Can you name the Anchorage kid’s TV shows in the picture above?
Remember how much fun it was to get a glass of milk, some cookies, and to take a seat in front of the family TV to watch your favorite Anchorage local kid’s TV show?
In this edition of the Alaska VIP Club, we’re remembering a few of your favorites.
By the way, the shows in the picture above are:
In the top row, starting left, is KoKo the KENI Klown, Romper Room, and the Buckaroos.
On the bottom row, starting left, is The Mother Moose Show, and HiJinks with Frank Feeman.
In the 1970s, “Mother Moose” premiered on KTVA channel eleven and Anchorage, Alaska TV screens were never the same.
Every weekday, Anchorage kids would gather around their TV and wait to hear this:
“It’s Mother Moose, It’s Mother Moose, there by the cabin in the spruce. Miss Northern Lights the eye delights and into the cabin the gang invites”
It was a fun and exciting time as kids listened to the Old Sourdough (Larry Beck) tell his tales of Alaska, while Miss Northern Lights showed fun crafts.
And of course, there she was, Mother Moose herself.
By the way, the little girl in the picture is Nikki. She’s the daughter of Mike and Mary of Alaska Stories. And of course, you know Mother Moose.
And besides everyone’s favorite Moose lady, there were other characters to enjoy.
Remember “Gorp”, “Glacier Gruff”, “Oil Finch” and “Wrangell Worm”?
BONUS
But Anchorage kids (and moms and dads) also loved those wonderful cartoon favorites, “Rocky and Bullwinkle”. Take a look at the link below to see a clip of “Rocky and Bullwinkle”. Great memories.
Click on the following link:
Read more about The Mother Moose Show and enjoy.
Yes, You Can Share this Edition
It’s so easy to share all these fun memories with friends and family. And when you do, your friends and family will be so happy that they will buy you a brand-new car of your choice… well, it could happen.
Click on the following link:
Thank you for reading and listening to Alaska Stories. This post is public, so feel free to share it.
HiJinks with Frank Feeman
There isn’t much out there about this Anchorage kid’s TV show, but maybe you remember it… I do.
It was called “HiJinks” and the man in front of the camera in the picture above is the host, Frank Feeman.
Remember all the bow ties?
Frank Feeman would wear a little tiny bow tie one day, then the next day he would have a huge bow tie, then one with flashing lights… and on and on. Even the kids on the show sported bow ties.
HiJinks actually got started on KFIA-TV channel 2 which later became KENI-TV and is now KTUU channel 2.
The show was a lot of fun. Do you remember HiJinks? Were you on the show? Tell us about it.
The Buckaroos Show
Yes, the wild west came to Anchorage kid’s TV.
Sheriff John welcomed us every weekday in the 1960s, with the Buckaroos Show on KTVA channel 11, with games, puppets, and cartoons. In the later years of the show, there was also a character named Deputy Dick and a silly jailhouse.
BONUS
After the 1964 earthquake, KTVA continued The Buckaroo show, but they could no longer have children in the studio because of the earthquake damage to the building.
Sheriff John had left the show just before the earthquake, so Deputy Dick took over as the host for a short time.
DOUBLE BONUS
The Buckaroos set was later used as the cabin in the spruce on the Mother Moose Show,
Take a look at this fun story “KTVA’s Buckaroo Show and the 64’ Earthquake” and remember.
“Through the Magic Window”
with Ethel Oliver
Alaska Stories, researched and looked all over for a picture, but the only one we found was far too small.
Ethel Oliver started the first Kindergarten in Anchorage back in 1939.
And, she hosted “Through the Magic Window” from 1953 to 1965 on KTVA channel 11. It was a gentle show with no studio audience.
During the show, Ethel sat in a chair next to a table that displayed the book she would read during the show. She would also show pictures from the book to all the kids watching at home. And right next to the book, was a small stand topped by a monkey hand puppet.
Ethel would take the monkey from the stand, place her right hand in the puppet, and begin talking to the monkey. Her show was so much fun to watch.
Mike of Alaska Stories was fortunate enough to work on her show when I first went to work at KTVA in 1965. Ethel was a very nice lady who loved children.
Ethel Ross Oliver also authored several books, including “Favorite Eskimo Tales Retold”.
KoKo the KENI Klown
In the photo above is Bob Zoller and his sister Barbara with KoKo the KENI Klown
Weekdays on KENI-TV channel 2, KoKo, played by Dick Randlett, had fun with studio audiences and his Kartoon Karnival.
Anchorage Kids were glued to their television sets to watch Koko, Chu Chu and episodes of the Mickey Mouse show, and short Warner Brother Cartoons.
Mary of Alaska Stories remembers being on KoKo’s show with her Salvation Army “Sunbeams” group.
BONUS
Do You remember Kiddie Land, the fun place for rides and that wonderful mini train?
Kiddie Land was created by Dick Rand (KoKo) and Les Fetrow (Chu Chu the clown).
Click on the following link:
Read more about Kiddie Land and “KoKo’s Karnival of Klowns” and enjoy.
Romper Room
Carolyn Guess is the delightful lady in the picture above.
“Romper stomper, bomper, boo, tell me, tell me, tell me do. Magic Mirror, tell me today, did all my friends have fun at play?”
When you watched Romper Room on KTVA channel 11, you hoped the Romper Room teacher would see you through that “Magic Mirror”. Did she?
OK, I have to ask.
Were you a “Do Bee” or were you a “Don’t Bee”?
BONUS
Here is a fun Romper Room “behind the scenes” story.
When the Romper Room teacher did the Magic Mirror, she held up a small hand mirror decorated with sparkles.
After saying “Romper stomper, bomper, boo, tell me, tell me, tell me do. Magic Mirror, tell me today, did all my friends have fun at play?” the TV control room would go to a film that looked like a kaleidoscope.
While that film was being shown, the teacher would switch to a mirror she could “see through”.
One day, Miss Neilia was doing the Magic Mirror. We went to the film and she changed mirrors. And just when we came back to her, a little boy who was sitting next to Miss Neilia said, “I saw what you did, you switched mirrors”.
After the show, Miss Neilia and the crew had a good laugh.
DOUBLE BONUS
How would you like to see actual film of the local Anchorage Romper Room show?
Take a look at these fun “Anchorage Romper Room Memories” and enjoy.
From Our North Stars (that’s you)
From our look at “Popular Anchorage, Alaska Restaurant Memories that will Make You Hungry.”
Patsy remembers:
“People don't seem to remember the Oyster Loaf Restaurant. Woolworths moved into the Oyster Loaf space when they closed. Wonderful food and tons of old photos of Alaska history all over the walls. Also, for fine dining there was Jolly VI's about mile 26 on the highway, I believe. Unfortunately, it burned. My favorite feel special dining place.”
Rosemary has this memory:
“I really miss the Marx Brothers Cafe. Van's Caesar salad was to die for, and I never had a bad meal at any of my visits”.
Tony’s favorites:
“We were stationed at Elmendorf AFB from '71-'78 and would always take family and friends who came to visit to Nikko Garden and reserve a pit. It was my first introduction to Japanese culture and a lot of fun.
My favorites were Shakeys pizza and Farrells. Birthday parties were a blast there.”
Dennis had an unexpected lunch companion:
“Circa 1966 I was working at Nerlands and ate lunch often at the White Spot where I once had a chat with Alaska’s Governor Egan”.
Connect with Mike and Mary
Time to put down your PJ sandwich and chocolate milk as our look at Anchorage’s Kid’s TV shows comes to an end…
This has been a wonderful trip down memory lane.
What were your favorite Anchorage Kid’s TV shows?
Do you have a comment? Just reply to this email. It’s so easy… Even Mother Moose could do it.
Or, you can Contact Us right now.
Until next time
Mike & Mary
Alaska Stories
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