Anchorage Radio and Television Stories
Anchorage Radio and Television stories about the shows and personalities we remember growing up with in the 49th state.
Starting with a show called "Hostess House" on KTVA channel 11, and later renamed "The Norma Goodman Show", the first lady of Alaska television, Norma Goodman, remained on the air for more than 50 years.
They were our friends, whether you knew them or not -
Norma
Goodman and Theda Comstock came into our homes to
tell us what was happening in and around Anchorage, Alaska, to introduce
us to interesting people, to share a recipe, and bring us the latest
news and weather.
Do you remember listening to your favorite Anchorage, Alaska radio
personalities while at home, traveling in your car, truck, or at work?
How would you like to hear many of them doing their radio shows once again?
Soon after the Mother Moose TV show premiered on KTVA, Larry and Carol
took the show on the road by doing live Mother Moose appearances at
local grocery stores and other venues.
Today, the Mother Moose
Show remains a fond memory
Do you remember when television in Anchorage brought you Christmas and holiday shows two weeks later?
Remember when KENI-TV began broadcasting NBC's "Huntley-Brinkley Report" on the same evening it was broadcast in the lower 48?
Over the years, Anchorage Romper Room Hostesses included Carol Larson, Carolyn Guess and Nielia LeSchell.
The children always called them "Miss Carol, Miss Carolyn and Miss Nielia."
Anchorage Radio and Television Stories
By Ron Moore
"The Royal Coachman Theme was written while I was in the Army and an accident placed me in the hospital."
Hear the Royal Coachman radio theme song right now.
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 Josef Princiotta and Merrill Mael, premiered on
KTVA channel 11 in 1965.
The show was broadcast live from 7:00am to 9:00am Monday through Friday.
"It was really early Facebook with a twist.
Alaskan's would call in and ask us to send messages to family of friends out in the bush."
Since KENI radio was a 50,000 watt clear channel station, it's signal reached out a long way into the bush.
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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 …
The Anchorage Film Caper
There was someone just down the empty McKinley basement corridor... or was there?
With my 16mm film can clutched tightly under my left arm and a 357 …
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 -
President Nixon met Emperor Hirohito at Elmendorf …
Norma Goodman and Theda Comstock
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Theda Comstock and the Emerald Ring
"It was a cold and snowy night " in Spenard, Alaska, 1969.
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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 …
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" …
Bill Kelley - KTVA News Anchor Not rated yet
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 …
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 …
The Clumsy Anchorage TV Sports Anchor Not rated yet
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 …
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, …
Anchorage Radio and Television Stories
KFQD radio, 1940s
Growing up in Anchorage and south central Alaska,
we listened to the radio and watched our local television stations.
And we all have fond memories of our favorite shows,
and radio and TV personalities.
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 McKinely 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.
You can 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 we 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.
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 you you as well.
Wonderful Anchorage Memories
that fill your heart and feed your soul