“Cap” Lathrop, Anchorage Pioneer

He created the 4th Avenue Theatre.

Austin Eugene “Cap” Lathrop

You may have heard his name before, and you may even remember that for years, all the theaters in Anchorage were built and operated by the Lathrop corporation.

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.

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 a years worth of your favorite Alaska salmon or crab… well, it could happen.

The First Wedding in Valdez

On February 18, 1901, 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

On 4th Avenue in Anchorage

Cap Lathrop started his chain of movie theatres (he always used the British spelling “theatres” for his movie houses), in the early 1910s.

It all started with the Empress in Cordova, Alaska, which was first opened in 1911. He also built Anchorage’s first movie theater, The Empress, in 1916.

From 1941 to 1947 he built Anchorage’s Fourth Avenue Theatre. It took that long because of World War Two. In 1927, he built the Empress and the Lacy Street theatres in Fairbanks.

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 Cheechahcos”.

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, Mount McKinley and Girdwood where they recreated the famous Chilkoot Pass.

When the movie was completed, it played to packed houses 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 Cheechahcos was the first feature length movie ever made entirely in Alaska. But Cap Lathrop never produced another movie.

The moviedome studio 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 so many others, who traveled to Anchorage in the days when our town was nothing more than a raggedy tent city on the muddy banks of Ship Creek, Cap Lathrop will long be remembered.

Contact Mike and Mary

There is a lot more to the story of Austin Eugene “Cap” Lathrop, so Mary and I encourage you to check out this more in-depth “Cap” Lathrop story right now.

Meanwhile, Mary and I would love to hear from you.

Did you enjoy this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club?

You can also reply to this email or Contact Us right here.

Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Anchorage Memories Club