1960 Nike Hercules missile test at Site Summit, above Anchorage. The second photo is bystanders--mostly displaced Eagle River homesteaders--there for the first test launch. My latest article has the details (www.adn.com/alaska-l...). #alaskahistory #alaska

November 21, 1960 Nike Hercules missile test at Site Summit, above Anchorage. My latest article tells the story about that test, the first Nike Hercules test by a metropolitan area. www.adn.com/alaska-l... #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory

Undated "Alaskan Inlet," oil on canvas by Dale Nichols (1904-1995). Via Heritage Auctions. #alaskahistory #alaska

Circa 1938-39 "Changing Face of Alaska," oil on canvas by Charles Hargens (1893-1997). Via Heritage Auctions. This painting was used on the July 1939 cover of Country Gentleman magazine. #alaskahistory #alaska

1996 "Eureka! A Goose Egg Nugget" painting by Carl Barks (1901-2000). Features Scrooge McDuck finding the basis of his massive fortune during the Klondike Gold Rush. Via Heritage Auctions. #alaskahistory #alaska #cdnhist

Circa 1993 Gotcha paintball of Anchorage, Alaska commercial. #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory

1937 "Skiers (Snow Emergency) oil on canvas by Haddon Sundblom (1899-1976). This painting was used in Coca-Cola advertisements. Via Heritage Auctions.

Circa 1943 "Lookouts at Barley Cove" oil painting by Edward John "E.J." Hughes (1913-2007). Depicts a military patrol on Kiska Island where Hughes, a Canadian army artist, spent some time stationed during World War II. Via Canadian War Museum. #alaskahistory #cdnhist #alaska

Circa 1976, Alaskan artist Fred Machetanz (1908-2002) working on a painting in his Palmer studio. #alaskahistory #alaska

"Winter weather" postcard. "All meteorologists know the most obvious indicator of severe winter weather is the time when a witch switches from her fiberglass corset to her brass bra. After that point, it's best to keep your tongue off all metal objects until spring thaw." #akwx

1983 Shamrock heaters and Alaska Small Engine Specialties of Anchorage commercial, using that universal unit of comparison, a full length mink coat. #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory

My first slide is currently blinding the mayor and three former mayors.

Hope I see a few of you at the Anchorage Museum tonight for my movie theater history talk!

1952, a simple but lovely photo of Kathy Reger in Soldotna in front of the school bus locally known as the Orange Crate. Via Kenai Peninsula College. #alaskahistory #soldotna #alaska

"Don't end up with Marge as your waitress." Circa 2014 Affordable Used Cars of Fairbanks, Alaska commercial. Very Fairbanks vibes. #alaskahistory #alaska

A dancer with the "Honolulu Touch," a "mountain of cheese," "broil your own steaks" in their fireplace, and "Punch & Judy nights." Nothing about 1965 Anchorage needs any explanation.

A striking photo of the Nov 6, 1907 wreck of the bark Servia by the Karluk cannery, 118 years ago today. No one died, but a reported 40,000 cases of canned salmon lost. Via University of Washington Digital Collections. #alaskahistory #alaska

Mid 1940s Kodiak. I believe the poster in the back is for the 1944 Laurel and Hardy movie, Big Noise. Via Anchorage Museum. #alaskahistory #alaska

January 15, 1954 Fourth Avenue in Anchorage. You can see both the Empress Theater (opened 1916) and the Fourth Avenue Theatre (opened 1947). Also on Fourth but not visible is the Denali Theatre (opened 1951). Via Anchorage Museum. #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory

Valley River Cinemas opened in Eagle River in 1985, closed in 2000, reopened in 2001, and closed again as the Eagle River Cinema in 2012. It has since been demolished. #alaskahistory #alaska

"If nude usherettes, nude dancers, and adult movies offend you, don't come to the Gold Dust." Just saying, be cool. This is from 1973 Anchorage. And yes this comes up in my free movie theater talk this Friday. #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory

In 1955, the Corsicana, Texas newspaper included a wild article from a tourist just back from Alaska. She spent time at Fairbanks' Flame Lounge where she said people drank "Ever Clear Punch," three parts Everclear to one part champagne. #alaskahistory #alaska

Circa World War II movie theater at Fort Richardson, Anchorage. Like most buildings on base then, it was painted in a camouflage pattern. More on local movie theaters this Friday! Via Anchorage Museum. #alaskahistory #alaska

During the 1964 earthquake, the Denali Theatre on 4th Ave in Anchorage dropped, with the marquee hitting the ground. The glass in the box office windows didn't break. It reopened in Spenard, now the Bear Tooth. More on Anchorage movie theaters this Friday in my latest free talk!

Currently watching the movie that was too scandalous for 1964 Anchorage, hence why a theater here closed on Good Friday rather than show it. Will talk about it this Friday!

1926 In the Tentacles of the North movie poster. The plot features whaling boats trapped in Arctic ice as the crew struggles to survive. Then, right as they all seem to die, the protagonist wakes up and realizes he had been dreaming. #alaskahistory #alaska

Pressbook cover for the 1938 film Spawn of the North, a movie about two rival fishermen in Alaska. "The Greatest Climax Ever Seen On Any Screen!" which refers to the calving glacier at the end and surely nothing else. #alaskahistory #alaska

Dramatic end to the 1938 film Spawn of the North, about rival fishermen in Alaska. It won the first Academy award for special effects. Footage was reused in the 1954 film Alaska Seas. More about movies at my free Anchorage Museum talk this Friday (www.anchoragemuseum....)

Old movies, movie theaters, and local lore. Free too. Join me this Friday at the Anchorage Museum.

Star Trek star George Takei's first credited on-screen film role was this, in the 1960 film Ice Palace, set in Alaska. Better roles would follow. I'll talk about Ice Palace at my free Anchorage Museum talk this Friday about local movie theater history (www.anchoragemuseum....).

Nov 3, 1918, Ed Walker dies, the first of estimated 28 Anchorage residents killed that month by the 1918-19 influenza pandemic. He's buried at Anchorage Memorial Cemetery. #anchoragehistory #alaskahistory

On November 7, I'm giving another free talk, the history of Anchorage movie theaters, part of the First Friday festivities at the Anchorage Museum. 7:15 pm. And I'll explain this image, from the first movie played at the first real theater in Anchorage! (anchoragemuseum.org/...).

In this circa 1980 postcard (mailed 1995), the sender created a new Alaska state song. How nice! Read more comments about Alaska from newcomers and tourists on postcards in my latest article: www.adn.com/alaska-l...

On the back of this postcard, the sender said Alaska had “the best climate in the world.” He'd only been here for a few days and would presumably learn some more about that. More comments about Alaska by tourists & other newcomers in my latest article: www.adn.com/alaska-l...

On the back of this postcard, the sender said Alaska had “the best climate in the world.” He'd only been here for a few days and would presumably learn some more about that. More comments about Alaska by tourists & other newcomers in my latest article: www.adn.com/alaska-l...

On the back of this postcard, the sender wrote, "This beats Mexico." Postcards are wonderful historical documents, particularly when they record the comments about Alaska made by tourists and other newcomers. See more in my latest article: www.adn.com/alaska-l... #alaska

Postcards can be fascinating historical documents, such as when they capture over a century of tourist and newcomer comments about Alaska. See the details in my latest article:

1907 postcard of Eli Smith, a mail carrier who mushed from Nome to Washington, D.C. to win a bet. Met President Teddy Roosevelt & gave some of his kids a ride around White House. More on Alaska postcards in my article posting later today. #alaskahistory #alaska

1982 political advertisement on a sponge against relocating Alaska capital to Willow. On November 2, 1982, Alaskan residents voted 52.9% against moving the capital. Via UAF's Museum of the North. #alaskahistory #alaska

Who among you is fancy enough for these vintage "Alaska" hors d'oeuvre forks? Via Ebay, not my listing (ebay.us/m/edNz9f) #alaskahistory #alaska

1998 "Sockeye Salmon in Full Spawning" watercolor by James Prosek and based on an example from the Gulkana River. Via Sante Fe Art Auction. #alaskahistory #alaska

1899, Tlingit sealer camp at Yakutat Bay by photographer Edward S. Curtis (1868 - 1952), taken during the Harriman Expedition. The second image is a vintage hand tinted copy. Via Sante Fe Art Auction. #alaskahistory #alaska

1983 "Hot Pants" by photographer Clark James Mishler, taken in Anchorage. Via Museum of the North. #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory

"Sitka Bay" oil on canvas by Clyde Aspevig (b. 1951). Via Sante Fe Art Auction. #alaskahistory #alaska #sitka

1899 view of Columbia Glacier from Heather Island by Edward S. Curtis (1868 - 1952), taken during the Harriman Expedition. The second image is a hand tinted copy. Via Library of Congress * Sante Fe Art Auction. #alaskahistory #alaska

For Halloween, costume ideas from the 1887 book Fancy Dresses Described. A magpie (appropriate for Alaska), hornet, witch, butterfly, goblin, and more. #Halloween📷 #halloweencostumes

Circa 1957-1959 Miners and Trappers Ball during Fur Rondy in Anchorage. Note the crossdressing couple in the front. #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory

Costume ideas from a 1979 Halloween party at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Which one would you be? From an evil Kermit to the devil to a sexy cowboy. #alaskahistory #alaska #halloween

Circa 1990 clip from the Forest Service film, Discovering Alaska's National Forests. "Now just because Southeast is remote doesn't mean it's uncivilized. McDonalds can be found in many locations, and Dominos pizza is delivered by boat in some areas." #alaskahistory #alaska

1966 Anchorage ad for unlicensed "Burger King" on Northern Lights. They even advertised their "Whopper" burgers. Anchorage didn't get a real Burger King until 1975, which immediately set sales records for the chain. #anchoragehistory #alaskahistory #alaska