has ever lived in or visited Anchorage has probably at least seen Stewart’s Photo Shop at 531 W. 4th Avenue in downtown Anchorage, just across the street from the Visitor’s Log Cabin.She wanted an Alaskan PetIn 1960, Oro announced to Ivan that she wanted an Alaskan pet. At first, Ivan thought that his wife, Oro, wanted an Alaskan Husky. But what she had in mind was a reindeer.So Ivan contacted Larry Davis, a Native herder outside of Nome. Wait Just a MinuteIt was and still is illegal to own an Alaska reindeer unless you are an Alaska Native. However, there was a way around that law. A reindeer could be leased to someone.Now, before you head out to lease your very own reindeer pet, the law has been amended, and leasing a reindeer to non-Alaskan Natives is no longer allowed. Enter Star the ReindeerLarry Davis came through, and Oro happily received her leased pet reindeer.In reindeer land, most tend to be either brown or grey in color. But Oro’s reindeer looked a bit different. This reindeer had a white breast and white trim. But her most distinguishing feature was a splash of white, star-shaped fur on her face. So Oro named her reindeer “Star.” And a star she was.In the photo above is Star the Reindeer, delighting crowds in the Fur Rendezvous Parade in Anchorage, Alaska.What a HamStar the Reindeer quickly became a local celebrity, and in no time, Star’s fame had spread worldwide.In Anchorage, Star could be spotted in front of Stewart’s Photo Shop in downtown Anchorage, where Star was happy to pose for local paparazzi (news cameras). But Star wasn’t a diva. No, not Star. This celebrity reindeer was happy to pose for pictures with locals and visitors alike.Yes, You Can Share This EditionAnd when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will get you and a guest a ride on Santa’s sleigh, plus a photo op with Rudolph… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.Enter Albert WhiteheadAlbert worked for Ivan and Oro and his responsibilities evolved into becoming the reindeer caregiver. A position he happily continued for many years.Star Got EvictedNo, Star wasn’t playing her music too loud, and she wasn’t behind on her rent.Ivan and Oro kept Star at their home at 10th Avenue and I Street near downtown Anchorage. Then, in 1973, a change in zoning laws ordered that Star could no longer stay in her home. But Ivan and Oro appealed that Grinchy law, and Star was able to stay.Years LaterStar lived to be 23 years old. The average life span of a reindeer in the wild is 15 to 18 years.Since Star’s passing, there were six more who continued the Star the Reindeer phenomenon in Anchorage.Larry Davis, the Herder, selected every Star, except the last one, Star number seven.The End of the Star the Reindeer LineStar number seven left us in 2025. And with that, so ended the long Anchorage tradition of Star the Reindeer.Our thanks to Ivan and Oro Stewart, Larry Davis, and Albert Whitehead for bringing such joy to so many people in Alaska and all over the world. And our thanks to Star.A great Anchorage memory. From Our North Stars (that’s you)From our Anchorage Bootlegger Cove MemoriesJackie had this comment:“Very much enjoyed this edition and Maggie Wilkinson's memories. I also attended the Quonset hut school, earlier than Maggie (1953-54) and with a real teacher (Mrs. Gordon), and went on to junior high downtown where she did. Things were so different back then - and in my mind, better!”Did You Know?Mike and Mary also publish Alaska Stories twice each month.Take a look at Anchorage Stories and enjoy.Connect with Mike and MaryStar was a wonderful, unofficial mascot for Anchorage. We wonder if Star ever met Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Hummm?Do you have a comment?You can also reply to this email.And you can Contact Us right here. Until Next TimeMike and MaryThe Anchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

1968 Bootlegger Cove photo by Cindy PendletonAnchorage, Alaska, was a brand-new town in 1915. And it was a company town, run by the Alaska Engineering Commission as they built the Alaska Railroad.In those days, entertainment was scarce. Two movie houses, the Empress and the Harmony theatre showed their films to packed houses.But many railroad workers, business people, and others wanted something they couldn’t have. They wanted liquor. The problem was, Anchorage was bone dry.Moonshiners Under the Northern LightsEnter shadowy figures like the Phantom Swede, Russian Jack, and others.They were known as moonshiners, and they distilled their squirrel juice, as it was called, or white mule in places hidden from authorities.Russian Jack had a homestead of sorts, located about three miles east of town, next to a spring. That area was later named Russian Jack Springs.Oh no You Don’tTo combat the manufacturing and sale of alcohol, the Alaska Engineering Commission put together strict rules about intoxicating liquors, gambling, and other vices.When land was auctioned off to begin building the new town of Anchorage, buyers had to agree that if the property was used for any of the above, the penalty was forfeiture of the lot.Even so, there was a demand for the whiskey produced by the hidden stills around Anchorage.Hey, Here’s an IdeaIn no time, local moonshiners came up with a new delivery method.Just to the south and around the bend from the mouth of Ship Creek was the mouth of Chester Creek. Because Chester Creek was relatively hidden from the prying eyes of authorities in the new townsite, moonshiners like the Phantom Swede and Russian Jack began using the area to deliver their goods.Yes, You Can Share This EditionAnd when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will send you to Girdwood, Alaska, for a steak dinner at the Double Musky Inn… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.Anchorage’s Early DaysCan you imagine Anchorage in those early days?A mass of people drawn to the frontier of Alaska. A tent city on the banks of Ship Creek, and a new town coming to life.Today, the names of people and places, like Russian Jack and Bootlegger Cove, are all that remain. A gentle reminder of how a town called Anchorage, Alaska, came to be.BONUSMemories of Bootlegger CovePhoto courtesy of Maggie Wilkinsonby Maggie WilkinsonFrom 1956 to 1959 I lived in this little log cabin in Bootlegger Cove, Anchorage, Alaska.It was a momentous time in my life, a time of transition. I was 10 when we moved into the garage apartment in the alley and 13 when we moved to a bigger home because our family was growing.I went to fifth grade in 1956 in a Quonset hut on the Park Strip, where my teacher was a butcher from the neighborhood grocery store. There were many more students in Anchorage than there were teachers, so the Anchorage School District hired anyone who applied. It was a very difficult year for me.But things turned around because in 1957, in the sixth grade, I went to the brand-new Inlet View School, and my teacher was a man who made an extra effort to learn about each of his students. He gave me my nickname of “Maggie,” and that made a very positive difference in my life. I felt seen, recognized, and understood.In 1958, I was in the 7th grade at what is now the location of the Performing Arts Center.My mother fell in love with and married my stepfather. He was a pilot for Reeve Aleutian Airways, and we were all very proud of him. Life was good. I had a new bike, and I made a little extra money from mowing lawns for $1.00/hr (I later learned to charge by the lawn instead of by the hour!) My best friend lived a block away, and she had a TV that we watched every day after school.In 1959, when I was in 8th grade, my little sister Betsy was born, and I didn’t know how my life could get any better. The summers lasted forever, and joy filled every day of my life. All of this and more happened in that little log cabin more than 65 years ago.Recently, my dogs and I walked at ”Betsy’s Park” (Elderberry Park), and then we walked to the log cabin, which is very close by.I spent a little time there, remembering how I played marbles and jumped rope in the alley, picked pussy willows in the spring, and I got a Chesapeake puppy (named Cinnabar). Many days were spent climbing high up in the cottonwood trees, chasing the train, and getting the engineer to blow the train whistle.I climbed on icebergs on the mudflats in the winter, played kickball at the park in the summer, and had to be home when the sun touched Susitna’s tummy. I remember riding my bike so fast down the 5th Avenue hill and then pedaling hard back up to do it all again. In the winter, we rode our sleds down the hill and swept the sand off it after the sanding truck went by. In the summer, we jumped over the water spraying from the water truck that came by to keep the dust down on the dirt roads.It was a good childhood.I remember a lot of it, and I am truly thankful.It’s such a cute little log cabin, and it’s packed full of childhood memories.BONUSWhat was that name?Most folks that live in, or have ever lived in Anchorage, know the name Russian Jack. He was one of those early pioneers who went by a nickname.But have you ever heard of The Pale-Faced Kid, Dago Jim or Cream Puff Bill?What about Happy Jack Smith, Big Red or Walking Swayze?***As for Cream Puff Bill, he was a baker for the railroad and word was that the pastry he baked, especially his cream puffs, were legendary.From Our North Stars (that’s you)From Alaska Stories and our An Alaska Commercial Fishing Adventure edition:Aletha had this comment:“I would have left that boat, skipper, and his attitude the minute I learned about the hip waders, I would have jumped (ship) and walked away...”BONUSTake a look at An Alaska Commercial Fishing Adventure and enjoy.Connect with Mike and MaryThe Bootlegger Cove area of Anchorage includes Westchester Lagoon, a man-made recreational lake, and several very nice neighborhoods. It’s funny to think that many people who go there now have no idea that many years ago, the activity of moonshiners gave it the name Bootlegger Cove.Until Next TimeMike and MaryAnchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

The photo above is Ship Creek.Summer in Anchorage means fishing along the banks of Ship Creek, Campbell Creek, and many of the lakes in town.Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are plentiful in the waters around Anchorage.With visions of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, it was fun to pack a snack, grab your fishing gear, and head out to spend some time at your favorite fishing hole.She Caught Her First FishMike of the Anchorage Memories Club has this fishing memory he will never forget.“There I was, fishing from the banks of Campbell Creek. I was suddenly aware of a lady and her young daughter. It was the girl’s birthday, and her mom had given her one of those little ice-fishing poles as a gift. I watched as the happy young girl put her line in the water. It was obvious that she didn’t know how to fish. So, I offered her some help.There were some trout in a likely spot in the creek, so I told her to cast her line in that direction. Then I showed her how to hold her line and wait for a nibble.Within moments, a nice-sized fish was on her line. I then coached her by telling her how to land her fish. The girl was delighted and had a huge smile on her face as she stood there, holding her fish. Then she looked up at me with big eyes and a smile to match and said, “This is my first fish. Thank you, I’ll never forget you.”Over the years, I’ve remembered that precious moment on the banks of Campbell Creek. I never knew her name, but I’ll never forget her.”Old proverb:"Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach a person to fish, and you feed them for a lifetime."Did You Know?Ship Creek is considered the only urban king salmon fishery in the world. Ship Creek is so named for the safe anchorage provided for ships near the mouth of the creek.The Dena’ina called Ship Creek “Crying Ridge Creek.”Yes, You Can Share This EditionIt's easy.And when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will give you a life-time pass to fish every day of the week if it pleases you… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.In the picture above is Campbell CreekThis Anchorage creek is named after Sir Joseph Campbell, who explored the area between 1785 and 1792.While Ship Creek, mentioned earlier, is the largest waterway in Anchorage, Campbell Creek is the second-largest. The One That Got AwayMike of the Anchorage Memories Club was fishing in Campbell Creek one afternoon near a beaver dam and has this memory:“I had my line in the water in a likely spot near a beaver dam. But not having any nibbles or strikes for a while, I started to pull my line out of the water. Suddenly, I had a huge, strong strike. For a moment, I panicked because I thought I had accidentally hooked a beaver. But seconds later, a rather large rainbow trout took off from where my line had been and shot across the stream like it was jet propelled. The rainbow darted and dashed about in the water, obviously upset at the surprise of my hook.I quickly got a bigger hook and put my line back in the water.But the large rainbow trout would have none of it. Talk about the fish that got away.”Sport Fishing Changed in the 1950sDid you know that sport fishing technology made some significant changes in the 1950s?Fiberglass rods and synthetic line were made available. Before those changes, if you fished, you were using a cane pole (a large stalk of bamboo) with a string line.The Territorial Department of Fisheries was created in Alaska in 1949. In 1951, the Department of Fish and Game was created.Fish Were Jumping Over the NetsMary of the Anchorage Memories Club has this special fishing memory.“My summers were spent at our families commercial fishing village at Point Possession, just across Cook Inlet from Anchorage.One of the great things about summer in Alaska is all the daylight. That was very helpful when the fish run was on. I remember watching in awe as fish jumped over our net.My mother Feodoria, two uncles; five brothers; and two sisters all had jobs to do when the fish were running and our nets were full.When the tide went back out, and the run was over, we had to pick the fish out of our nets. And you had to be careful not to mangle the fish, because each one was worth money. It was a lot of responsibility for us as youngsters.The sharp teeth of the dog fish would get wrapped around the net. It was also challenging to get the humpies through the small holes of the net. And I remember the silver salmon were so shiny, and wow, the kings were so long.It wasn’t all work at our commercial fishing site. Summers included taking a break by roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over the beach campfire and listening to Anchorage radio.” Oh the MemoriesAs you fished along the banks of your favorite stream or lake in and around Anchorage, it was quiet, relaxing, and fun.There you were, surrounded by Alaska’s glorious nature in full summer bloom. At times, there was only the sound of the stream as it gently flowed to its destination. And while catching a fish was the main goal, it didn’t always matter. Fishing in and around Anchorage is a special experience. There you are, one with nature. But, strangely, still in town. Your Anchorage fishing memories are precious indeed.Mike and Mary also publish Alaska Stories twice each month. It’s FREE.Take a look at Alaska Stories and discover Alaska.Connect with Mike and MaryOk, time to reel in and pull your fishing line out of the water. But let’s keep the soft glow of those watercolor Anchorage fishing memories near to our hearts.Do you have a comment? Or a memory to share?You can also reply to this email, or Contact Us right here.Until Next TimeMike and MaryAnchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

The photo above is how Delaney Park looked when it was an airfield.The oldest park in the city of Anchorage wasn’t always a parkIn around 1917, the citizens of Anchorage worked for free to clear the land for a firebreak to protect the mostly wooden buildings in the new city of Anchorage. in the 1923 photo above, the firebreak became the first golf course in Anchorage. A year later, the citizens of Anchorage cleared the land even more, and it became a 300-foot by 2000-foot landing field for aviation pioneer, Noel Wien.Note: The golf course was still in use when planes began landing and taking off from the new airstrip. But golfers were cautioned to “give the right of way, to aircraft.”Wien’s first flight took place on June 4, 1924. And by the end of that month he had flown 170 passengers from the airstrip.Wien also started the first Anchorage to Fairbanks flights from that airstrip.By the way, the airstrip would become Delaney Park, the largest park in Anchorage. It was officially named on September 14 , 1971, after James Delaney, one of the first mayors in Anchorage.BONUSWant to know more?Take a look at Anchorage Delaney Park as an Airstrip and discover.Yes, You Can Share this EditionYou can share this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club with friends and family.And when you do, they will be so happy that they will send you on a first-class flight around the world… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.Merrill Field, opened in 1932Once Merrill Field opened, the Delaney Park Airstrip was no longer needed.Merrill Field was the first official airport in Anchorage. And, until 1951, it was the only airport in Anchorage.Construction of Merrill Field began in 1929 and was originally called Anchorage Aviation Field, then the Anchorage Municipal Airport. It was later named after Alaska aviation pioneer Russel Merrill.During the 1930s, Merrill Field had so much air traffic that it became the most active civilian airport in the entire U.S.NOTE:The very first aviation beacon in what was, then, the Territory of Alaska, was located at Merrill Field.BONUSClick on the following link:Take a look at the History of Merrill Field and enjoy.DOUBLE BONUSClick on the following link:Read about Alaska pioneer aviator Russel Merrill and discover.Anchorage Airport 1950sAnchorage International Airport, now called Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, was first opened in 1953 when commercial aircraft were getting too big to land at Merrill Field.Because of its location in the world, Anchorage International Airport became known as the “Air Crossroads of the World”.It is now the 3rd busiest cargo airport in the world.BONUSClick on the following link:Read more about The History of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and enjoy.Lake Hood Seaplane BaseBack in 1938, a channel was built between Lake Spenard and Lake Hood, and a gravel airstrip was built on the South side of lake Hood.In the 1950s, the combined lakes were developed and enlarged into the Lake Hood Sea Plane Base.A traffic control tower was added in 1954. Then, in the 1970s, the tower at Anchorage International Airport took over for Lake Hood air traffic.Lake Hood has an average of 190 flights each day.In the summer, planes take off and land on the lake using “pontoons.” In the winter, they use snow skis.BONUSWant to know more?Take a look at the Lake Hood Seaplane Base and discover.Did you fly out of land at any of the above airfields in Anchorage?From Our North Stars (that’s you)From The Matanuska Coal Fields Story (our Alaska Stories publication)George commented:“Very interesting article about the coal fields. The Mention of Cap Lathrop as one of the original investors reminded me that the 4th Avenue Theater was heated with a coal fired furnace. The maintenance man for the Hill Bldg. where I worked, also maintained the theater and would have to fire it up early enough to get the temperature up before the evening shows. This was in the 60s and 70s. I don't know if and when it might have been converted.”Randall remembers:“Many an evening in the 1970s (during the housing crunch) I sat with friends around their heavy metal stoves heated by the coal they collected along the tracks which ran from the mines north of Palmer. My friends shared living spaces (in quonset huts), serving, as best could, as their homes, work spaces, etc.Everyone scrambling to find a place to live and a place to keep warm.To enjoy Alaska Stories (it’s free)Take a look at Alaska Stories and get ready for Alaska history, adventure, and pioneers.Connect with Mike and MaryThe smiling couple above are Mike and Mary of Anchorage Memories.This picture was taken at Anchorage International Airport in 1970, as we were getting ready to board our Western Airlines flight at the beginning of our honeymoon. We had been married the day before… Boy, were we ever that young?OK, please take your seat and buckle up as we prepare for landing.Did you enjoy this look at Anchorage Airport Memories?Did you arrive in Anchorage at Merrill Field? Have you ever flown out of Lake Hood?We love hearing from our North Stars (that’s you).You can also reply to this email, or you can Contact Us right here.Until next timeMike and MaryThe Anchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

In the inset above is Austin Eugene “Cap” LathropYou may have heard his name before, and you may even remember that for years, all the movie theaters in Anchorage were built and operated by the Lathrop Corporation. And the most well-remembered of those was the 4th Avenue theatre (pictured above).But as a pioneer, Cap Lathrop was involved in many successful businesses.Lathrop’s Alaskan Adventures Began in 1895Those included a shipping and freighting company that would later serve the Klondike gold strike.In 1897, Lathrop obtained his master mariner’s license. He then became the captain of a steam schooner he already owned called the L.J. Perry. And with that, he earned the nickname, Captain, or “Cap” Lathrop.The First Wedding in ValdezOn February 18, 1901, when he was in Valdez, Alaska, Cap Lathrop and Lillian McDowell were married at the residence of Reverend D.W. Crane. That wedding was the first ever in Valdez.Lathrop Movie TheatersThe picture above is on 4th Avenue in AnchorageCap Lathrop started his chain of movie theatres in the early 1910s. And by the way, he always used the British spelling, “theatre,” for his movie houses.It all started with the Empress in Cordova, Alaska, which was first opened in 1911. Then he built Anchorage’s first movie theater, The Empress, in 1916.At that time, the early settlers and railroad workers living in the tent city that would become Anchorage, Alaska, were starved for entertainment. So there was always a full house at every movie shown at the Empress.The silent movie “Peggy,” starring Billie Burke, was the very first movie shown to the tent city population at the Empress.And while the movie house opened without one, a theatre organ was later added, so local audiences enjoyed music while they watched movies.The Empress showed movies well into the 1950s.Did You Know?Parts of the Empress theatre organ were later used in the Uncle's Pizza organ in Anchorage.The 4th Avenue TheatreFrom 1941 to 1947 Cap Lathrop built Anchorage’s 4th Avenue Theatre. It took that long because of World War Two. In 1927, he built the Empress and the Lacy Street theatres in Fairbanks.BONUSYou’ll love this free e-book and instant download of 4th Avenue theatre memories.Take a look at 4th Avenue Theatre Memories and enjoy.Yes, You can Share This EditionYour friends and family will think you are totally cool when you share this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club with them.And when you do, they will send you an entire years worth of your favorite Alaska salmon or crab… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.KENI RadioWhile the first radio station in all of Alaska and Anchorage was KFQD, Lathrop started the second radio station in Anchorage, KENI.May 2, 1948, marked the very first broadcast by KENI radio. Both KENI and KFAR radio in Fairbanks were operated under the banner Midnight Sun Broadcasting, with Cap Lathrop as the company president.A Movie Studio in Downtown Anchorage?In the summer of 1922, Lathrop started the Alaska Motion Picture Corporation.The first (and only) movie they produced was a 1923 silent movie production titled “The Chechahcos.”In November of that year, a 7,000 square foot movie studio was constructed at the end of Third Avenue in Anchorage.On March 8, 1923, the actors who were starring in the movie, Eva Gordon, William Dills and Albert Van Antwep, (as well as others) arrived in Anchorage from Oregon, New York, and Hollywood. A “townwide” party was held in their honor. It was billed as a “free dance and jollification at the moviedome.”Scenes for The Cheechahcos were filmed in Anchorage, Denali, and Girdwood where they recreated the famous Chilkoot Pass.When the movie was completed, it played to packed houses and happy audiences all around the Territory of Alaska.But in its stateside showings, it was not a commercial success.Critics called the plot “hokey” and the title “unpronounceable.” Stateside audiences agreed.The Chechahcos was the first feature-length movie ever made entirely in Alaska. And the first and only movie Cap Lathrop ever produced.The moviedome studio on 3rd Avenue was converted into an exhibition center for the Western Alaska Fair in 1924. It later served as the Anchorage Community Center.Austin Eugene “Cap” LathropHis Anchorage, and indeed Alaska legacy was vast. And, like many others who traveled to Anchorage in the days when Anchorage was nothing more than a raggedy tent city on the muddy banks of Ship Creek, Cap Lathrop will long be remembered.BONUSThere is a lot more to the Cap Lathrop story.Take a look at the “Cap” Lathrop Story and discover.From Our North Stars (thats you)From our look at the Lucky WishboneLinda has this memory:“My dad, Neil Sagerser, was the 3rd airport policeman ever hired in Anchorage, Alaska. One day in the mid-50s, my dad was moose hunting near the Anchorage Airport (which was legal then) and shot a moose. He was so excited! He hiked back to the moose, and just as he arrived, another gentleman came from another direction. My dad said “I just shot this moose,” and the other gentleman (who was Mr. George Brown) said, “I just shot this moose.” They both laughed and decided, as true Alaskan gentlemen, that they would just share the moose so they could feed their families. My father and Mr. Brown were friends for many years. Even after being gone from Alaska for 40 years, I ( Neil’s daughter) walked into the Lucky Wishbone, and Mr. Brown recognized me! He said, “With those blue eyes, you know it is a Sagerser!” A true Alaskan dearly missed!”Robert remembers:“I grew up treasuring a cheeseburger from Lucky Wishbone as a break from moose! Our family business, Reynolds Equipment, was just across the empty field next to Peggy’s Airport Cafe. For about thirteen years I ordered my lunch, a cheeseburger and fries, from Lucky Wishbone. I live in Portland now, but my first two restaurant stops on my last visit were for a Wishbone burger and shrimp at Mam O’s.”Connect with Mike and MaryWell, its time to put down your popcorn, Milk Duds, and soda. Did you enjoy this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club?You can also reply to this email or Contact Us right here.Until Next TimeMike and MaryAnchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

“A great, true Alaska story” RogerIt all began far from Anchorage, in Denver, Colorado, when George Brown met Peggy Krause.George was so taken by Peggy that he asked her to marry him on their first date.Hey, Let’s Start A RestaurantIn 1946, George and Peggy opened a restaurant in Wisconsin, called “Brownies”. By the way, while George had no restaurant experience, Peggy had at least worked in one before.Alaska, Here we ComeIn 1951, George and Peggy must have been feeling adventurous because they packed up and drove the ALCAN (Alaska Canadian highway), and headed for Anchorage, Alaska and the Last Frontier.The First Lucky WishboneFast-forward to November 30, 1955, when the Lucky Wishbone first opened in Anchorage.On the first day, the restaurant made a whopping $80 dollars.Should we or Shouldn’t we?In 1990, George’s mother passed away from cancer.Wanting to honor his mother, George wanted to make the Lucky Wishbone, Alaska’s first smoke-free restaurant. Peggy thought that if they went smoke-free, the restaurant would end up going out of business. The two had a strong disagreement.But after all was said and done, the Lucky Wishbone became smoke-free. And Anchorage loved it.“This Lady”In 2002, the Lucky Wishbone was named, Alaska’s Small Business of the year.Peggy Brown flew to Washington, DC to receive the award.Senator Ted Stevens introduced Peggy to President Bush by saying, “this lady makes some of the best fried chicken in the country.”Yes, You can Share This EditionImagine how happy your friends and family will be when you share this edition with them.They will be so happy, they will give you a free, one year supply of fried chicken, from the Lucky Wishbone… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.That’s a Lot of SpudsPatricia Brown - Heller was in the 8th grade when her parents George and Peggy gave her the job of peeling potatoes every morning before school.Patricia remembers peeling 150 to 200 pounds of spuds a day to be cut into french fries.It’s Not Just a RestaurantOver the years, the Lucky Wishbone became dear to the hearts of not only the people of Anchorage, but people all over Alaska. George and Peggy cared about their customers, and it showed.We’re Headed for the Lucky WishboneMary of the Anchorage Memories Club has this memory:“When I was a sophomore at East High School, and my brother Norman was a Senior, we would drive our 1968 Camero to the Lucky Wishbone for an after school snack.”BONUSYou’ll enjoy Mary’s whole story.Take a look at Wishing for a Lucky Wishbone Lunch and remember when.And you’ll love our interview with Patricia Brown - Heller, where you’ll learn the entire Lucky Wishbone story.Take a look at The Lucky Wishbone Story and remember when.From our North Stars (that’s you)From our Anchorage Kid’s TV Shows edition.Johnny has this memory:“I played my accordion on the Buckaroo Show.”Karen shared this:“My father, Ralph Walker, was an engineer who helped to build and run many of the radio stations in Alaska. We lived at KENI and were often available as audience members for KoKo the KENI Klown show.”Lynn had this comment:“I really enjoyed the Anchorage Kid’s TV Shows edition. It brought back fond memories.”Connect with Mike and MaryAre you hungry for some Lucky Wishbone Chicken?We sure are.Our thanks to Patricia Brown - Heller for letting us interview her about her father, and mother, George and Peggy Brown and the Lucky Wishbone in Anchorage, Alaska. Do you have a comment?You can also reply to this email.Or you can Contact Us to say, “I love the Lucky Wishbone.”Until next timeMike and MaryAnchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

Our Anchorage, Alaska kid’s TV shows brought us together.They were shows we could relate to. We enjoyed the hosts, characters, and the cartoons some shows presented. And occasionally, we could see our friends and neighbors on the shows. What fun for Anchorage kids.Mother MooseIn the 1970s, “Mother Moose” premiered on KTVA channel eleven and Anchorage, Alaska TV screens were never the same.Every weekday, Anchorage kids would gather around their TV and wait to hear this -“It’s Mother Moose, It’s Mother Moose, there by the cabin in the spruce. Miss Northern Lights the eye delights and into the cabin the gang invites”It was a fun and exciting time as kids listened to the Old Sourdough (Larry Beck) tell his tales of Alaska, while Miss Northern Lights (Carol) showed fun crafts.And of course, there she was, Mother Moose herself.By the way, the little girl in the picture is Nikki. She’s the daughter of Mike and Mary of the Anchorage Memories Club. And of course, you know Mother Moose.And besides everyone’s favorite Moose lady, there were other characters to enjoy.Remember “Gorp”, “Glacier Gruff”, “Oil Finch” and “Wrangell Worm”?BONUSBut Anchorage kids (and moms, and dads) also loved those wonderful cartoon favorites, “Rocky and Bullwinkle”.Take a look at the link below to see a clip of “Rocky and Bullwinkle”. Great memories.Read more about The Mother Moose Show and enjoy.Yes, You Can Share This EditionYou can easily share all these fun memories with friends and family.And when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will buy you a brand-new car of your choice… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.HiJinks with Frank FeemanThere isn’t much out there about this Anchorage kid’s TV show, but maybe you remember it… Mike of the Anchorage Memories Club remembers this one.It was called “HiJinks” and the man in front of the camera in the picture above is the host, Frank Feeman.Notice the bow ties?Frank Feeman would wear a little tiny bow tie one day, then the next day he would have a huge bow tie with flashing lights.HiJinks actually got started on KFIA-TV channel 2 which later became KENI-TV and is now KTUU channel 2.The show was a lot of fun. Do you remember HiJinks? Were you on the show? Tell us about it.The Buckaroo ShowSheriff John (third from the right) welcomed us every weekday in the 1960s on KTVA channel 11, for the western themed, Buckaroo Show, featuring games, puppets, and cartoons. In the later years of the show, there was a character named Deputy Dick and a silly jailhouse.BONUSAfter the 1964 earthquake, KTVA continued The Buckaroo show, but they could no longer have children in the studio because of the earthquake damage to the building.Sheriff John had left the show just before the earthquake, so Deputy Dick took over as the host for a short time.BONUSThe Buckaroo set was later used as the cabin in the spruce on the Mother Moose TV Show,Take a look at this fun story “KTVA’s Buckaroo Show and the 64’ Earthquake” and remember.KoKo the KENI KlownPictured above is the 1963 Shrine Circus Queen, Leslie Waldron, with KoKo the KENI Klown. )KoKo is the second person on the right, Chu Chu is on the left).Weekdays on KENI-TV channel 2, KoKo the KENI Klown, (Dick Randlett) had fun with studio audiences and his Kartoon Karnival.And kids were glued to their television sets to watch Koko, Chu Chu the clown, and episodes of the Mickey Mouse show, and short Warner Brother Cartoons.Mary, of the Anchorage Memories Club, remembers being on the show.BONUSDo You remember Kiddie Land, the fun place for rides and that wonderful mini train?Kiddie Land was created by Dick Rand (KoKo) and Les Fetrow (Chu Chu the clown).Read more about Kiddie Land and “KoKo’s Karnival of Klowns” and enjoy.Romper Roomphoto courtesy of Monica Hall (seated far left)Carolyn Guess is next to Monica in the picture above.“Romper stomper, bomper, boo, tell me, tell me, tell me do. Magic Mirror, tell me today, did all my friends have fun at play?”When you watched Romper Room on KTVA channel 11, you hoped the Romper Room teacher would see you through that “Magic Mirror”. Did she?OK, I have to ask.Were you a “Do Bee” or were you a “Don’t Bee”?A look at part of the Romper Room set in the studios of KTVA.BONUSHere is a fun Romper Room “behind the scenes” story.When the Romper Room teacher (Miss Neilia) did the Magic Mirror, she held up a small hand mirror decorated with sparkles.After saying “Romper stomper, bomper, boo, tell me, tell me, tell me do. Magic Mirror, tell me today, did all my friends have fun at play?” the TV control room would go to a film that looked like a kaleidoscope.While that film was being shown, the teacher would switch to the mirror she could “see through”.One day, Miss Neilia was doing the Magic Mirror. We went to the film and she changed mirrors. And just when we came back to her, a little boy who was sitting next to Miss Neilia said, “I saw what you did, you switched mirrors”.After the show, Miss Neilia and the crew had a good laugh.BONUSTake a look at these fun “Anchorage Romper Room Memories” and enjoy.Connect with Mike and MaryOk, time to put down your PJ sandwich and chocolate milk as our look at Anchorage’s Kid’s TV shows comes to an end.This has been a wonderful trip down memory lane.What were your favorite Anchorage Kid’s TV shows?Do you have a comment?You can also reply to this email. It’s so easy… Even Mother Moose could do it.Or, you can Contact Us right here.Until next timeMike and MaryAnchorage Memories Club. Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

Yes, this edition of Anchorage Memories will bring back a flood of memories just for you.As kids growing up in Anchorage, Mary and I remember playing outside a lot. We played games, sports, explored, and laughed. We fished in Campbell Creek, Ship Creek and had great times with our friends.Then there were other fun things to do in Anchorage for kids and grown-ups.Our Favorite Movie TheatresPictured above is the Center Movie Theater located in Spenard. It opened circa 19554th Avenue in downtown had three movie theatres. One was the Denali, which had to relocate to Spenard after the 1964 earthquake. There was also the Empress, which was the first movie theater in Anchorage, and of course, this favorite, the 4th Avenue Theatre.What was your favorite Anchorage movie theatre?BowlingIn the photo above is the Center Bowl in Spenard.Now, let’s go bowling.It didn’t matter how good you were. It was just a great way to get out there and have some fun.Did you bowl? Were you in a league? What were your favorite Anchorage bowling alleys?BONUSMike and Mary also publish, Alaska StoriesIt’s FREE. Delivered by email twice a month. You’ll love it.Take a look at Alaska Stories and discover the Great Land.Dances and ConcertsPictured above is the Royal Pad and later the Cinnamon Cinder. Both were located on the second floor of Blain’s Paint Store in Spenard.Did you like to go to dances at Carpenter’s Hall? DJ Ron Moore’s Royal Pad, the National Guard Armory, the Sports Arena, Shindig City in Muldoon, or the Cheetah on Government Hill?You could hear and dance to the music of local Anchorage bands and groups from the lower 48 who had hits on the top ten charts, like Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs playing “Wooly Bully”. Fun times and good memories.BONUSAnchorage DJ Ron Moore had a lot to do with the teen scene in Anchorage.Take a look at Ron Moore Remembers the Teen Nightclubs and enjoy.Yes, You Can Share This EditionAnd when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will send you on an around-the-world cruise… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.Anchorage Car RacesIn the photo above is a Fur Rendezvous car race.Remember the “fast and furious” in Anchorage competed on oval racetracks, featuring stock car races. There was also a Drag Strip near Palmer and there were car races in downtown Anchorage, during the Fur Rendezvous winter carnival.BONUSAnchorage racing legend “Fuzzy” Sprinkle spoke with Anchorage Memories a few years ago. He discussed racing stock cars and drag racing snow machines on asphalt at the Palmer Drag Strip. You’ll even learn how he got his nickname.Take a look at “Fuzzy Sprinkle” Anchorage Racing Legend” and remember the action.Fur RendezvousIn the photo above, left to right: KENI President, and General Manager Al Bramstedt, News Anchor Ty Clark, Camera Operator Jim Balog, Bill Stewart and Host Orville Lake.Did you have fun at Anchorage’s winter carnival, the Fur Rendezvous? Schools even gave us a day off to enjoy the February festivities. Did you watch the dog sled races on TV at home?What were your favorite Rondy activities?BONUSYou’ll love this. We have an entire section of Anchorage Memories dedicated to Rondy Stories.Take a look at Anchorage Fur Rendezvous Memories and enjoy the good times.The Varsity ShowIn the picture above, in the top middle photo, is Anchorage DJ Ron Moore wearing a white jacket.Remember when you could go down to the studios of KTVA channel 11 in the downtown McKinley Building and later in Spenard on a Saturday afternoon to dance on TV?The Varsity Show was Anchorage’s answer to American Bandstand.You could have a fun time in front of the TV cameras, dancing to the latest hits. And later, your friends would say, “I saw you dancing on the Varsity Show”.BONUSYou can see a lot of nostalgic Varsity Show pictures on Anchorage Memories. You’ll also love the stories.Note: Get your FREE Varsity Show e-Book on the following page.Take a look at Varsity Show Memories and get your free Varsity Show e-book, it’s a fun keepsake.The Coke ShowPhoto above, courtesy of Malcolm Burgess.And remember the radio booth on top of the Bun Drive-In? Anchorage DJ Ron Moore broadcast the Coke Show from that location.Did you call in to request a song, make a dedication, or just to say hello to Ron?BONUSThe Coke Show was jam-packed with action and fun from the first record to the last. and it was a nightly event for Anchorage teens.You can listen to the Coke Show once again by visiting the following page on Anchorage Memories.comTake a look at Anchorage Coke Show Memories and have fun.Your Memories of Having Fun in AnchorageAfter reading over all the activities in this edition, you probably have some great memories of things that aren’t listed here.Tell us your memories.Connect with Mike and MaryWow, this edition brought back so many memories. Some we haven’t thought of in years. And right now, Mary is looking in the back of the closet for her white go-go boots.Do you have a memory you want to share?You can also reply to this email, or you can send us a note and say, “I was in the Fur Rendezvous Parade”. Contact Us right here and say hello.Until Next TimeMike and MaryAnchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

As the show begins, you’ll hear popular Anchorage DJ Ron Moore, asking callers to guess how much Paul of the Heartbeats weight when he was born. What’s your guess?The Rapid Robert ConnectionBy the way, the Coke Show in this edition was recorded in about 1965 by a good friend of the Anchorage Memories Club, Bob Martin. Bob was known on the Coke Show as “Rapid Robert”, a name given to him by Ron Moore.Note:In this edition of the Coke Show, you’ll hear Ron talking about “Rapid Robert”.Home of the Coke ShowPhoto above courtesy of Malcolm BurgessThe Coke Show Radio BoothAnchorage teens on the roof of the Bun Drive-In, standing in front of the radio booth for the Coke Show with Ron Moore.Ron Moore and His FansIn the photo above, Ron Moore is signing autographs for Anchorage, Alaska teens.Yes, You Can Share This EditionYou can share this with family and friends.And when you do, they will request your favorite songs for a whole year and dedicate them to you… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.In the photo above, Ron Moore is right where he loves to be… behind the microphone in a radio studio, playing all your favorite songs.BONUSDo you want to enjoy some great Coke Show Memories?Take a look at The Anchorage Coke Show and enjoy.A Dedication from Mike and MaryHello,Mary and I dedicate this special edition of the Anchorage Memories Club to Anchorage DJ, Ron Moore of the Coke Show.And to all the Anchorage, Alaska teens who listened to the show and to those who called in, requested a song and made a dedication.Do you have a dedication?You can also reply to this email, or you can Contact Us right here.Until Next TimeMike and MaryAnchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

It was Anchorage, Alaska’s version of “American Bandstand”.From September to May of each year, Anchorage teens could tune their family TV set to KTVA channel 11 on Saturday afternoons to watch friends dancing to the latest hit songs on the Varsity Show.But Our Story Begins in the 1950sPictured above is Chuck Wenger. The photo was taken in the garage entrance to the KTVA studios in the McKinley building.In 1959, Anchorage DJ, Chuck Wenger premiered a TV show on KTVA channel 11, featuring Anchorage teens dancing to the hit songs of the day. That show was called, “Chuck’s DJ Dance Party”.The hits of 1959 included:Venus, by Frankie Avalon, Smoke gets in Your Eyes, by the Platters, A Teenager in Love, by Dion DimucciWhen Chuck Wenger stepped away from the turn table, the name of the program was changed to, the Varsity Show.The young fellow wearing the white coat in the center of the picture above is Anchorage DJ, Ron Moore, hosting the Varsity Show.Circa 1960 to 1971Anchorage teens loved watching the Varsity Show, and going down to the KTVA studios in the McKinley building, and later to the Broadcast Center in Spenard to dance on the show.Yes, You Can Share this EditionYou can share this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club with your friends and family.And when you do, they will be so happy that they will send you on an all - expense paid cruise… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.Varsity Show Hosts IncludedIn the photo above is Ron Moore, the most well-known host.Pictured above are Mike Ray (Mike of the Anchorage Memories Club), and Anchorage DJ, Roger Lathum (who also hosted the Morning Show on KTVA channel 11).In the photo above is Anchorage DJ, Jerry Rose (Peter Bie).Jerry Rose hosted the Varsity Show in 1971. The show was broadcast in color starting in about 1968. By the way, the picture above was taken to promote Jerry’s radio show on KBYR when that station was playing rock n’ roll.Over the years, hosts for the show included Ron Moore, Bill Kelley, Roger Lathum, Mike Ray, Mike of the Anchorage Memories Club, and Jerry Rose (Peter Bie).BONUSWould you like to have the free, Varsity Show e-book?Featuring a foreword by Ron MooreThe whole story of The Varsity Show is told in this one of a kind, gift.And if you danced on the show or worked on the show, you might even see your name in this informative e-book.This free e-book is a PDF download that you can read on your computer or mobile device.Get your free Varsity Show e-book and enjoy.Anchorage Teens Worked on the ShowPictured above is Mary of the Anchorage Memories Club, when she was a staff dancer on the Varsity Show.Mary went on to become a movie and TV background actress in Hollywood.BONUSMary’s story of how she became a staff dancer on The Varsity Show is a little different.Take a look at How I Became a Staff Dancer on The Varsity Show and enjoy.Every year, just before school ended, The Varsity Show held auditions for area high school students who wanted to work on The Varsity Show.The Varsity Show Crew in ActionPictured above, Anchorage high school students work behind the scenes on the live weekly Varsity Show.Pictured above is The Varsity Show crew just before the 1964 earthquake. In the middle back row is host Jim Roach.Area students were trained at the KTVA studios during the summer to work on the show. As a result, many of the show’s teen crew members went on to work in television, motion picture production and even as radio DJs.Special Thanks to KTVA’s Augie HiebertMr. Hiebert of KTVA had the idea to create a teen TV program where Anchorage teens could work as interns on the show and be awarded scholarships for their efforts. As a result, many Anchorage teens began their careers because of Mr. Hiebert’s generosity.BONUSYou can read fun stories about the show at Varsity Show Memories and remember when.Mike and Mary, Authors of the Anchorage Memories ClubWell, I see that Mary is putting on her white go-go boots, so I’d better get out there on the dance floor to see if I still have it.Did you enjoy this look at Anchorage’s popular teen TV dance show?Did you download your free Varsity Show ebook? If not, scroll back up this email and click on the link for your download that you can read on your computer or mobile device.And be sure to send us your comments:You can also reply to this email, or Contact Us to say, “I remember the Varsity Show”.Until Next TimeMike and MaryAnchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

Above photo by Jim ZollerTom had this memory:“I love the Anchorage Memories Club, and remembering the good times in Anchorage in the 1970s when I was a teen.Your post about Stewart's Photo Shop rekindled memories of spending a lot of time there, usually during the Fur Rondy dog races. We'd stop in to buy more film (we took plenty of photos back then!), warm up, look at some jade, and dream about buying fancier cameras. Thanks for doing what you do to remind us of Anchorage history.”Don and Maurine remember the Fur Rendezvous:“Thanks, Mike and Mary, for refreshing our Rondy memories.Yes, I marched and played trombone in the West High band, and the brass got pretty cold. Our friends and family were very active during Fur Rendezvous each year. I still have a partial collection of Rondy pins. I have a vague recollection of a 3-block-long section of rail placed along 4th Ave. and a railcar riding that section during Rondy perhaps in the early 50s.”BONUSTake a look at The Anchorage Fur Rendezvous Story and enjoy.Yes, You Can Share This EditionYour friends and family will love reading these comments from people who live or have lived in Anchorage, Alaska.And when you share this, they will be so happy that they will give you a secret map to all the gold deposits in Alaska… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.Lynn remembers her first job:“My first “real” job was at The Book Cache in the Sears Mall. I worked with a wonderful crew, really nice folks. I remember the mall was a happening place back then, with plenty of people shopping or having lunch there.”Dennis remembers the Sears mall:“Thanks for the Anchorage Memories Club! I was the apprentice fire sprinkler employee on the Mall project. Our son was born in July 1968 at the community hospital. Great memories.”Michael recalls his visits to the Sears Mall:“So many great memories of the Sears Mall when the Bethel High band would travel to Anchorage every spring for the Southwest Alaska High School Music Festival at West High.We would always stay at Turnagain Methodist Church on Northern Lights, closer to the airport. Nobody had ever been to a Mall before, so it was exciting. One year we even walked to the Mall from the church! Thanks for sharing.”Barbara shared this memory:“I lived in Anchorage in the 1970s, and your stories bring back fond memories.Not long ago, you ran a story about Larry Carr and Carr's Markets. We lived in Spenard when my daughter was born in the old Anchorage Community Hospital in 1972. After a few other stops in Bethel and Fairbanks (my husband was a Wien pilot), we returned to Anchorage and lived on Campbell Lake. The Carrs had the house next to us, although they were not close by neighbors because they had a triple lot.Sadly, my husband was killed in a plane crash of our small plane in March 1978. I carried on, as one must, and later in the spring I was out putting in a new mailbox post. Mrs. Carr came over—I think her name was Wilma—and offered her condolences, explaining that they had just returned from their winter in Palm Springs. She asked about the sack of Quick Crete in my wheelbarrow, and I explained that it had all the ingredients for a small amount of concrete and that you just added water and mixed it up like a cake mix.“What a wonderful idea,” she said, and proceeded to tell me about the time when she and Larry were starting out in Eagle River, and she was setting a clothes pole post. “I had to get a bucket of cement from a cement supplier and rush home with it before it hardened.”Only in Alaska will one of the wealthiest residents in one of the nicest neighborhoods in town think nothing of seeing her neighbor out there with a wheelbarrow and posthole diggers, then recount a story from her humble past. It is one of my fondest Anchorage memories.”Sheila had a lot to do with bringing the Sears Mall to Anchorage:“Boy do I remember The Mall. I was Larry Carr's secretary while it was being built. What a time that was!Ironically the biggest attraction was the rocking horse at the West End. Sadly gone now.Larry Carr was a visionary as well as being a really decent human being.”BONUSTake a look at The Sears Mall in Anchorage and remember.Nelson remembers Anchorage:“Thank you for keeping these memories alive.Our family was the first Colombian family to reside in Anchorage. At the time, there were only a handful of migrants from Latin America. Most of them came after the Alaska earthquake. My father worked on the Alyeska pipeline and on Amchitka Island before and after the Cannikin test.I attended both Central Junior High and West High School in Anchorage.”Loren recalls the Alaska Highway:“Came to Alaska in 1956 from Illinois, in the back of a 1951 Chevy with two brothers and a sister. 12 days on the Alaska Highway with numerous flat tires.In Anchorage, Fireweed Lane was the city limits then. You could go downtown, and you knew just about everybody.”BONUSTake a look at The History of Downtown Anchorage, Alaska and discover.Joe recalls things after the 1964 earthquake:“I remember sitting atop the McKay (McKinley) building, top floor, southwest corner, looking down 4th Avenue doing my morning radio show for nigh on 7 years, 1966-1973, on KWKO FM.I can remember riding up the rickety elevator to the top floor and stopping on various floors to take in the results of the earthquake. Enjoy you and your lovely wife's research re: Alaska and its heritage.”BONUSIn the photo above, Frank Feeman hosts HiJinksClick on the following link to learn more.Take a look at Anchorage First TV Memories and remember.Anchorage Memories.comTake a look at Anchorage Memories.com, a treasure chest of memories.Connect with Mike and MaryWhat great memories.Thank you to all our North Stars (that’s you) for sending in your comments.We are often reminded by our readers that when they read the Anchorage Memories Club, those memories often remind them of their long-forgotten memories.Do you have a comment?You can also reach us by replying to this email, or you can Contact Us right here to say, “Thanks for the great memories”.Until Next TimeMike and MaryAnchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

Somewhere between the newsreel and the main movie, I sat there, a young boy in the 4th Avenue Theater, when an ad filled the screen.The first thing I noticed was that it was for a local Anchorage business. I had heard the name, “Snow White Laundry and Cleaners” many times before, but knew nothing about them. I became fascinated as I watched their movie theater ad.Snow White Laundry and Cleaners got its humble start back in 1915.Welcome to Anchorage, Alaska around 1914, 1915 and 1916. It was nothing more than a “tent city” that sprang up around the mouth of Ship Creek. And it was only there, because of the Alaska Railroad.“Harry” Kimura and his wife Katsuki moved from Seattle to that tent city that would become Anchorage, Alaska. They took over a small hand laundry from a relative, and gave it the name, H&K Hand Laundry. It was located near 5th Avenue and C Street.By the way, there was no running water. Harry and Katsuki had to hall water from Ship Creek.Chop Suey HouseThen, as if he didn’t have enough to do, Harry opened the Chop Suey House in a small building next door to the laundry.Yes, You Can Share this EditionWould your friends and family enjoy learning about the early history of Anchorage?When you do, they will be so happy that they will take you out for the dinner of your choice at your favorite restaurant… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading, Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public ,so feel free to share it.The Kimura family grew to include:Sam, who went on to become a professional photographer and taught at the University of Anchorage, Alaska for 23 years. His wife, Joan, an Anchorage artist, designed the seal for the city of Anchorage. William “Bill” Kimura, who became a painter, sculptor, and teacher. And George, who ran Kimura restaurants like the Golden Pheasant Café and Nikko Garden.World War IIIn 1941, Harry Kimura was locked in a barracks at Anchorage’s Fort Richardson as part of America’s wartime “internment” program.During that time, his son George was in basic training and was given MP duty outside that same detention center.At some point, the Kimura family left Anchorage.Snow White Laundry and CleanersFollowing World War II, the Kimuras returned to Anchorage and expanded their H&K Hand Laundry into Snow White Laundry and Cleaners.Along the way, they also opened a restaurant called “The Golden Pheasant Café” on D Street between 4th and 5th Avenues.Nikko GardenOpened in 1966 and located on Spenard Road near Spenard Lake, Nikko Garden was Anchorage’s finest Oriental restaurant.It quickly became, “the” place to go in Anchorage.A Very Special Note:For many years, Mary and I celebrated our wedding anniversary with dinner in one of those memorable private rooms in Nikko Garden.Today, that restaurant location is but a fond memory for so many Alaskans.In 1979, Nikko Garden burned down.Mike, of the Anchorage Memories Club, was a news videographer for KTVA, channel 11 at the time and following the fire. Mike was assigned to go inside and shoot video of the charred remains. “I remember the strange, tragic sight of the pond that ran the length of the restaurant.It was covered with black soot and burnt debris was floating in the once beautiful water.”Now, even though it’s gone, we will always have the wonderful memories of that fine Kimura restaurant.Nikko Garden – Gwennie’s ConnectionPictured above are Gwennie Thorton and George Kimura.BONUSAnchorage Memories wrote a story about Gwennie’s Old Alaskan Restaurant in Spenard.Take a look at Gwennie’s Restaurant, In Her Own Words, and enjoy.Gwennie told us that when she and her mother first came to Anchorage, they rented an apartment from the Kimura family and got to know them.Then one evening, many years later, Gwennie decided to drive down Spenard road from her Old Alaska Restaurant and visit Nikko Garden.When she walked into the restaurant and George Kimura saw her, he nearly fainted because he hadn’t seen her in so many years.BONUSYou can learn more about this remarkable Anchorage pioneer family.Take a kook at the Anchorage’s Kimura Family and discover.From Our North Stars (that’s you)Juanita sent us this comment:“I’ve learned a lot about my hometown, and you’ve jogged memories of things I haven’t thought about for years. I can only say YAY!”Diana had this to say:”Well done, and thank you for the trip down memory lane”.From our look at Anchorage Movie Theatres.Patti shared this memory:“I remember going to the movies as a kid at the old 4th Avenue Theater. You could watch a movie for a cereal box top and 10-25 cents on Saturday.”BONUSTake a look at Anchorage Movie Theatre Memories and enjoy.Connect with Mike and MaryDo you remember Nikko Garden? Do you know anyone in the Kimura family?You can send us your comments:You can also reply to this email, or you can Contact Us right here.Until Next TimeMike and MaryAnchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

Peggy’s Airport CaféBarbara says:“Your stories bring back fond memories.”Mike of the Anchorage Memories Club has this memory“When our family first arrived in Anchorage in 1950, we landed at Merrill Field.After the long, 5-hour flight from Seattle, Mom asked someone at Merrill Field if there was a restaurant nearby. We were told about Peggy’s Airport Café just across the street.So for our family, Peggy’s has a special place in our hearts.”Later known as Peggy’s Café, the restaurant was first opened in 1944. It was originally a one-story building and a favorite of bush pilots.Peggy was a lady named Peggy Lott. She first moved to Alaska to teach school in Seldovia, then Bethel before coming to Anchorage.If you liked pie, Peggy’s was the place to be. The pies were always created using the same recipes Peggy Lott used when she first opened the café.Mary of Anchorage Memories recalls this story“My mother, Feodoria Pennington, used to bake the pies at Peggy’s Airport Café and was there when the 1964 earthquake struck.My mom told me that when the 1964 earthquake started shaking, Peggy Lott and my mom ended up crawling around on the kitchen floor on their hands and knees, dodging flying pots, pans, and knives.”Remember the Tent City celebration in the 1980s? Peggy’s Café was there, and so was Mary of Anchorage Memories. Notice the “fresh homemade pies” sign.Peggy left Alaska in the 1970s for Mount Vernon, Washington. She lived to be 103.BONUSTake a look at Peggy’s Airport Café Memories and enjoy.Yes, You Can Share This EditionYour Anchorage friends and family will love these great Anchorage Restaurant Memories. So take a moment to share this edition. Your friends and family will be so happy that they’ll take you out to dinner at your favorite restaurant… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.A&W Root Beer MemoriesA note from Mike of the Anchorage Memories Club“Back in 1951, my dad, Ray Dougherty, cleared some land on Mountain View Drive, not far from Merrill Field. The area he cleared became an important place in Anchorage history. It became A&W Drive-In.”Remember those great-tasting “mashed potato” French fries? And of course, there were the lions, Timbo, and Princess.BONUSRead more about the A&W Drive-In and enjoy.Nikko GardenPhoto by Ward WellsHere’s another great Anchorage, Alaska restaurant memory.The Kimura family hit a home run when they created Nikko Garden.Located in Spenard, the restaurant’s atmosphere was beautiful, and the service and food was memorable.What are your favorite memories of Nikko Garden?The Arctic RoadrunnerOh, the memories…The Arctic Roadrunner is a favorite. The location shown above is now closed, but such fond memories remain.BONUSMary of Anchorage Memories recalls her Arctic Roadrunner memories.Take a look at The Arctic Roadrunner and enjoy.Gwennie’s Old Alaska RestaurantGwennie had a secretTo find out what it was, click on the BONUS link below.One of Anchorage’s favoritesBreakfast, lunch, or dinner, Gwennie’s was the place to be. And this is what made it so good.The owner, Gwennie Thornton, loved to cook, and she loved making her customers happy.Not long ago, Anchorage Memories caught up with Gwennie and here’s what she had to say to all her Anchorage friends.BONUSGwennie had a secret. Find out what it was.Take a look at “Gwennie’s Restaurant – in her Own Words” and enjoy.La CabanaIt didn’t look like the picture above the first time Mike of the Anchorage Memories Club visited the La Cabana.“Back in the day, the La Cabana, Mexican restaurant was in a log cabin. When I was a boy, my mom and dad took the family to that small cabin in downtown Anchorage. I had never had Mexican food, and I wasn’t at all sure that I wanted to.Then, when our dinner arrived at our table and I took my first bite… It was love at first taste.My wife, Mary, had the same experience.And although we have traveled all over, now live in California, and have tasted Mexican food in some great restaurants… nothing compares to the wonderful Mexican food we enjoyed at La Cabana.”What are your La Cabana memories?BONUSRead Mary’s La Cabana Memories and enjoy.The Lucky WishboneOh, what we wouldn’t give for one of those delicious Lucky Wishbone cheeseburger baskets… followed by the strawberry shortcake they served in a glass. Oh, be still, my heart.All you had to do was just walk into the restaurant, and you knew the food was going to be wonderful.BONUSNow here’s a special treat.Take a look at The Lucky Wishbone Story and enjoy.Connect with Mike and MaryAre you hungry for your favorite Anchorage restaurant?We are.Do you have a comment? Just click on the following comment button:Or do you just want to say, “I’m headed for the Lucky Wishbone right now.”You can reply to this email, or you can Contact Us right now.Until next timeMike & MaryAnchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

As the story goes, when the Anchorage Times Newspaper reporters got off work in the 1960s, they would head over to Club 25.Once there, they would buy Nellie Brown a beer (her favorite was Olympia) and she would tell stories about the very early days of Anchorage.They Met in Cordova, AlaskaJohn “Jack” Brown met Nellie Edith Shepard in Cordova, Alaska, in 1911. The two were married on May 1, 1912, in Cordova, and soon after traveled by boat to upper Cook Inlet and Ship Creek, where Jack began working as a forest ranger.Ship Creek Flats in 1912A tent on Ship Creek, which served as the Forest Service office, was also the Browns's home when they first arrived in what would become Anchorage.Early homesteaders, J.D. “Bud” Whitney and his wife Daisy, had built a 10-foot by 14-foot cabin that later became the Browns' home. The Browns made their furniture out of grocery store crates.When Nellie Brown spoke of the area back then, she said:“It was very peaceful and quiet. Nothing unusual happened.”Things were very spread out in those days. The Browns got their mail in Eagle River at a roadhouse along the Iditarod Trail. And for supplies, they had to go all the way across Cook Inlet to Knik. In 1913, Jack and Nellie built their own three-room cabin on Ship Creek Flats.Yes, You can Share this EditionHey, do you want your friends and family to think you’re swell? Just share this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club with them. You’ll instantly become their favorite person… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.Alaska Railroad DaysIn 1914, things changed when the railroad set up camp and a “tent city” full of railroad workers sprang up on the muddy banks of Ship Creek.The Brown Chicken RanchHave You Heard of “Green Lake”?In 1920, the Browns moved to a homestead about five miles out of Anchorage on Green Lake, where they built a log cabin and a chicken house. They named the area “Alderbrook.”In 1940, the land was selected by the U.S. Army Air Force to become Elmendorf Field, now Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The Browns sold the Alderbrook homestead for $2,500 dollars.He Met the Browns in CordovaAlaskan artist Sydney Laurence had met Nellie’s family in Cordova and remained a close friend of the Browns, who had a collection of Sydney Laurence paintings.BONUSTake a look at the fascinating life of Alaska artist Sydney Laurence and discover.348 Harvard AvenueNellie and Jack returned to Anchorage in 1925, and in 1927 they moved into a cottage on Government Hill (the first neighborhood in Anchorage) at 349 Harvard Avenue, where they stayed for most of their lives.Nellie’s DinerNellie Brown holds a cake shaped like her diner, seen in the background.In the 1940s, a surplus railroad passenger car became “Nellie’s Diner” in Anchorage. It was a success. Nationally known comedian Joe E. Brown even ate there when visiting Anchorage.BONUSVisit Anchorage Memories.comA treasure chest of memories of Anchorage, Alaska. Take a look at Anchorage Memories and enjoy.There is More to the StoryBut we’ll have to leave the Browns this way.Jack Brown passed away in 1972Nellie Brown continued to live on Government Hill until she moved to the Alaska Pioneer Home in Palmer. She passed away in 1978 at the age of 86 after living over 60 years in Anchorage.BONUSWould you like to know more? Take a look at Jack and Nellie Brown and enjoy.From Our North Stars (that’s you)From our Joe Spenard, Anchorage Pioneer edition.Gene sent in this comment:“My memories of Spenard are wonderful.Our band was the house band for The Lake Shore Club, later the Fancy Moose, the Flying Machine, etc. The Youngbloods (“Get Together) with Jesse Collin Young played there and named a song on their album for beautiful Lake Spenard.”Connect with Mike and MaryDid you enjoy this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club? The pioneers, who first came to the mouth of Ship Creek and helped begin the town of Anchorage, were a hearty breed. Do you have a comment?Or you can also reply to this email or Contact Us right here. Until Next Time Mike and Mary Anchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

What Are Your Memories of the Spa?Here are some reader memories of the SpaEric remembers:“Learned to swim there. Bussed over from Clark Junior High. How did we have the time to swim before we had to get back to class?”Barbara had this to say:“For two weeks, first thing in the morning, a busload of us were taken to the Spa. It was great to have swimming lessons. I still really appreciate the building design with the wall of windows. But afterward, we had to get back on the bus in our damp clothes, coats, and wet hair.”Joe shares this memory:“I swam there. It was only a block from my house.”Paige remembers the swim club:“I was on a swim club there in 1970”Marcia has this vivid memory:“It was Heaven on earth! Our youth group used to go there, and I’ve never forgotten the wonder of it all.”Kathi said this:“Loved swimming there.”The Spa’s BeginningsUntil March 1953, when the Spa first opened, if you wanted to swim in or around Anchorage, you had one choice. It had to be summer, and you had to swim in a lake. Or with your rubber ducky in the bathtub. Then on March 31, 1952, a man named Edwin Suddock, a wholesale grocer, and his wife, Mary, made a welcome announcement. They were going to build a private, indoor swimming pool in Anchorage. The location for the pool was at 1720 F Street between West 16th and 17th Avenues. The location was just above what would later become the Valley of the Moon Park. The initial cost estimate was $40,000 . Today, that would be well over $400,000 .Charter MembershipsAs a private pool, Spa memberships that allowed access for your immediate family were initially offered for 200 dollars, or around 2,000 dollars in today’s money. In less than 2 hours, they sold 35 memberships. 2 months later, they had sold 200.The Original PlanA smaller initial pool concept of a 30 by 40 foot pool was updated to 30 by 60 feet. The addition of a children’s splash pool also increased the cost of memberships.Yes, You can Share this EditionYou can share this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club with friends and family. Come to think of it, you could even share this with some folks you barely know. And they’ll love you for it. And when you share this with someone, they will be so happy that they’ll bake you a batch of your favorite cookies… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.The March 1953 Grand OpeningOver 300 members enjoyed the new facility. The final cost came in at $95,000 , or roughly $935,000 in today’s money. Everyone loved the south-facing wall of glass. An aquatic ballet performer named Joyce Dillman was the Spa’s first lifeguard and swimming instructor.Mary of the Anchorage Memories Club“As a student at Central Junior High, I remember being bussed to the Spa in late fall. I didn’t know how to swim, so I started with a group as a beginner. Other students were in the intermediate group. When our swimming lessons were over, everyone else had advanced to the next level. Everyone but me and one other student. We started and left as beginners who never learned to swim. At the end of each session, I remember walking out into the crisp, cold air and getting back on the bus with my long, wet, steaming hair. Ugh!”The Fort Richardson Field HouseInterestingly, a swimming pool was also built on Fort Richardson for military personnel and their dependents about the same time as the Spa.The West High School PoolOn June 19, 1972, a public indoor pool opened at West High School. At 42 by 75 feet, it was larger than the Spa’s pool, and no membership was required.The Spa’s Last DaysWe can’t find any references to “the Spa” after 1977, so it’s not clear when the Spa closed its doors. The structure around the pool was torn down in 1983. Hal Manning, the new owner, built around the pool and called the new facility the “Country Club” or the “Club House.”Mike of the Anchorage Memories Club Remembers:“I remember driving by the Spa with my family when I was a boy. The big glass wall of windows looked very intriguing to me. And the shape of the building was very different from other Anchorage buildings. While I was at Clark Junior High, I remember when we were told that we would be taken to the Spa by bus. There we would receive swimming lessons, and those of us who didn’t know how to swim would learn how. Following our lessons, we had an open house where each of us made a solo dive into the pool and swam to the far side… When it was my turn, I didn’t dive very well and ended up doing a major “belly flop” in front of a room full of parents. Ouch!”Anchorage MemoriesYou can enjoy a treasure chest filled with memories of the Anchorage you love.Take a look at Anchorage Memories.com and enjoy.From Our North Stars (that’s you)From our look at Nellie Brown, Anchorage Pioneer. She and her husband, Jack, lived near Green Lake for a time.Jackie remembers Green Lake:“Ah, Green Lake. I spent a lovely, sunny day there back in the 50s with my dear friend Cherie, whose dad was military. Beautiful setting and a really carefree afternoon. Thanks for the background info.”Rozanne had a close connection with Nellie Brown:“I love stories about her. I worked for her a couple of times while she was still living in her Government Hill home.”Helen had this observation:“I never realized that the earliest pioneers in Anchorage would have gotten their mail in Eagle River, on the Iditarod Trail, but of course, that makes perfect sense.”Nellie BrownTake a look at Nellie Brown, Anchorage Pioneer and enjoy.Connect with Mike and MaryAfter our look at the Spa Swimming Pool, is your hair dry yet?The Spa Swimming Pool is a great memory for so many people who live, or used to live, in Anchorage. What are your Spa Swimming Pool memories?You can also reply to this email, or you can Contact Us right here. Until Next Time Mike and Mary Anchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

From 1954 to 1985, Anchorage kids and adults enjoyed spending time in the downtown Loussac Library at 5th and F streets. The picture above is from 1955.So who was this Loussac fellow?His full name was Zadrich Joshua Loussac, also known as Zachary or Zachariah or even “Zach”. He was born to Jewish parents in Pokrov, Russia (near Moscow), in 1882.Gold FeverAt the age of 18, Loussac arrived in New York. He was unable to speak English and nearly broke. He ended up doing various jobs on the Lower East Side. But one of his jobs, introduced him to what would become his profession. That job was working in a drugstore. Then one day, he overheard a man talking about the discovery of gold in the Klondike. Loussac mistakenly thought the Klondike was in Alaska. And like many others, he quickly came down with gold fever and a burning desire to go to Alaska.Finally Heading for AlaskaIn 1901, Zachary Loussac was finally able to travel across the lower 48, toward his ultimate destination, to find some of that Alaska gold. He got as far as Great Falls, Montana, where he ran out of money. And once again, he found himself working in a drugstore. But by 1903, he had returned to New York and had graduated from the New York College of Pharmacy. Then, in 1907, his dream of Alaska gold finally took him to Nome. But like many before him, gold fever never paid off.Hello Tent CityIn 1916, it wasn’t much. Anchorage was just a ragtag tent city on the muddy shores of Ship Creek Flats. When ZJ Loussac first arrived in Anchorage, he and a friend bought a lot at 4th Avenue and D Street. His friend, Mr. Batles, opened a men’s store, and Zachariah opened a drugstore. They each had a building that was about 25 feet by 50 feet.Loussac’s drugstore did well. His slogan was, “We’ve got what you want when you want it.” He opened a second drugstore called ZJ Loussac Drug Store No. 2 on the street level of the downtown Anchorage Hotel Annex in 1937. He operated two stores until he retired in 1943.Yes, You Can Share This EditionRobert shares his Anchorage memories:“As I look back on my years in Anchorage, they were absolutely magical. The happiest time of my life. What a wondrous city. A gem in the snow. Surrounded by purple mountains. I miss it so much.”You can easily share this edition with friends and family. And when you do, they will be so happy that they will name a library after you… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.Community Service for AnchorageAfter he retired, Loussac became very involved in community service. In 1946, Zachariah set up the Loussac Foundation to be used for “social, scientific, and cultural activities in the Anchorage area”. From 1954 to 1985, the ZJ Loussac Library, created by his foundation, and located on the northeast corner of 5th and F Street, served the people of Anchorage.BONUSTake a look at this ZJ Loussac Biography and enjoy.Mayor of AnchorageDid you know that Loussac was elected mayor of Anchorage for three one-year terms from 1948 to 1951?Ada Harper – LoussacIn 1949, at the age of 66, Zachariah, a lifelong bachelor, married Ada Harper, who ran the Colonial Dress Shop in Anchorage.Would You Like to Know More?Our look at Zachariah Loussac is a brief one, but you can read lots more by clicking on the link below. Read more about ZJ Loussac and enjoy.Imagine, Remember, and AppreciateThe story of Zachariah Loussac reminds us of just how dedicated those early Anchorage pioneers were. They forged what would become the city of Anchorage from the humble banks of Ship Creek. Like you may have, Mary and I spent many an afternoon in the downtown Loussac Library. And while I was in high school and I became interested in a career in motion pictures and television, I spent hours reading every book I could find on the subject in the downtown Loussac Library… So, I guess I got my start in that library. Thank you, ZJ Loussac.A Historic Anchorage Place Comes to an EndThe Loussac Library on 5th and F Street was demolished in 1981 to make way for the William A. Egan Civic and Convention Center. In 1986, a new four-story ZJ Loussac Public Library was opened in midtown. Times change, but thank you, Z. J. Loussac, for the wonderful Anchorage memories.Anchorage Memories.comYou can enjoy a treasure chest, filled with memories of the Anchorage you love.Take a look at Anchorage Memories.com and enjoy.From Our North Stars (that’s you)From “Anchorage, Kid's TV Shows”Christine remembers:“I was on HiJinks a couple of times as a child.”Mary shared this Anchorage childhood memory:“We were so fortunate in Anchorage to have such fun shows for us children. We would go ice skating and sledding during the winter and come in for our cocoa and warm up while watching all those fun shows.”And Eric said:“Great memories!”Take a look at Anchorage Kid’s TV Shows and remember.Connect with Mike and MaryDid this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club, make you want to go visit your local library?Mary and I are friends of our local library, and our children and grandchildren love libraries. And we have ZJ Loussac to thank.Do you have a comment?Or would you just like to say “Hello!”… Not too loud now… the librarian will “shush” us.You can also reach us by replying to this email, or you can Contact Us to say, “I loved the Loussac Library.” Until Next Time Mike and Mary Anchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

During the long, cold dark of winter, Anchorage movie theaters offered us a relief from the grip of Cabin Fever.For two hours or more, you could enjoy a movie or two if it was a double feature.In the 1940s, 1950s, and into the early 1960s, you might also see a cartoon, a serial, or a newsreel just before your movie.Movies (and television) were our window on the world outside of Alaska.The Empress TheaterAustin Eugene “Cap” Lathrop (October 1865–July 26, 1950) is considered to be “Alaska’s first home-grown millionaire”.The Lathrop movie theater group began back in 1916 when Cap Lathrop built the Empress Theater (seen above) located on 4th Avenue near G Street. It was the very first movie theater in Anchorage.Lathrop also built Empress theatres in other towns in Alaska, including Cordova.At the time, movies were still silent.In 1917, a 2/11 Kimball Organ was installed. Jim Orcutt was the organist.Mike, of Anchorage Memories, recalls going to see movies at the Empress back in the early 1950s. The last movie Mike saw there, was in about 1953. It was the classic science fiction movie, Invaders from Mars.The Empress closed in the 1950s.BONUSSome years later, KTVA, channel 11 Chief Engineer Franklin Butte used parts of the Empress theater’s Kimball organ in Uncle’s Pizza restaurant, managed by Chuck Martin. It’s our understanding that the restaurant closed in the 1970s.Yes, You Can Share This EditionLet’s go out to the lobby to get ourselves a treat!And while you’re at it, give your friends and family a treat by sharing this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club. And when you do, they will be so happy that they will give you a year-long pass to your favorite movie theatre… Well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.The 4th Avenue TheaterThe crown jewel.While the Empress was a grand theater, the dream of Anchorage’s first movie palace started with construction of the 4th Avenue Theater in 1941.But the world had other ideas, and World War II caused completion of the theater to be delayed until 1947.Cap Lathrop really went all out for the 4th Avenue theater.It was an Art Deco, Streamline Moderne and Art Moderne style building. The theater had a combined seating capacity of 1,100 (including the balcony). And you might not know this, but Cap Lathrop was not convinced that a concession stand was appropriate. Years later, we are all happy that one was added.The 4th Avenue Theater was a wonderful experience for Alaskans, and its memory means something special to each of us.Mary of Anchorage Memories recalls heading right to the concession stand in the 4th Avenue Theatre after getting her ticket at the box office. Her favorite treats included a box of popcorn, a Pepsi, and Flicks candy. Then it was time to head into the auditorium for a fun afternoon of movies.BONUSAbout the 4th Avenue Theatre.“It was the perfect place in Anchorage to see a movie.Imagine the first time you went to see a movie at Anchorage's famed 4th Avenue Theater.Just standing there on the sidewalk in front of the theatre, looking at the colorful posters showing you what was playing and what would be playing in the weeks and months to come, was fun.And as you approached the box office to get your movie tickets, you knew you were about to enter a special place.”Now we have a treat for youYou can download this FREE, 4th Avenue Memories e-book. It’s an instant download just for you. And it’s full of wonderful memories.Just click on the following link:Take a look at the 4th Avenue Memories e-book, and enjoy.The Denali TheaterPhoto by Starr Judkins LaneFor those who came to Anchorage sometime after the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake, some folks don’t realize that the Denali Theater wasn’t always located in Spenard.Its original location was next to a bar on 4th Avenue. But as you can see by the picture above, the Denali sank to its theater marquee during the 1964 earthquake. Following that event, it was relocated to Spenard.The very first movie, Mike of Anchorage Memories recalls seeing at the Denali on 4th Avenue, ended up being a big mistake.Mike was just a boy at the time. Here’s Mike’s story.“Me, my sister Anna, and my brother Tom were walking downtown with our mom, Louise Dougherty. As we came closer to the Denali Theater, Mom said, “Hey, do you kids want to see a movie?” Of course, we all got very excited and shouted “yes.” Then Mom said, "OK Mike, you’re the oldest; you get to choose the movie.”When we found ourselves in front of the Denali, they had a sandwich board on the sidewalk with a display about the current movie they were showing.I looked it over and said, “This one, Let’s see this one.”In her wisdom, Mom knew it was a mistake, and she said, “Are you sure?”Well, we ended up in the Denali, where we saw the 1962 low-budget, black-and-white movie “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die”.The movie was tame by today’s standards, but back then it scared me half to death. I think my brother Tom spent most of the time with his hands over his eyes.”The Fireweed Movie TheaterWhen it first opened in 1965, the Fireweed Theater was the largest movie theater in Alaska.Among the many movies we remember seeing at the fireweed were “2001 a Space Odyssey”, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” and “Herbie the Love Bug”. For the Love Bug”, they displayed a Volkswagen in the lobby, looking like it was the star of the movie.And it seems to us that KBYR radio hosted a screening of the movie “Woodstock” in the Fireweed.Drive-In Theaters in AnchorageIn the photo above is the Sundowner Drive-InAs we recall, the first drive-in movie theater in Anchorage was the Billiken out in Muldoon. That was followed by the Sundowner Drive-In, located behind the Fireweed movie theatre.Going to an evening movie at a drive-in theater in Anchorage had its challenges. In the summer, it was difficult to see the movie on the screen because of the amount of sunlight.In the winter, you could see the screen, but you either had to use the little “heater” that was hanging from the speaker post, or you had to start your car and turn on your car heater for a while.But Alaskans are a hearty breed.BONUSRead more about the Anchorage Drive-In Experience and enjoy.DOUBLE BONUSThe Sundowner Drive-In also hosted rock acts in the 1970s, including Kiss, Rare Earth, and Savoy Brown.From Our North Stars (that’s you)From our look at the Pioneering History of Anchorage.Irene had this memory:“We lived in Anchorage from 1946 to 1963. My dad took us to the "Garden of Eatin” for special occasions. We especially liked the roast beef served on a wooden plank, with mashed potatoes all around the whole thing. "Uptown"!”Avril recalled:“I love and really appreciate reading the history of Alaska. I worked in Prudhoe Bay in the 70s in security. Before that, I worked in reception for Mechanics Research (MRI) downtown. I remember having to take the blueprints to each camp by helicopter. I became a flight attendant for BP, British Petroleum, and the plane was leased from Alaska Airlines; it was a 727. And it was a wonderful experience.”Rmm sent us this:“Thanks for your site; I really enjoy your stories.”Anchorage Memories.comYou can enjoy a treasure chest, filled with memories of the Anchorage you love.Take a look at Anchorage Memories.com and enjoy.Connect with Mike and MaryWell, our movie is over, and all the popcorn is gone.We love hearing from our readers.Do you have a comment, or do you just want to say, “I loved the 4th Avenue Theatre”.You can contact us by replying to this email or by Contacting Us right now.Until next timeMike and MaryAnchorage Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe

On Christmas Eve, 1959, a small booth sitting on the roof of the Bun Drive-In, a burger place in Anchorage, Alaska, became home to a new program on KENI radio called The Coke Show. And it became a gigantic hit. Long before cell phones, Anchorage teens who were listening to the Coke Show, picked up their rotary dial phones and called in their dedications and song requests to DJ Ron Moore. And Ron would often speak with the teens live on Anchorage radio before playing the songs they requested.In the photo above, Ron Moore signs autographs for happy Anchorage teens. Yes, You Can Share This EditionYour friends and family will love you for sharing this fun edition of the Anchorage Memories Club with them. And when you do, they will call in a dedication on the radio just for you… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.A Word from Ron MooreThe following is from an interview with Ron Moore on Coke Show Memories that you’ll find on Anchorage Memories.com.Ron said the following.“I have often felt that the Coke Show was successful largely because of all the various ingredients it had going on at one time or another. Sometimes it felt like there were too many things happening at once. Being live from the roof of a drive-in restaurant, having dozens of cars in the parking lot honking their horns, and being identified by names like GTO Joe, T-Bird Tommy, and many more.”BONUSRon just mentioned GTO Joe. Anchorage Memories caught up with GTO Joe and you’ll thoroughly enjoy our interview. Take a look at “Cruisin’ with GTO Joe” and remember when. Now, here’s more from Ron:”Having a live microphone way out over the intersection so I could pick up the sound of dual exhausts and tires peeling out. Having local bands as guests in the “Chicken Coop” answering phones. And putting popular bands on either side of the Bun Drive-In roof on weekends, and my spot ended up on the top of the chicken coop, playing all oldies on Sunday afternoon.So I felt it would be fun to give the kids at home a chance to be heard on the air by making requests and dedications.That resulted in many of them having on air nicknames. Later, when one of the few audience surveys was released, it gave yours truly the highest rating of my 37 year career. 72% of the people listening to the radio were tuning in to The Coke Show," and more than 40% were above 18, which really shocked some folks back at the radio station that thought the only listeners were teenyboppers.But it turned out plenty of parents and others were tuning in to find out what their kids or siblings were doing by listening to them on the air and discovering there was a new boyfriend or girlfriend. So it really paid off, and advertisers like Coca-Cola, Sears, and Alaska Sales and Service were happy.” For Anchorage teens, the Coke Show was the place to be. Besides listening to the show from home and calling in song requests and dedications, some listened to the show while driving around town. Others would show up in the parking lot in front of the Bun, where they could enjoy a burger and a Coke while listening to the show on their car radio. And Ron had fun with the Bun Drive-In parking lot crowd. Naming them “Honker-Bonkers,” Ron would look out over the parking lot and ask, “How are you doing down there?” and everyone would honk their horns in response. And you may remember that after Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs' hit Wooly Bully, Ron would often call Northern Lights boulevard, “Wooly Bullyvard”. Ron Moore Remembers.“I had two turntables, a Bogen sound mixer, a reel-to-reel for playing the Coke jingles, two phone lines, with one for the broadcast signal. The first show from the Bun took place on a cold Christmas Eve, and everything was frozen, from the big window looking out over the parking lot to the turntables. I had to take the portable heater and warm the turntables, and they still sounded less than 45 rpm. But there were cars in the parking lot, and eventually, they built a new Bun across the street with parking for many more cars and a new broadcast booth, again on the roof. There was a microphone strung out all the way to the intersection, so I could bring up the sound of the hot rods as they peeled out. Even when the music was playing. On at least one occasion, the police were monitoring the show and pulled the car over down the road on Northern Lights Blvd. I also installed a loud air horn just outside the broadcast booth, and it could be heard for blocks. It also allowed me to open the mike when I cued the cars to honk their horns while the carhops were bringing an armful of orders out to the cars. More than one carhop lost her tray because it could be very loud. The Bun was the first location in Anchorage for speed bumps to slow down the Chevy 396s from picking off a carhop. We even hosted a wedding at the Coke Show. I can’t recall their names, but the bride arrived in a white Chevy convertible from the Northern Lights side, and the groom arrived in a matching convertible from the Fireweed Lane side. They were married on a flatbed trailer. I broadcast the ceremony, and when the groom was told he could kiss the bride, every horn in the parking lot, and the air horn, sounded off.”She Said What?“One night a band that played at all the shows at The Royal Pad, Shindig City, and Carpenters Hall joined me on the Coke Show to answer phones. Some of Anchorage’s most popular bands were included, including The Heartbeats, Arsons, Blue Chip Stock, Proof, Burgundy Rose and others. One night they handed me a phone call to put on the air, and this lady's voice said something like: “Ronnie, quit playing all that rock n’ roll and let’s hear some Englebert Humperdink. This is your mother calling . ”The horns in the parking lot loved it and went wild for 10 minutes.”The Arsons in the Chicken CoopThe Coke Show was a very happening place, and local teen bands were frequently a part of the show. In a story by Mark Thompson of the local band, the Arsons, Mark talks about being in the Chicken Coop during the Coke Show. “When the Arsons were beginning to rock around Anchorage, we were invited to take requests at the Bun Drive-In in the Chicken Coop with Ron Moore on occasional Wednesdays.It was always fun and a good way to get to know our fans and the kind of music they enjoyed. I really liked girls, and there were plenty of calls from giggly girls to the Chicken Coop.”The Pulsating HeartbeatsAnother very popular local teen band that was featured on The Coke Show was the Heartbeats. Right about the time the band came out with their hit record “Anne,” Ron Moore started introducing them as the “Pulsating” Heartbeats. The following is from an interview with John Apostol of the Heartbeats on Anchorage Memories.com“ The Pulsating Heartbeats came from Ron Moore. He started calling us "The Pulsating Heartbeats" every time he introduced our band on the radio or at dances. It was such a catchy name. We love it! “Jerry Rose and the Coke ShowWhen Ron wasn’t able to host the Coke Show, he would have other KENI radio DJs step in for the night. One of those was a young DJ named Jerry Rose (Peter Bie in real life). The Coke Show had so many things going on that it made it a hard show to do. So when another DJ was sitting in for Ron… they had their hands full. Anchorage DJ Jerry Rose remembers taking a microphone into the Bun Drive-In parking lot to speak with teens in their cars. “We would often take a microphone down into the parking lot to talk with folks (especially those that wanted to make a dedication). Occasionally, we’d get them to honk their horns, but that was rare as it was quite noisy. Of course, while the DJ was in the parking lot, someone (like Michael Dougherty of Alaska Stories) would have to be up in the Chicken Coop to answer the phone and spin the records.”The View from the Chicken CoopDuring The Coke Show, Ron Moore would say, “From high atop the Bun Drive-In.” The small radio booth sat on the roof of the Bun, overlooking the parking lot below. The booth was sometimes called the Chicken Coop or the “Royal Roost.”Why the Royal Roost? Well, on Anchorage radio, Ron was called the Royal Coachman. He even had a Royal Coachman theme song. You may also recall that Ron’s car was called the “Royal Coach.” So, of course, the studio on top of the roof was the “Royal Roost”.Ron Moore Talks About the Radio Booth“To my best recollection, "The Chicken Coop" was how Ruby Westin referred to the broadcast booth a couple of times, and it stuck.Ruby and Roy Westin built the original Bun Drive-In on the SW corner of Northern Lights at Fairbanks Street, facing Northern Lights (where the Office Lounge was located later).It was small with little parking. The broadcast booth was small too.It didn't take long for it to outgrow the location. So a new and much larger Bun was constructed at the NE corner facing Gambell Street but open to Northern Lights, looking across to the Sears Mall, where parking spilled over from the Bun every so often.The Westin’s sold to Ken and Bobby Haines and the broadcast booth was new and larger, with room for a couple of guests.The Mighty Michael ConnectionYes, that’s me, Michael Dougherty, the author of Alaska Stories.I was about 19 when this picture was taken. During my senior year at East High in Anchorage, I began working on The Varsity Show, Anchorage’s teen TV dance show. Ron was also hosting The Varsity Show at that time. Here’s my connection with The Coke Show.“ Shortly after auditioning for a Varsity Show Crew position and being accepted to work on the show, Ron invited me and fellow Varsity Show Crew member Bob Martin to work with him during The Coke Show.Our job was to set up things in the small booth on top of the Bun Drive-In just before showtime. We also had to send a sound signal to the main KENI radio studios to make sure The Coke Show program would be heard on the air. We were also responsible f