Anchorage Radio Personalities

by Michael R Dougherty
(California)

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 you like to hear many of them doing their radio shows once again?

Remember Ron Moore, G.Morgan S (Gene Shedlock), Larry Larson, Bobby Russell, Jim "Boom Boom" Cannon, Larry Wayne, Frank Tonnema (Frank James), Steve London, Homer & Jethro, Dick Lobdell, Ruben Gains and Chuck Orr?

Not long ago, I found a website that features all the Anchorage radio personalities above (except Ron Moore). But you'll be happy to learn that you can listen to Ron Moore doing the Coke Show right here on Anchorage Memories.

BONUS

To hear Ron Moore (the Royal Coachman) go to our Coke Show Memories page.

DOUBLE BONUS

The website I was referring to earlier is - Alaska Oldies.com, and I encourage you to visit that site and listen to the fun collection of "air checks".

You'll have a wonderful trip down Anchorage radio memory lane.

I had the good fortune to work with Ron Moore on the Coke Show. While I certainly didn't ever host the show, or even talk very much, Ron gave me the on-air name "Mighty Michael". While working with Ron, I also worked with Anchorage DJ, Jerry Rose, who filled in for Ron on the Coke Show from time-to-time.

When I worked at KTVA channel 11 in the Broadcast Center in Spenard, we also had the KBYR and KNIK-FM studios in the building because they were owned by Northern Television at that time. And because of that, I knew all the DJs and worked with them when they recorded audio for KTVA. Those DJs included Ron Moore, Jerry Rose, Steve London, Jack Frost, Les Snow, Sarg McClintock and Roger Latham just to name a few.

TRIPLE BONUS

Now take a few minutes and visit Alaska Oldies.com, listen to the many Anchorage radio personalities and maybe even check out their Anchorage nightclub bands page as well.

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And For the Older Listeners -
by: Cindy Pendleton

I found this radio site several years ago and bookmarked it, mostly because I heard the voice of a dear family friend doing some commercials on KHAR.

Neal Thomas (radio name- Curt Nolan) worked for the Harpels at KHAR from about 1968 to the mid 70s.

Remember Venus Flytrap on "WKRP in Cincinnati"?

Well, like Venus, Curt was Anchorage’s midnight mellow man, filling late night radio with memorable music for lovers and insomniacs alike.

Curt was a master at blending an instrumental with a vocal of the same song, thus extending the music. All of our radios were permanently tuned to KHAR.

I miss the days when KHAR filled the air with sounds of the 40s, 50s and 60s - beloved but beautiful "moldy oldies".

Most of all, I miss being able to call Curt with my special request for one of those moldy oldies.

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Remembering Rubin Gains
by: Pearl Nestor

I don't exactly remember his commentaries at the end of the news, but he had the soul of a poet.

His command of the English language was inspiring. Every thing he wrote and expressed was so above par.

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Memories of Herb Shandlin
by: Pearl Nestor

I miss Herb, such an edgy softy.

I had a big crush on him back in the day because he was handsome and dashing in his company car.

Also, I remember when someone thought they saw big foot and phoned into his radio program. Then everyone thought they saw him, then big foot's girlfriend wanted to know where he was seen because he hadn't come home and boy he had some explaining to do! Such good fun, Herb just went with it.

He had a great sense of humor. I will always miss him, one of my first crushes. I wish I could listen to some of his old radio programs again.

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Real Old Memory
by: Barb (Nigh) Thaman

In the late 40s-early 50s we had a gravelly voiced Morning announcer (don't recall his name) who prefaced the daily weather report with "let's take a look" or "let's take a peek" out the window to see what's happening.

The inevitable happened - one morning he said "let's take a leak out the window". Was the topic of many laughs in my Dad's barber shop for days!

A Note from Mike

I first heard that story many years ago - it should be on one of those old Kermit Schaffer blooper albums.

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Anchorage Radio Voices
by: Anonymous

Cool memory!

I had the privilege and fun to be one of the small group of high school interns in 1975-76, and worked with some of the guys you mentioned.

Started by being a tape-changer in FM and recorded a few spots, but got to work some off-hour and weekend shifts in AM before heading off to college.

A Note from Mike

Great hearing from you, and thank you for your comment. I also got my start as a high school senior, working on the Varsity Show at KTVA.

Glad you were able to have the the experience working in radio broadcasting.

Thank you
Mike

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