Anchorage Radio and Television Stories

Anchorage Radio and Television stories about your favorite local radio and TV personalities and your favorite shows.

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Nostalgic Anchorage Radio and Television Stories

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

KENI-TV
Brings Color TV
to Anchorage
Remember when color TV first arrived in Anchorage? The following is from an interview with Al Bramstedt Jr, conducted by Hilary Hilscher. Al …

Ruben Gaines
and Chilkoot Charlie
How many people did he have in his radio studio? When you listened to his radio program, you heard Ruben, Doc, a fellow named "Six-Toed Mordecai", Mrs. …

Your Favorite
Anchorage Radio Personalities
Where Are They Now?
Who were your favorite Anchorage Radio personalities? We all remember listening to our radios at home, in the car and on those small portable transistor …

Herb Shaindlin
An Anchorage Broadcasting
Legend
Herb handed my friend Bob Martin a small cardboard match from one of those flip up match packs you carry in your pocket. Then Herb told Bob to hold the …

KWKO Fm Stereo 102.1
Anchorages home of
"Night Flight"
My broadcast career started with Chet and Jo Gordon, owners of KBYR AM/FM in 1965. Chet tried to sell the FM side. There were no buyers, so he shut …

Bill Kelley
KTVA News Anchor
Back in 1965, not long after the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake, when I first began working at KTVA channel 11 in Anchorage, one of the first on-camera staff …

Koko's Karnival of Klowns
The Cotton Candy Picture In the picture above, looking from the ground up to the top of the stairs is Karla Fetrow's (the author of this post) oldest …

1964 Alaskan Earthquake
at KTVA Channel 11
It was March 27, 1964. I had just finished hosting "The Buckaroo Show" on KTVA from the ground floor of the McKinley Building. And as the host "Deputy …

President Nixon Meets
Emperor Hirohito
in Anchorage, Alaska
On September 26, 1971 Anchorage, Alaska television professionals showed the world an historic event. Scroll down to see the video. President Nixon met …

The Clumsy
Anchorage TV
Sports Anchor
The KTVA director yelled "where's Bob?" With just 10 seconds before he was to begin his live TV sportscast, Bob, our TV sports anchor, had fallen backwards …

Norma Goodman and
Theda Comstock
They were our friends, whether you knew them or not - Norma Goodman and Theda Comstock came into our homes Monday through Friday to tell us what was happening …

Theda Comstock
and the Emerald Ring
"It was a cold and snowy night " in Spenard, Alaska, 1969. Along with her husband, Daryl Comstock (D.M. as he was known on KENI -TV), Theda was a business …

Anchorage Radio Personalities
Do you remember listening to your favorite Anchorage, Alaska radio personalities while at home, traveling in your car or truck, or at work? How would …

Hi-Teens
Mukluk Telegraph
the Coke Show
Those early days of broadcasting in Anchorage were memorable. It was a time when we had little more than our imaginations with which to work. KENI …

Breakfast in Bedlam
It may have been the most creative and interesting way for Alaskan's to wake up in Anchorage television history - "Breakfast in Bedlam", with hosts …

Mukluk Telegraph
In 1960, I was the Mukluk editor on KENI radio. I was 16, and it was my first job. It was really early Face Book with a twist. Folks would call …

Anchorage Television
was Two Weeks Old
Do you remember when television in Anchorage brought you Christmas and holiday shows two weeks later? When I was a senior at East high school in 1965, …

Anchorage
Romper Room Memories
"Romper stomper, bomper, boo, tell me, tell me, tell me do. Magic Mirror, tell me today, did all my friends have fun at play?" Those words were spoken …

The Mother Moose TV Show
In the 1970's, "Mother Moose" premiered on KTVA channel eleven and Anchorage Alaska TV screens were never the same. Later moving to KENI-TV, channel …

Ron Moore
My Anchorage Radio Days
The following is an interview with the Anchorage Coke Show's very own, Ron Moore. Anchorage Memories - Mike and Mary: Ron, when and how did you …

The Royal Coachman Theme
The Royal Coachman Theme was written while I was in the Army and an accident placed me in the hospital and recovery area so I was watching TV in the Day …

Norma Goodman
Said What?
Norma made a face on live TV and said - Before I tell you what she said, let's start at the beginning. Starting with a show called "Hostess House" …

The Day
Mickey Mouse
Came to
Anchorage TV Not rated yet
I remember when TV viewing in Anchorage meant mostly watching a test pattern. But there was also this more exciting development. I was a 10-year-old …

Just Two Field Rats
out for a Burger Not rated yet
I met (actor) George Kennedy when he came to Anchorage in 1983. He was on the Norma Goodman Show when I worked for KTVA. We talked for about an …

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Miss Northern Lights
and Mother Moose Not rated yet
Remember this? "It's Mother Moose, It's Mother Moose, there by the cabin in the spruce. Miss Northern Lights the eye delights into the cabin the gang …

Anchorage Radio DJ
Les Snow Not rated yet
The following is from an interview with Anchorage radio personality Les Snow, who's real name is Gene Miner. Anchorage Memories - Mike and Mary: …

Ruben Gaines and
Ed Stevens Not rated yet
These comments were written by my adopted uncle, Robert Knox. He and his wife, Wilma, were journalists in Anchorage between 1951 and 1984. In spite …

Daryl and the Missing Link Not rated yet
It must have been in the fall of the early 70s, as I recall it was dark in the early evening hours. My husband, Bob, and Daryl Comstock were partners …

Anchorage's First
Live Network Television
Broadcast Not rated yet
On Sunday July 20, 1969 at 6:56pm, Anchorage experienced an amazing event, right along with the rest of the world. It was the very first, satellite …

Anchorage Radio Days
with Jerry Rose Not rated yet
The following is an interview with one-time Anchorage Alaska radio DJ, Jerry Rose (who's real name is Peter Bie). Anchorage Alaska Memories - Mike and …

The Anchorage Alaska
Rock Jocks Not rated yet
Back in the 1970s in Anchorage Alaska, KAKM channel 7 was producing a local television magazine show called "Southcentral." Besides local issues, we also …

An Interview with
Marcus in the Morning Not rated yet
For years, Marcus Lewis was Marcus in the Morning on Anchorage, Alaska radio. Anchorage Alaska Memories interviewed Marcus to find out his deepest, …

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Remember The Varsity Show?

You'll Love This Free Book

With a book foreward by Ron Moore

Did you watch Anchorage's teen TV dance show?

Did you dance on the show?

Or did you work on this teen dance program?

The Varsity Show book takes you back to the very beginnings of the show and includes the names of some of the Anchorage teens who danced on the show and worked on the show.

The Varsity Show book is a must read... Enjoy these Anchorage Memories.

Yes, I want the Varsity Show book

Growing Up in Anchorage

You listened to the radio and watched our local television stations.

You have fond memories of our favorite shows.

And your favorite radio and TV personalities.

Anchorage Radio and Television

Stories

The first radio station in Anchorage was KFQD, signing on May 17th in 1924. KENI radio first came on the air on May 2nd, 1948.

Our first television station was KTVA which was started by Augie Hiebert. KTVA came on the air on December 11, 1953 and broadcast from 2:00pm to 11:30pm from the first floor of the McKinley building (now the McKinley Tower Apartments at 337 E. 4th Avenue in downtown Anchorage).

In 1955, Anchorage's second television station, KFIA began broadcasting. KFIA later became KENI-TV, now KTUU.

Anchorage Radio and Television

Stories

Do you remember listening to "Mukluk Telegraph" on KENI radio?

Do you remember "The Coke Show" with Ron Moore, Ruben Gains on KHAR and Herb Shaindlin hosting horror movies on KHAR-TV, (now KYUR) and doing commentaries and "Desperate and Dateless"?

Or how about "Ko Ko the KENI Clown" and Kartoon Karnival, or Hi-Jinks with Frank Feeman on KENI-TV, or "The Buckaroos" or "Romper Room" on KTVA?

And of course "Mother Moose" with Larry and Carol Beck, first on KTVA, then KENI-TV.

Yes, I want to enjoy the "Mother Moose" theme song below

Anchorage Women's Shows

Remember Theda Comstock's "The Woman's Touch" on KENI-TV or "Hostess House", later "The Norma Goodman Show" on KTVA?

Anchorage Show for Teens

We even had Anchorage's own teen dance show, "The Varsity Show" on KTVA.

Anchorage Radio and Television

In Anchorage, we had two television stations until KHAR-TV came along, followed by KAKM, But even with only two TV stations, it seemed like we had more to watch back then, than we do now, in a world with hundreds of cable TV stations.

We had our own local news personalities, talk show hosts, late night TV hosts and our own kids shows.

And you loved them all.

Do you remember KENI-TV channel 2 covering the Fur Rondy sled dog races in black and white, with mushers like George Attla, Doctor Roland Lombard and Herbie Topkok? And the Fur Rondy parade TV coverage?

Those were the days.

Anchorage Memories Mike Dougherty behind the TV camera

Mike went on to win an Emmy for his camera work

Mike of Anchorage Memories behind the camera at KTVA in the McKinley building studios (after the 64 earthquake)

A Note From Mike

As I wrote this Anchorage Radio and Television Stories page, I experienced a flood of great memories.

You see, I began working in Anchorage television when I was just 18 years old. While I was in High School I decided on a career in television and motion picture production. So I auditioned to work on "The Varsity Show" teen dance program on KTVA channel 11.

Because of that, I was able to be a part of the Anchorage television and radio scene.

I got to know people like Augie Hiebert, the broadcast pioneer who built Alaska's first TV station, KTVA.

I also knew Al Bramstedt senior and Junior of KENI-TV, Herb Shaindlin, Dick Rand (KoKo the KENI Clown), Norma Goodman, Theda Comstock, Ron Moore, Marcus in the Morning, Jerry Rose (Peter Bie), Chuck Talsky and so many others.

Best of all, I met my future wife Mary in the studios of KTVA where she was a staff dancer on "The Varsity Show" while I was hosting the program.

And so, as I wrote this page, it came from my heart. And I hope these stories will bring back a flood of memories for you as well.