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  • Anchorage First Driving Test Memories

    Anchorage First Driving Test Memories
    Jan 25 2026

    The photo above is of 1950s Anchorage

    If you were an Anchorage teen, you probably went through the exciting, but scary process of getting your Alaska driver’s license.

    Or perhaps you were an adult when you got your first Alaska Driver’s License.

    Anchorage streets are challenging. In the winter, you have to drive on ice and snow. Remember, “Pump your brakes and turn into a skid.” In the spring, there is muddy water everywhere, and roads are filled with potholes as big as moon craters.

    What are your memories?

    Did you start with a Learner’s Permit?

    Mary of Anchorage Memories shares her story:

    Mary’s Anchorage Driving Test Adventure

    “Nope. When my sister Betty went to get her Alaska driver’s license, she failed the driving test because she drove over a curb. Later, when she took the test for a second time, she passed.

    When I was 16, my stepfather Bob took me to the DMV in our 1968 Camero.

    Yep. I passed the written test. Then on to the driving test. I followed all the instructions from the DMV guy who was in the passenger seat, telling me what to do. “Turn left, turn right, cross the railroad tracks.” I was then instructed to head back to the DMV for the parallel parking test. Yep. I passed.

    As Bob drove me home, he told me that he knew the guy who gave me the driving test. And if I hadn’t passed, he was going to tell him that I was his step-daughter, and you need to give her a passing test score.

    Yep. When we got home my mom was happy that I had gotten my Alaska driver’s license because she didn’t drive, and I could be her chauffeur.”

    Yes, You Can Share This Edition

    And when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will send you a free Lucky Wishbone burger basket every week for a year… well, it could happen.

    Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.

    Mike’s Anchorage Driving Test Adventure

    “As a teen, I started with a driver’s permit. My mom and dad took turns teaching me the finer points of driving. Like how to stay on the road and off the sidewalk.

    Then came the big day when mom took me to the Anchorage Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to get my Alaska driver’s license.

    After I nervously passed the written portion, I was ready for the scary part… the actual driving test.

    Remember, the Driver’s Manual plainly stated that I was not to talk to the person giving me the test.

    “Pull out into traffic. Stop here. Turn right, turn left.”

    Then I made a mistake. I pulled to a stop after passing the stop sign. Quickly, the man testing me said matter-of-factly, “Stop in front of the stop sign not behind it.” Ok, I was sure I had just failed the test.

    Moments later, he said, “Head back to the DMV.” At that moment I really got nervous because I thought the dreaded parallel parking test was coming up, and I hadn’t practiced that one.

    However, when we arrived back at the DMV, he said, “Pull up, park and turn off your engine.” Wow, I didn’t have to parallel park. Then, after scribling a few notes, he got out of the car without saying a word and went back into the DMV.

    I wondered if I had failed the test. Moments later, I was inside the DMV and a woman came over, handed me a piece of paper and said, “Go over there to get your picture taken.” I had passed my test!

    Later, I stood on the sidewalk, basking in the warm summer day and thinking to myself, “I have my Alaska Driver’s License.” I got in the car and mom drove us home.”

    Connect with Mike and Mary

    What are your memories of taking your Alaska Driver’s Test, or even taking the written Driver’s Test as an adult in Alaska?

    Do you have a comment?

    You can also reply to this email.

    Or, you can Contact Us right here.

    Until Next Time

    Mike and Mary

    The Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club



    Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe
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    5 min
  • Anchorage Double Memories

    Anchorage Double Memories
    Jan 11 2026

    You can see the Ship Creek Meat Market in the middle of the picture.

    Oscar Anderson made his way from Seattle to Seward, Alaska, then onto Ship Creek in 1915 and what would become Anchorage.

    Anderson said he was the 8th person to set foot in the rugged tent city that was located on the north shore of Ship Creek.

    His first job was cutting wood in an area that would later become known as Government Hill.

    In the weeks that followed, Anderson teamed up with a man named Jensen. The two decided to put together a cold storage business. That operation became a meat packing company, serving the entire Cook Inlet region.

    Later, Anderson headed for Seattle to purchase equipment for a cold storage plant and what would become the Ship Creek Meat Company.

    After purchasing a lot on 4th Avenue in Anchorage, where Stewart’s Photo is now located, he opened the Ship Creek Meat Market.

    Live Cattle were then shipped from Seattle and kept in corrals in Anchorage.

    The Ship Creek Meat Market became the largest fresh meat supplier in Alaska. The business closed in the 1950s.

    Yes, You Can Share This Edition

    And when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will send you on an adventurous tour of Alaska in a dog sled… well, it could happen…Mush!

    Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.

    Woolworth’s in Downtown Anchorage

    Photo by Ward Wells, June 27, 1961

    Oh, the memories.

    Located on the south side of 4th Avenue and F Street, Woolworth’s was an Anchorage favorite.

    Remember the lunch counter, known as the Frontier Room? Mike of Anchorage Memories remembers when his mom, Louise Dougherty, worked there.

    And Mary remembers going into Woolworth’s to buy a large (about two feet long) bag of popcorn and some candy to take with her to see a movie at the 4th Avenue Theatre. And back in those days, the 4th Avenue Theatre was nice enough to let you do that if you asked nicely.

    The Woolworth Grand Opening

    From Mary of Anchorage Memories:

    “As I walked into Woolworth's for the first time, I saw the café on the left, makeup, and school supplies in the middle and my favorite aisle… the toy section.Woolworth's was just a few doors down from the 4th Ave Theater, and that made it a happening place to go. My entire family went to Woolworth's Grand Opening in Anchorage when I was in grade school.”

    BONUS

    Enjoy Mary’s Woolworth’s grand opening adventure.

    Take a look at Mary’s story, “Woolworth’s Grand Opening” and remember.

    From Our North Stars (that’s you)

    From our Alaska Flag story.

    Eric recalls:

    “The best Flag and the best State Song in the Union. As a child in school, we would sing it every morning. I still sing it for friends.”

    Jerry’s Daughter sang at the World Fair in Seattle:

    “At the World's Fair in Seattle in 1962, the Alaska exhibit was well attended. The announcer was describing the Alaska flag and the Alaska song that went along with it. Then asked if anyone knew the Alaska song? My two very young daughters, ten and eleven, sang it alone for the entire crowd. They received loud applause.”

    Jerry Knew Benny Benson:

    “Benny was a great friend of mine and many others in Kodiak. He was an outstanding Elk of the Kodiak Lodge, 1772. I have an Alaska flag signed by Benny.”

    Connect with Mike and Mary

    This double memories edition really brought back some great memories.

    You can share your memories by commenting below.

    You can also reply to this email.

    Or, you can Contact Us right here.

    Until Next Time

    Mike and Mary

    The Anchorage Memories Club



    Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe
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    3 min
  • Anchorage Street Name Memories

    Anchorage Street Name Memories
    Dec 28 2025
    Pictured above is 4th Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska, in the 1940s.Have you ever wondered how a street got its name? Or who a street was named after?From around 1915, when the Alaska railroad was being constructed, many people headed to what would become Anchorage, Alaska, in search of a new life. For some, a street name has given them a permanent place in Anchorage history. A few others may have never been to Anchorage, but they were part of Alaska's history.Let’s Start with the Glenn HighwayIf you head north/northeast out of Anchorage toward Palmer and Wasilla, you find yourself on the Glenn Highway, named after U.S. Army Captain Edwin Glenn.How About the Seward HighwayOne of the most scenic highways in America, the Seward Highway takes you from Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula. The Seward Highway was named after former Secretary of State William H. Seward, who negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. At that time, Alaska was often called “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Ice Box.” It wasn’t Always Northern Lights BoulevardIt was named after the famed Northern Lights, but it started with a different name. Before it became Northern Lights Boulevard, it was known as KFQD Road. At that time, the road took you to the studios of KFQD radio, the first radio station in Anchorage and Alaska.Rabbit Creek RoadThe Dena’ina people gave Rabbit Creek its name. And Rabbit Creek Road is named after the creek. And How About Romig Hill?This section of Northern Lights Boulevard is sometimes called “Heart Attack Hill” because it’s so steep and challenging when covered with snow or ice.Romig Hill is named after Dr. Joseph R. Romig, who was known as the dog team doctor, not because he was a veterinarian, but because he traveled by dog team in the Alaska interior.Yes, You Can Share This EditionAnd when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will name a street after you.Thanks for reading and listening to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.What About Fireweed Lane?At one time, this street was lined with those bright red Fireweed plants. In the photo above is Benny Benson.Do You Know About Benson Boulevard?This street honors Benny Benson, the school boy who designed the Alaska Flag.Let’s go to Bootlegger Cove DriveIn 1915, the Alaska Railroad Commission declared that liquor was banned in the area around Ship Creek that would become Anchorage, Alaska.BONUSWell, just around the bend and out of sight was a cove that became a popular spot for those who distilled “squirrel juice,” otherwise known as “moonshine”, to bring their banned goods to shore. The area later became known as Bootlegger’s Cove. Then There is Lake Otis ParkwayYou wouldn’t know it now, but back in 1919, a local named Otis turned a lake into an Ice Skating rink. The lake was named after him, and the Parkway was named after his lake.The View of Mountain View DriveA homesteader named Norman Lang decided to sell off part of his homestead as lots. He named his subdivision “Mountain View” because, well, it has a great view of the mountains. The road was given the same name.To Bar or Not to Bar Debarr RoadYou are welcome to take this one with a grain of salt. In Anchorage folklore, the story goes like this. An unnamed homesteader became frustrated with Army restrictions on his property. The Army was apparently barring him from doing something. So the homesteader was reportedly heard saying, “First they bar us, then they de-bar us.” Debarr Road is possibly the result of his frustration… or not.Spenard RoadIn 1916, Joe and Edith Spenard came to Anchorage from Valdez. Joe even brought the first vehicle to Anchorage.Along the way, Joe turned what would become known as Spenard Lake into a resort. But to get there, he needed a road. So he convinced some local Anchorage groups to help him build a sort of road from the new area of Anchorage to his lake. The result is now called Spenard Road.The Whitneys Have a RoadJohn and Daisy Whitney first arrived at the mouth of Ship Creek in 1911 from across Cook Inlet in Knik.Whitney Road is located just below Government Hill, not far from their homestead.BONUSAnd Talking About HomesteadersMany roads and streets in Anchorage are named after homesteaders.Muldoon and Muldoon RoadArnold Muldoon first arrived in Anchorage in 1939. He homesteaded in an area that was way out of town at that time. That area is now known as Muldoon.He also built a road of sorts that quickly became known as Muldoon’s Road.BONUSTurpin StreetNear Muldoon Road, you’ll find Turpin Street. Named after Eldrich “Dick” Turpin, who came to Anchorage in 1937, just a couple of years ahead of Arnold Muldoon. His homestead was next to the street that now bears his name.Bragaw StreetIt’s named after Robert Bragaw Jr.Klatt RoadNamed after homesteaders, Lester and Dora Klatt.DeArmoun RoadThis road was named after a homesteader named Harold ...
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    9 min
  • Anchorage Seward Highway Memories

    Anchorage Seward Highway Memories
    Dec 14 2025
    A Little Background William H. Seward was the United States Secretary of State from 1861 to 1869.Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for 7.2 million dollars in 1867. In his honor, the road linking Anchorage to the Kenai peninsula was named the Seward Highway.Mike of Anchorage Memories has this memory:“In 1950, our family moved to Anchorage because my dad had a job as a heavy equipment operator, during construction of the Seward Highway.”Notice:In the Anchorage Daily Times newspaper, Tuesday, October 16, 1951, article above, the Seward Highway was going to be opened to traffic that Friday.It’s been a lot of years since the highway opened. So in this edition of Anchorage Memories, we’re looking at some favorite places along the famed highway.Kiddie LandIn the photo above is the Kiddie Land, Alaska Railroad train.Remember the Kiddie Land amusement park just off the Seward Highway? It had all kinds a fun rides. But the best ride was the train seen above.Modified Stock Car Race TrackOut on the Seward Highway in the mid 1950s was a dirt racetrack. And every Sunday they held races.BONUSMike of Anchorage Memories remembers his dad was a mechanic on a race car he owned with the driver. They raced every Sunday on the Seward Highway dirt track.Take a look at Anchorage Race Track Memories and enjoy.Yes, You Can Share This EditionAnd when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will name a tropical island in your honor… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.Bird HouseWhenever you had quest come to Alaska, the Bird House was on the list for places to visit.Located on the Seward Highway near Bird Creek, the Bird House was a one-of-a-kind Alaska bar. The large bird welcomed you, and inside was a sight to see. All kinds of things hanging from the walls and ceiling.Bird CreekWhen the salmon were running, nearby Bird Creek was lined with people and fishing poles. The picture above was a typical sight.Picnic with a Spectacular ViewIn the picture above, Mary, Nikki and Christopher of Anchorage Memories enjoy a beautiful view.On a drive down the Seward Highway, this spot overlooks Cook Inlet.The Town of PortagePhoto by Bob Pendleton, courtesy of Cindy Pendleton. Circa 1960s.The town of portage was another great place to stop when traveling the Seward Highway. One of the restaurants had a sign that read, “You can ask to have 1,000-year-old ice in your drink.” Apparently, once in a while, the owner of the restaurant and bar sent someone to nearby Portage glacier to chip off a block of glacier ice. The ice was then broken into smaller chunks and customers could enjoy having an actual miniature iceberg in their drink. Something to tell the folks about back home.Welcome to Portage The town of Portage had a sense of humor. The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake destroyed the town, but we have always wondered what happened to the “1 old sorehead.” Portage GlacierIn the picture above are Mary, Nikki and Christopher of Alaska StoriesRemember the story above where the restaurant offered 1,000-year-old ice in your drink? Well, Portage Glacier was where they got the ice.GirdwoodThe 1948 picture above is Girdwood, Alaska. The building on the right was a bar. Possible one of the oldest in Alaska.The town of Girdwood has always been a beautiful place to stop along the Seward Highway. Today, it hosts Alyeska Resort, a world-class ski hill.Yes, the Seward Highway offers unsurpassed scenic beauty and a lot of places to spend some time. It’s also filled with rich memories.From Our North Stars (that’s you)From our Anchorage Skiing Memories edition.Lawrence has this memory:“I really enjoyed cross country skiing at Russian Jack park in the late 1970s. It was also great for sledding.”Connect with Mike and MaryDriving down the Seward Highway was a lot of fun. What are your memories?Do you have a comment?You can also reply to this email.Or you can Contact Us right here.Until Next TimeMike and MaryAnchorage, Alaska Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe
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    5 min
  • Anchorage Skiing Memories

    Anchorage Skiing Memories
    Nov 30 2025
    In the 1963 photo above is Romig Hill, which was across the street from West High School.Downhill and cross-country skiing are some of the great things about living in and around Anchorage, Alaska.Now, let’s take a look at some areas used by early Anchorage pioneers and some places we remember for having a fun time on our skis.1910 to the 1950sIn the 1925 photo above, early Anchorage homesteaders are using the Lake Otis/South Chester Creek Ski Trails.City Ski BowlFrom 1917 to 1957, the City Ski Bowl, also known as the Army Ski Bowl and Watertank Hill, served as the go-to place. The City Ski Bowl was located on the bluff, northwest of Gambell and 3rd, overlooking Ship Creek. It featured a downhill run, a ski jump (pictured above), and cross-country ski trails.In the picture above, notice part of the Recreation Bowling Alley sign in the upper right.In the winter, from 1917 into the 1950s, the downtown streets of Anchorage were unpaved and covered with snow.Because of that, they used to race on cross-country skis right down 4th Avenue as part of the Fur Rendezvous winter carnival. The races began in front of the Recreation Bowling Alley. Photo by Nancy SimmermanIn the 1969 picture above, Barbara Britch is seen on the right, tagging Anne Thomas, the number 3 cross-country skier on the left.Arctic Valley Ski HillPictured above is Arctic Valley in the 1960s.Beginning in 1941, the military developed Arctic Valley, a ski hill in the Chugach Mountains overlooking Anchorage. Arctic Valley is near Site Summit, where the Christmas Star is located, a gift from the military.There was also a civilian ski hill right next to the military ski hill.1950s to 1967Remember the Forest Park Golf Course Rope Tow Ski Hill?Located just south of Westchester Lagoon and east of the railroad tracks.This one was a private ski hill; however, the Anchorage Nordic Cross Country Ski Club also used the hill in the 1960s. Remember the Government Hill Ski Run?In the 1950s, this ski hill was next to the Curling Ice Rink.It had no rope tow, so skiers would ski down the hill, then they had to hike back up to the top. How many trips up and down do you think they could make in a day?Point Woronzof Ski TrailsYes, you could cross-country ski near the airport.The Point Woronzof Ski Trails were located in the northern part of what is now Ted Stevens International Airport.The Old Hilltop Ski AreaHilltop got its start in 1962 with a rope tow set-up in a gravel pit west of the old Seward Highway.In 1967, things changed.A new ski hill and ski jump were located on Abbott Road near where the road turns into Hillside Drive. This was a ski hill and a ski jump, lighted for night skiing. Centennial Park in 1973Located in the western part of Anchorage, this facility featured a rope tow for downhill skiing and cross-country trails.Glen Alps Early Season Cross-Country Ski LoopLocated near the base of Flattop mountain, this 1970s location was the first place to get snow in the Anchorage area.Muldoon ParkThis ski location was built by the Municipality of Anchorage Parks and Recreation.Anchorage Schools and SkiingIn 1968, Dimond-Mears had a cross-country ski trail across Arlene Street from the Dimond High School track.Then in 1969, you could use the Wendler Junior High School Ski Trails and Alaska Communitry College (ACC) Ski Trail. Those trails were located to the east and south of Wendler.Outside of AnchorageAnd not far from Anchorage is Alyeska Resort.Located in Girdwood, Alyeska is a great place to ski for beginners and experts.Are You Ready to Ski?After all this talk about skiing, Mike and Mary are ready for a run down one of our favorite slopes. And if you’re a cross-country fan, time to get those skiis ready.From our North Stars (that’s you)From our Independence Gold Mine edition of Alaska Stories.Eric has this memory:“My Dad work at Independence Mine in 1941. He was a mining engineering student at the University of Alaska. He is in the picture of the miners standing in the mouth of the mine on display at the park headquarters. (The only one with glasses.)”Connect with Mike and MaryThat’s Mike in the picture above at Alyeska Resort in the 1970s. Mary was behind the camera.Like we said at the begining, downhill and cross-country skiing are some of the great things about living in and around Anchorage, Alaska. Do you have a skiing memory you’d like to share?You can also reply to this email.Or you can Contact Us right here. Until Next TimeMike and MaryAnchorage, Alaska Memories Club Get full access to Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe
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    6 min
  • Anchorage Band Memories

    Anchorage Band Memories
    Nov 16 2025
    Pictured above are the Heartbeats. Left to right are John (Raphael), Eddie, and Raul, the Apostol brothers. In the front is Emerson Crivello.A big thank you to Anchorage DJ Ron Moore, the Coke Show, the Heartbeats, and their hit song “Anne” for the fun audio introduction to this edition of the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club.Note: You can hear the entire song “Anne” at the end of the article voiceover above.Who were your favorite Anchorage bands?Did you play in an Anchorage band?Anchorage, Alaska, was blessed with a lot of musical talent, both teens and adults. And the music they gave us is dear to our hearts.The teen bands played at teen nightclubs and dances, while the Anchorage club scene had its own bands and entertainers.So how does an Anchorage teen band come together? There are many ways, but here’s how the Heartbeats began, as told by John Apostol.“On February 9, 1964, after watching the Beatles’ debut appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. We were so inspired and motivated by the Fab Four's music that night and couldn’t seem to stop talking about them.My brother Eddie, half joking, said to Paul (Raul) and me, “Let’s create a band for our enjoyment,” but at that time, none of us knew how to play any musical instruments. That summer, my brother Eddie worked and saved all his hard-earned money and bought us the musical instruments we needed from the Sears catalog. He bought me my first electric guitar, an amp, and a guitar chord book. He bought Paul a drum set, and he bought an electric bass guitar and amp for himself, and then he asked us to learn how to play the instruments he gave us. And that’s how we got started.”BONUSYou can enjoy the whole story of the Heartbeats.Take a look at In John’s Own Words: The Pulsating Heartbeats and enjoy.But our story begins long before the HeartbeatsPictured above are the KFQD Serenaders. Photo courtesy of Gary Smith. In the 1930s, the KFQD Serenaders band was formed by Gene Smith, who is the dad of Gary Smith. Gary is a contributor to Anchorage Memories. KFQD radio was the first radio station in Anchorage and Alaska, and KFQD featured local music talent.The Five PagesPictured above in 1963 are the Five Pages. Photo courtesy of Gary Smith.In the 1960s, The Five Pages were performing all over town. They included Don Huhndorf on guitar, Gary Smith on guitar, Cradoc (Dick) Bagshaw bass, Bob Smith (Brother) on sax, and Ceasar Romero on drums. The singer was Fred Bibbler.Yes, You Can Share This EditionAnd when you do, your friends and family will send you on a one-week, all-expenses-paid stay at the most expensive hotel in the world… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.The First Band to Play at the Royal PadPictured above is Blain’s paint store in Spenard.The second story of Blain’s paint store in Spenard was home to the teen nightclub known as the Royal Pad.Anchorage radio DJ Ron Moore was known as the “Royal Coachman,” and still is, by the way. For that reason, his teen nightclub (pictured above) was called the Royal Pad, and his car was the Royal Coach. The first band to perform at Ron Moore’s Royal Pad was a group called The Von Essex's, which included Jackie Goodman on piano, Gary Smith on guitar, Fred Johnston on bass, and Darryl Smaw on vocals.Plenty of Teen BandsDo you remember the Arsons? They were a popular Anchorage teen band in the 1960s.In the photo above is the Blue Chip Stock.The Blue Chip Stock was a popular Anchorage teen band in the 60s.Skip Conte, the keyboard player for Blue Chip Stock and the Heartbeats, went on to co-write the hit song “Ride Captain Ride.” The Outlaws were a 1960s Anchorage teen band. If memory serves, Gary Sloan (pictured above) was the lead singer.BONUSDean Forbes played guitar for Mother’s Apple Pie and Baseball Band. Dean was interviewed by Anchorage Memories some years ago.Take a look at Dean Forbes and Mother’s Apple Pie and Baseball Band and enjoy.The Heikes Family band was based in Eagle River. They also played the Alaska State Fair.BONUSAuthor Sandy Heikes tells the story of her family's band.Take a look at The Heikes Family Band and remember.The Anchorage Music SceneBecause of limited space, we were barely able to scratch the surface here.Remember Burgundy Rose, G. Morgan S. and the Jets, Fantastic Zoot, and Albatros? And we remember the Chandels, the Gatormen, the Johnson Brothers, the Nomads, the Prophets, and the Quarrymen just to name a few.How about the house band at the Pines called The Pacesetters, and another was Family Tradition?And “Johnny Collinsworth and the Country Capers Music Variety Show”Some time ago we wrote about the Anchorage music scene on Anchorage Memories.com. And since then, many band members have sent us comments about the local teen bands and the many nightclub bands. It’s a great read.BONUSYou’ll love these memories.Take a look at The...
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    8 min
  • Anchorage Radio Memories

    Anchorage Radio Memories
    Nov 2 2025
    Pictured above is Lester Peter Aloysius Snow (Gene Miner) in the KBYR radio studio.Do you remember those wonderful days when you listened to your favorite Anchorage, Alaska, radio personalities?Sometimes you listened at home. Maybe you were tuned in with your car radio. And who can forget that nifty invention called the portable transistor radio? You could take those with you just about anywhere.An anonymous reader remembers:“Sitting here with my coffee in hand, I started thinking about a long time ago.I used to wait in my bedroom until “The Scotty Ferguson Show” would come on the radio on KFQD.The music was so good, and I really got a kick out of his commercials. There was the soft drink team, whose jingle I can still sing, and there was “Gerald McBoing Boing”.I remember when his show ended, Gardner Ted Armstrong would follow. I listened to Ruben Gaines all the time; he had a way of making you feel things were good.It was a wonderful time to grow up in Alaska.”First in Anchorage and AlaskaPictured above is KFQD radio when it was located on 4th Avenue in 1924.Did You Know?When KFQD radio went on the air on May 24, 1924, it wasn’t just a first for Anchorage. They were also the first radio station in Alaska.Note:The station’s call letters. K-F-Q-D, don’t mean anything; they were assigned randomly. The Second Radio Station in AnchorageIn the photo above is the KENI radio building. The building sits on a bluff with the rear of the building overlooking Westchester Lagoon. The building is now a private residence. 24 years after KFQD began broadcasting, “Cap” Lathrop, the owner of the 4th Avenue Theatre, also built the second radio station in Anchorage, Alaska. KENI radio, which began broadcasting on May 2, 1948, from inside the 4th Avenue Theatre building. Later moving into its own building. KENI Radio and the Coke ShowIn the photo above is Ron Moore, the Royal Coachman.Did you listen to the Coke Show, hosted by Ron Moore on KENI radio? You could call in, request a song, and dedicate it to your friends.Photo courtesy of Ty Pierce.The Coke Show originated from the small radio booth you see above on the roof of the Bun Drive-In. And remember, when the cars in the parking lot would beep their horns, Ron called them “Honker Bonkers.”BONUSYou can hear the Coke Show again and Ron Moore’s Royal Coachman theme.Take a look at Anchorage Coke Show Memories 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 all-expenses-paid Alaska cruise every summer for 5 years straight… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.Mukluk TelegraphRemember how you could connect with Alaskans who were in remote areas? The radio station would broadcast your messages.GrandmaRobbie had a comment:“We also used the Mukluk Telegraph to contact friends who homesteaded at Sunshine near Talkeetna.”The KENI radio program, Mukluk Telegraph, was a great service for Alaska audiences.Mary of Anchorage Memories recalls that her family used Mukluk Telegraph to communicate with other family members at their commercial fishing site at Point Possession, across Cook Inlet from Anchorage.“Everyone used Mukluk Telegraph to communicate with family while we were going back and forth to our commercial fishing site during the summer. People in places like Tyonek, Chickaloon and Point Possession all relied on Mukluk Telegraph.”Because that type of radio program was such a well-received community service, other Anchorage radio stations had their own versions. North Winds on KHARJim remembers:“In 1959-1961 my father was assigned to Fort Richardson.Around dinner time there was a regular radio program, probably out of Anchorage, that preceded or followed announcements from people on the grid to homesteaders beyond routine contact.“For Bob & Sue on Triple Creek: Arrived safely, baby boy 7 lbs 6, mom doing fine. Home on the 13th.”The program that followed, something like Tales of the Tundra, Jack London-like Sourdough stories read by a man over a background of the song,Claire d’Lune or other mood music.Note:The show that followed North Winds was hosted by Rubin Gaines, a favorite Anchorage radio personality.When you listened to his radio program, you heard Ruben, a fellow named “Six-Toed Mordecai,” Mrs. Malone, Chilkoot Charlie, and a few others. Each one had a strong voice and distinct personality—and Ruben Gaines had created every one of them in his very creative mind—and brought them to life with his incredible vocal talent. As you listened to Ruben’s show, you couldn’t help but be amazed at how he seamlessly weaved his characters in and out of conversations. And speaking of conversations, his radio program “Conversations Unlimited” was heard in the afternoons on KHAR, Monday through Friday, to the absolute delight of Anchorage ...
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    7 min
  • Anchorage Mountain View Memories

    Anchorage Mountain View Memories
    Oct 19 2025
    photo above courtesy Patricia Brown. 1940s temporary housing in Mountain View.In the 1940s, Anchorage, Alaska, was growing, and some homesteaders headed out of town to stake their claim to some land.Norman Lange was just such a homesteader. Lange headed about 3 miles northeast from Anchorage to a spot that had a perfect view of the Chugach Mountains. Lange ended up subdividing his land and naming it, appropriately, “Mountain View.”Other early homesteaders in Mountain View now have a neighborhood street named after them. Those include a Norwegian immigrant named Nels Kleven. For some reason, his street name was misspelled “Klevin.” Robert Bragaw was a territorial legislator and photographer, and Harry Bliss was a contractor. Both have Mountain View streets named after them. But more about Bragaw Street shortly.In the 1940s, construction workers and others were coming to Anchorage to build Elmendorf Air Force Base. But there was a big problem. Anchorage didn’t have enough housing to accommodate them.As a partial solution, small temporary housing structures were put up in Mountain View (pictured above).And speaking of Bragaw Street, you probably didn’t know that from 1942 until 1951, a man named John Vanover ran a 20-acre pig farm in the area.Pictured above is Brewster’s on Mountain View Drive.In 1949, Charles H. Brewster and his wife, Betty, opened the Mountain View Washaroo Laundry. But the Brewsters were ready for more, so they started selling clothing in their spare time from their log cabin home located in the Muldoon area of Anchorage.Then in 1959, the two opened the first Brewster’s Clothing Store in a small log cabin at North Bragaw and Mountain View Drive. They later expanded and became an Anchorage fixture.Yes, You Can Share this editionAnd when you do, your friends and family will send you a year’s supply of your favorite bakery item. Yummy… well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club! This post is public, so feel free to share it.In the picture above is Mountain View Elementary, first opened in 1956.Mike of the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club attended Mountain View Elementary School, and one summer, he was a pitcher for the Indians Little League team that practiced on the Mountain View Elementary School baseball field.A&W Root BeerIn 1957, the first drive-in, A&W Root Beer, opened in Anchorage. It was located in Mountain View.The location was also home to Timbo and Princess, the A&W lions.BONUSTake a look at A&W Drive-In Memories and enjoy.In the photo above, taken by Ward Wells, is Mountain View Drive on July 2, 1958.Notice the large building in the background? That’s Caribou’s Department Store.The picture above is the original Clark Junior High School.First opened in 1959, Clark Junior High School was the first junior high in Anchorage. Located on Bragaw Street, the school was named after Orah Dee Clark.Clark was the very first schoolteacher and principal hired in 1915 in the new town of Anchorage, Alaska. After Clark Junior High opened, Clark herself often visited the school, and students were able to speak with her between classes and after school.Mountain View Community CenterIn the 1960s, Mike of the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club attended weekly square dancing get-togethers in the Mountain View Community Center. Mr. and Mrs. Topolski ran the dances.During each weekly dance, they took a short break from square dancing and played some rock and roll for the kids to dance to. Mike of the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club even got his first announcing gig one week when he was asked to play the rock and roll records and introduce each song. “I remember playing “Harbor Lights” by the Platters. After I introduced the song and started the record, I looked down from the stage, and there were 3 or 4 girls looking up at me, all wide-eyed and smiling. Wow, my first fan club.”Then one week, a well-known KENI radio DJ named Bob Fleming was the special guest at the dance. We had a great time at that community center.In the photo above is the Anchorage teen band, the Heartbeats.All but one of the Heartbeats band members were the Apostol brothers, and their family lived in Mountain View. Both Mary and Mike of the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club were friends of the Heartbeats.In 1966, the “Pulsating Heartbeats” released the hit record “Anne.” On the flip side of the record was “Talkin’ Bout You.”BONUSGet the story behind the Heartbeats band and hear their song, “Anne.”Take a look at In John’s Own Words and enjoy.Remember Park Lanes Bowling?Beginning in 1976, Mountain View enjoyed bowling at this Anchorage favorite.And for a short while, KTVA channel 11 broadcast the weekly TV show, “Bowling for Dollars,” hosted by Chuck Talsky and shot on location at Park Lanes. As a side note, Mike of the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club was one of the camera operators on the show and also edited the program for ...
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    6 min