Special Memories of Anchorage, Alaska
Fill your heart - feed your soul
Break Up is Hard to Do
In the following video, you'll enjoy the song “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” by Neil Sedaka.
Oh, the joys of Spring “breakup”
Slushy, muddy, water-filled streets with countless new potholes make driving and walking a challenge.
If you still live in Anchorage, or no longer live there, we guarantee this will remind you of those happy days when the ice and snow begin to melt. But the slush and water of the warm-up, creates road hazards that make your car dirty, and turn walking along the road into a risky business.
And the only thing that keeps you going was that after “breakup”, warmer, greener days are just around the corner,
And that means camping, fishing, and other fun Alaskan summer activities.
Ron Moore, the Royal Coachman
Click on the following to hear the Royal Coachman theme song
by Ron Moore
The Royal Coachman Theme was written while I was in the Army.
Once out of the service, the idea seemed to proliferate, and not necessarily because of me.
Kids would ask, “Is your car The Royal Coach”?
So, every car from the 57 Chevy, to the Corvettes and even a Ferrari became The Royal Coach.
The broadcast booth at the Bun Drive In became The Royal Roost. The Teen Night club became The Royal Pad, etc.
The song was recorded in Chicago by a well-known band leader from that area, Lou Breeze, and released on the Bally label, but wasn't a Top 40 hit.
I don't even have a copy of the record these days. My last copy was destroyed in the basement of KFQD Radio when the 1964 earthquake hit, and diesel oil ruined a lot of my collection.
How Alaska’s Dairy and Maid got their Names
Anyone who grew up or lived in Anchorage, or anywhere else in Alaska, will remember this very popular local dairy.
But did you know how the name came about?
They held a contest back in 1935 or 1936 in the Matanuska Colony to name the dairy.
Pictured above is Dorothy Ann Sheely Bush in 1993, she was the school girl who won the Matanuska Maid naming contest.
Also pictured here in 1935 with Dorothy is her mom, Charlotte Sheely.
When Dorothy Ann Sheely (Bush) was in high school, she won the contest and a $25 dollar prize.
Dorothy submitted the name “Matanuska Maid”.
BONUS
In 1960, Matanuska Maid wanted a name for the ice skater featured on their dairy products.
Mrs. John Secora of Anchorage came up with the name, “Anuska” which was the contest winner.
Notice that Anuska is Matanuska without the “Mat”.
Yes, You Can Share this Edition
And when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will send you a year’s supply of your favorite cookies… Well, it could happen.
The First Night of the Coke Show
The photo above is courtesy of Malcolm Burgess
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 Royal Roost 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.
Click on the following link to hear the Coke Show once again
Did You Know?
The Book Cache got its start in Jonas Brothers Museum
BONUS
“All the Colors of White”
Photo by Gary Minish
Do you enjoy Alaska poetry? Here’s one by Linda A. Wingfield
Take a look at Alaska, All the Colors of White, and imagine.
Anchorage Memories Game Show
How much do you know about the 4th Avenue Theatre?
Click on the following video and join the fun
Did you guess correctly?
From our North Stars (that’s you)
From our Alaska Pioneer edition about Jane Mears
“Jane Mears was a true Alaska pioneer with forward educational plans for the future generations.”
Jim
“I attended A J Dimond HS. With Mears Middle School. Graduated '72. Many of my Kigh School classmates attended Mears Jr High. You do such good work for all of us now relocated to the “lower 48” and I follow your posts. Thank you for all your efforts and your hard work.”
Donna
“Yes, we all thank you for your info. And all your time to research and assemble important history of our home for years, and it's interesting stories we've been a part of.”
Bluesman
“I so appreciate the history you send out to everyone who lived in Alaska at one time. I love going down memory lane, I find it so relaxing. Thank you.”
Avril
“Thank you for including the link to Jane’s extended biography. I was curious about the Wainwright connection, and the link answered my question, but also expanded on your very interesting history!”
Helen
Connect with Us
Hey Mary, I loved hearing the Royal Coachman theme song again. Great memories.
And the Break Up music video reminds us of those early spring days when all the cars in Anchorage are dirty from all the mud puddles on the roads. And the potholes are big enough to swallow a VW bug.
Do you have a comment? We’d love to hear from you. Just reply to this email and we’ll get right back to you. Or you can Contact Us to say, “I got up and danced to the Royal Coachman theme song.”
“Hey Ron, how bout a ride in the Royal Coach?”
Until Next Time
Mike and Mary
Anchorage Memories Club
Loved when winter gave in to spring. Hitchhiked with my best friend into Anchorage from Chugiak to get some new Jack Purcell's and check out the latest clothes at Penneys. In the early sixties it was time to spend the allowance we received on A&W burgers and root beer in Mt. View. We all got to spread our wings come springtime.
Cars, Dances and Burgers! All had fun in Anchorage back then. Yep, just around the corner was Spring filled with blooming flowers and trees. And shopping for our cool Ked's tennis shoes!