Anchorage Radio and Television
Pictures

Enjoy nostalgic memories with these Anchorage Radio and Television Pictures. A look at your favorite local radio and TV shows.

Who were some of your favorite local radio personalities?

And what were your favorite local TV shows?

The Mother Moose Show

Anchorage Kids TV

The picture above is from the very first show.

And once Anchorage kids saw Mother Moose it was love at first site.

Larry Beck was the Old Sourdough who told wonderful stories and Carol Beck (now Edgar) was Miss Northern Lights who showed the TV audience how to make crafts, and she sometimes played Mother Moose.

Remember Rocky and Bullwinkle?

A fun part of every Mother Moose show were the cartoon adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.

The Mother Moose Show, first seen on KTVA channel 11. Later, the program moved to KENI-TV channel 2 (now KTUU).

BONUS

You can read all about the Mother Moose Show and remember when.

Take a look at The Mother Moose Story and enjoy.

Theda Comstock

KENI TV Weather Girl

Photo courtesy of Lawrence Chapman

The very first time you watched Theda give you the weather report from behind the map on KENI-TV channel 2, you probably thought what everyone else thought.

“Wow, she can really write backwards.”

But it was just a camera trick.

Just before the weather, KENI-TV staff “flipped a switch” that reversed the picture on the camera.

So, it looked just like Theda was writing backwards.

BONUS

Remember Theda Comstock's show, “The Woman's Touch”?

Click on the link below to hear her theme song. It's called Toy Parade by Burt Kaempfert. Enjoy.

Anchorage Radio and Television Pictures

He Holds the Record

Which Anchorage radio personality holds a record in both Anchorage and Alaska?

Ruben Gaines KHAR radio program “Conversation Unlimited” was the longest running daily program in both Anchorage and Alaska radio history.

His show ran from l946 to l985.

Ruben was also the Alaska State Poet Laureate from 1973 to 1978.

BONUS

Take a look at Ruben Gaines and Chilkoot Charlie and enjoy.

Bert's Cards and Gifts

Do you remember seeing those live commercials when you were watching Anchorage TV?

In the behind-the-scenes picture above, circa 1967, Mike Dougherty of Anchorage Memories is behind the camera and Tony K is setting up the display for a live commercial for Bert's Cards and Gifts.

BONUS

Live TV commercials didn't always go as planned.

Take a look this fun story Norma Goodman Said What? and enjoy.

Anchorage Radio and television pictures

Fur Rendezvous on TV

Remember sitting in the warm comfort of your home, watching television coverage of the World Champion sled dog races that started on 4th Avenue?

It was fun to root for your favorite musher while watching them on television, with coverage in the early days by KENI-TV.

Remember watching mushers George Attla and Dr. Roland Lombard battle it out?

BONUS

Remember the theme song for the Rondy TV and radio coverage?

It's called “Sleigh Ride in Alaska”, by De Selvera, recorded in 1959.

Click on the video below and remember when.

The Varsity Show

Anchorage Teen TV Dance Show

Broadcast live every Saturday afternoon during the school year.

Anchorage teens could go to the studios of KTVA channel 11 in the McKinley building on 4th Avenue to dance on TV to the latest hit songs.

Following the 1964 earthquake, the KTVA studios moved to Spenard and so did the Varsity Show.

But the show was more than that.

The Varsity Show also gave local teens the opportunity to work on the TV show and earn a scholarship toward their education.

BONUS

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Norma Goodman

Anchorage Talk Show Host

Norma did a live interview show called Hostess House and later, The Norma Goodman Show, seen Monday through Friday on KTVA channel 11.

Norma also co-anchored KTVA's Eyewitness News with Ron Moore for several years.

Anchorage Radio and Television Pictures

Romper Room

Anchorage Kids TV

Monday through Friday, Anchorage tuned in to KTVA channel 11 to watch local children enjoy an hour of educational fun on the Romper Room TV show.

Remember the oversized bumblebee known as “Mr. Do-Bee?”

Children heard, “don't be a “don't – Bee”, but always “do-Bee” good boys and girls for your parents.

BONUS

For the whole story, take a look at Anchorage Romper Room Memories and enjoy.

Anchorage Radio and Television Pictures

Ron Moore

and the Coke Show

Live radio from “high a top the Bun Drive-In” on Northern Lights “wooly bullyvard”, popular Anchorage DJ, Ron Moore took telephone call-in requests and dedications from area teens.

When it was time for the Coke Show, the parking lot at the Bun filled with cars. And radios across town brought Anchorage teens together to enjoy the latest hit songs. They could also call in their song requests and dedications while listening to the grand ring master, Ron Moore.

The Morning Show

on KTVA channel 11

Do you remember waking up with The Morning Show on KTVA channel 11 in 1966 – 1967?

The show was hosted by Roger Latham with Bill Martin presenting the news.

Entertainment included visiting music groups who were playing at local hotels and night spots as well as local entertainers.

“The Trading Game” was another fun part of the program, where viewers could call in and trade a coffee pot for a picture frame, or whatever was up for trade that morning.

KoKo the KENI Klown

Anchorage Kid's TV

Photo by Jim Zoller

Picture of Bob Zoller and his sister Barbara talking with KoKo.

Great fun for local kids on KENI-TV channel 2 (now KTUU).

KoKo the KENI Klown (Dick Rand), pictured above, brought fun, laughter, and cartoons to a happy Anchorage audience each weekday afternoon.

Do you remember this show? Were you on the show?

Les Snow

Anchorage Radio Personality

Do you remember Lester Aloyisius Snow?

Called Les Snow on the radio (his real name is Gene Miner), in the picture above, he was playing the hits for his audience on KBYR.

Les Snow was an Anchorage favorite.

The Buckaroos

Anchorage Kids TV Show

Anchorage kid's TV with a western flair.

Weekdays at 5:00pm, it was all western fun with cartoons, puppets and games, hosted by Sheriff John on the Buckaroos.

Part of the Buckaroos set was a log cabin. Later, that log cabin set was used as the “cabin in the spruce” for the Mother Moose show.

Anchorage Radio and Television Pictures

KENI Radio Building

The second radio station to serve Anchorage was KENI.

Originally owned by “Cap” Lathrop, the station signed on from studios in the 4th Avenue Theatre building.

Later, the station moved to the location pictured above, that now overlooks Westchester Lagoon.

HiJinks

Anchorage Kids TV Show

Do you remember HiJinks?

It was a daily kid's show that actually got started on KFIA-TV channel 2 which later became KENI-TV and is now KTUU channel 2.

Notice the bow ties?

Frank Feeman would wear a little tiny bow tie one day, then the next day he would have a gigantic bow tie. He even wore flashy electric bow ties.

The show was a lot of fun. Do you remember HiJinks? Were you on the show? 

Anchorage Radio and Television Pictures

The Broadcast Center

Following the 1964 earthquake, the McKinley Building in downtown Anchorage was so badly damaged KTVA channel 11 and KNIK-FM had to relocate.

In the picture above, The Broadcast Center in Spenard, became the new home for KTVA, KNIK-FM, KBYR and the service known as Muzak, which provided the elevator music and background music you enjoyed in stores around town.

You may have walked through the front door of this building to be on the Norma Goodman Show, Romper Room, the Varsity Show or Mother Moose to name a few.

KBYR Super Kar

A cool look on Anchorage Streets

Do you remember the KBYR radio Super Kar?

This sporty car was driven to all kinds of events hosted by KBYR when the station's format played rock and roll hits.

In the picture above is YR DJ Steve London behind the wheel with radio DJ Mike Pecaro in the passenger seat.

KIMO Channel 13

The picture above is a graphic used circa 1970s, to promote the nightly news show seen on KIMO channel 13 (now KYUR).

Do you remember that KIMO started out as KHAR-TV, with its studios located next to KHAR radio?

Channel 13 was the third television station to serve Anchorage audiences.

Theda wasn't always Cooking

Photo courtesy of R B Laurie

When she wasn't cooking up something special, or behind the Alaska map presenting the weather, Theda Comstock did interviews with special guests.

In the picture above, Theda is interviewing Martin Denny who was in town doing a concert.

Dean Berg

Anchorage TV News Anchor

On the cover of Anchorage's TV Viewer is Dean Berg.

Dean first came to Anchorage as the news anchor for KTVA channel 11. He later anchored the news on KIMO with Herb Shaindlin.

Did you know that before coming to Anchorage, Dean was an actor?

He co-starred in the 1957–1958 TV series “Harbor Command” with Wendell Cory. He was also in several movies including the 1962 Blake Edwards film, “Experiment in Terror” and the 1968 movie “Bullitt” with Steve McQueen.

Anchorage audiences will also remember Dean for his role in the Anchorage mini-movie, “Double-Oh-Marcus; The Spy who Flubbed Me” starring Marcus in the Morning and Herb Shaindlin.

Anchorage Memories VIP Club

“My sister sent me an Anchorage Memories VIP Club publication a few weeks ago.

And I want to thank you for the connection to my past. I grew up in Anchorage and left for college in 1967.

My last visit to Anchorage was for a West high school class reunion over 20 years ago.

So, thanks for putting all this together.”

Vivien

BONUS

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