“Cap” Lathrop, Anchorage Pioneer
He built the 4th Avenue Theatre.
In the inset above is Austin Eugene “Cap” Lathrop
You may have heard his name before, and you may even remember that for years, all the movie theaters in Anchorage were built and operated by the Lathrop Corporation. And the most well-remembered of those was the 4th Avenue theatre (pictured above).
But as a pioneer, Cap Lathrop was involved in many successful businesses.
Lathrop’s Alaskan Adventures Began in 1895
Those included a shipping and freighting company that would later serve the Klondike gold strike.
In 1897, Lathrop obtained his master mariner’s license. He then became the captain of a steam schooner he already owned called the L.J. Perry. And with that, he earned the nickname, Captain, or “Cap” Lathrop.
The First Wedding in Valdez
On February 18, 1901, when he was in Valdez, Alaska, Cap Lathrop and Lillian McDowell were married at the residence of Reverend D.W. Crane. That wedding was the first ever in Valdez.
Lathrop Movie Theaters
The picture above is on 4th Avenue in Anchorage
Cap Lathrop started his chain of movie theatres in the early 1910s. And by the way, he always used the British spelling, “theatre,” for his movie houses.
It all started with the Empress in Cordova, Alaska, which was first opened in 1911. Then he built Anchorage’s first movie theater, The Empress, in 1916.
At that time, the early settlers and railroad workers living in the tent city that would become Anchorage, Alaska, were starved for entertainment. So there was always a full house at every movie shown at the Empress.
The silent movie “Peggy,” starring Billie Burke, was the very first movie shown to the tent city population at the Empress.
And while the movie house opened without one, a theatre organ was later added, so local audiences enjoyed music while they watched movies.
The Empress showed movies well into the 1950s.
Did You Know?
Parts of the Empress theatre organ were later used in the Uncle's Pizza organ in Anchorage.
The 4th Avenue Theatre
From 1941 to 1947 Cap Lathrop built Anchorage’s 4th Avenue Theatre. It took that long because of World War Two. In 1927, he built the Empress and the Lacy Street theatres in Fairbanks.
BONUS
You’ll love this free e-book and instant download of 4th Avenue theatre memories.
Take a look at 4th Avenue Theatre Memories and enjoy.
Yes, You can Share This Edition
Your friends and family will think you are totally cool when you share this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club with them.
And when you do, they will send you an entire years worth of your favorite Alaska salmon or crab… well, it could happen.
KENI Radio
While the first radio station in all of Alaska and Anchorage was KFQD, Lathrop started the second radio station in Anchorage, KENI.
May 2, 1948, marked the very first broadcast by KENI radio. Both KENI and KFAR radio in Fairbanks were operated under the banner Midnight Sun Broadcasting, with Cap Lathrop as the company president.
A Movie Studio in Downtown Anchorage?
In the summer of 1922, Lathrop started the Alaska Motion Picture Corporation.
The first (and only) movie they produced was a 1923 silent movie production titled “The Chechahcos.”
In November of that year, a 7,000 square foot movie studio was constructed at the end of Third Avenue in Anchorage.
On March 8, 1923, the actors who were starring in the movie, Eva Gordon, William Dills and Albert Van Antwep, (as well as others) arrived in Anchorage from Oregon, New York, and Hollywood.
A “townwide” party was held in their honor. It was billed as a “free dance and jollification at the moviedome.”
Scenes for The Cheechahcos were filmed in Anchorage, Denali, and Girdwood where they recreated the famous Chilkoot Pass.
When the movie was completed, it played to packed houses and happy audiences all around the Territory of Alaska.
But in its stateside showings, it was not a commercial success.
Critics called the plot “hokey” and the title “unpronounceable.” Stateside audiences agreed.
The Chechahcos was the first feature-length movie ever made entirely in Alaska. And the first and only movie Cap Lathrop ever produced.
The moviedome studio on 3rd Avenue was converted into an exhibition center for the Western Alaska Fair in 1924. It later served as the Anchorage Community Center.
Austin Eugene “Cap” Lathrop
His Anchorage, and indeed Alaska legacy was vast. And, like many others who traveled to Anchorage in the days when Anchorage was nothing more than a raggedy tent city on the muddy banks of Ship Creek, Cap Lathrop will long be remembered.
BONUS
There is a lot more to the Cap Lathrop story.
Take a look at the “Cap” Lathrop Story and discover.
From Our North Stars (thats you)
From our look at the Lucky Wishbone
Linda has this memory:
“My dad, Neil Sagerser, was the 3rd airport policeman ever hired in Anchorage, Alaska. One day in the mid-50s, my dad was moose hunting near the Anchorage Airport (which was legal then) and shot a moose. He was so excited!
He hiked back to the moose, and just as he arrived, another gentleman came from another direction. My dad said “I just shot this moose,” and the other gentleman (who was Mr. George Brown) said, “I just shot this moose.” They both laughed and decided, as true Alaskan gentlemen, that they would just share the moose so they could feed their families.
My father and Mr. Brown were friends for many years. Even after being gone from Alaska for 40 years, I ( Neil’s daughter) walked into the Lucky Wishbone, and Mr. Brown recognized me! He said, “With those blue eyes, you know it is a Sagerser!”
A true Alaskan dearly missed!”
Robert remembers:
“I grew up treasuring a cheeseburger from Lucky Wishbone as a break from moose! Our family business, Reynolds Equipment, was just across the empty field next to Peggy’s Airport Cafe. For about thirteen years I ordered my lunch, a cheeseburger and fries, from Lucky Wishbone. I live in Portland now, but my first two restaurant stops on my last visit were for a Wishbone burger and shrimp at Mam O’s.”
Connect with Mike and Mary
Well, its time to put down your popcorn, Milk Duds, and soda.
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Until Next Time
Mike and Mary
Anchorage Memories Club