Anchorage Coke Show
Memories

Yes, you can return to 1959 through 1969 with these Anchorage Coke Show Memories when popular DJ Ron Moore played the hits for from high atop the Bun Drive-In.

Now listen to

Ron Moore and the Coke Show

**(Ron is asking callers to guess how much Paul of the Heartbeats band weighed when he was born)

Click on the following link:

Our Story Begins on Christmas Eve 1959

It was a cold December night when Ron Moore first took “The Coke Show” to new heights. Literally.

The radio show began originating from, as Ron used to say, “high atop the Bun Drive-In” at 601 Northern Lights Boulevard (later named “Wooly Bully Blvd” by Ron and the gang).

The new Coke Show studio was a small booth, affectionately known as the “Chicken Coop”, or the “Royal Roost” (remember, Ron was also known as the “Royal Coachman” on his radio program).

The studio sat on the roof of the Bun Drive-In, overlooking the parking lot through a picture window.

The tiny booth included a microphone, a small mixer and two broadcast record turn tables to play all the latest hits. There was also a telephone in the booth, so teens could call in.

You could easily see the Chicken Coop as you drove by the Bun Drive-In. It was a visual reminder of a very popular nightly show featuring Ron Moore with Anchorage teens calling in and requesting songs, making dedications, or just wanting to say hello to Ron.

During the show, the parking lot in front of the Bun Drive-In was filled with teens and adults in cars. Inside the cars, radios were tuned to the Coke Show. During just about every show, someone would start honking their car horn at Ron up in the booth. Within seconds, others began honking their car horns. Ron referred to them as “Honker Bonkers”.

Doing the Coke Show from high atop the Bun Drive-In that December in 1959 was a big hit. The show continued to originate at the Bun as a popular teen call-in radio show until 1969. 

The Royal Coachman Theme Song on a 45 Record

Do you still have your 45 record collection?

Did you listen to “The Royal Coachman”?

On his radio show, his listeners knew him as “The Royal Coachman” and to Anchorage, Alaska teens and adults too, Ron Moore was it.

Ron played all the latest rock and roll hits of the day with an occasional “blast from the past”, an “oldie, but a goodie”.

Now, here's another

fun “blast from the past”

Listen to The

Royal Coachman

Theme Song

Anchorage Coke Show Memories

BONUS

* Here's another “oldie but a goodie”

Do you remember The Heartbeats?

You can listen to the Pulsating Heartbeats hit song, “Anne”

Bun Drive-In, Anchorage, Alaska, July 1963

Photo courtesy of Malcolm Burgess

Anchorage Coke Show Memories

From high atop the Bun Drive-In

My name is Michael R Dougherty (of Anchorage Memories), but you can call me Mike. A friend of mine named Bob Martin and I had become a part of what Ron affectionately referred to as The Varsity Show Crew.

Remember The Varsity Show?

It was a live, local teen TV dance program hosted by Ron Moore and seen every Saturday on KTVA channel 11 in Anchorage.

And as local teens, Bob and I were genuinely interested in learning everything we could about television and radio. So, Ron invited us to be a part of the Coke Show radio program.

Our job was to set up the booth before each show, get records ready to play as we sat next to him in the Chicken Coop, and answer the phone when he was too busy. And occasionally, Ron would invite us to talk on the air with him.

Ron gave Bob and I our “on-air” names. I was “Mighty Michael” and Bob was “Rapid Robert.”

Now I've included some of my memories below and encourage you to post your Coke Show memories too.

When you think of Anchorage radio stations, from 1959 through 1969 you probably remember tuning your dial at home and in your car to KENI radio, so you could listen to Ron Moore.

Your Coke Show Memories

Do you remember the fun you had when it was time to listen to the Coke Show on your radio at home, in a car or on-the-go using your transistor radio?

Those were the days.

Listening to Ron Moore and all the things that were going on during every Coke Show brought Anchorage teens together around the radio

You heard your friends calling in to the show and speaking with Ron. Maybe they mentioned your name in a dedication. And you were sure to hear a favorite song or two.

And the next day at school, you and your friends would ask each other if they were listening when a certain someone called in to the show.

It was a fun time for all.

BONUS

What song did Ron Moore play at the end of his shows?

The answer is:

“Earth Angel” by the Penguins.

As we keep the memories flowing, you're invited to take a look at the following:

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"I thoroughly enjoy Anchorage Memories,
it is absolutely magnificent" Robert