Peek at the Past: As it appeared in the Nov. 9, 1953 Frontiersman

Chamber hears of possible air service

Members of the Matanuska Valley Chamber of Commerce heard a report from Cordova Air Service through Betty Mears, chamber secretary, at the regular meeting.

The airline company is anxious to establish an air route into Palmer, Mears reported. The service could be inaugurated within two weeks.

The chamber went on to record as being in favor of reopening of the U.S. Deputy Marshal office in Palmer.

Statehood committee calls meeting

An official call for the Alaska Statehood Committee to meet in Anchorage on Nov. 24 has been issued.

The committee will hold open meetings for the benefit of those who wish to appear before it and accept recommendations from any who cannot appear.

Valley Theatre in Palmer had some of the biggest names in Hollywood on the big screen.

In the first show, Erroll Flynn starred in "Mara Maru." The second movie showing at the theater starred Humphrey Bogart in "High Sierra." The third movie starred Doris Day and a young actor named Ronald Reagan in "The Winning Team." Reagan put together his own winning team in his run for the presidency years later.

In an advertisement for Koslosky's, the Admiral Aluminized Picture Tube was the latest technology when it came to television sets. "It beams the picture forward to the viewer, giving an 80-percent brighter picture that won't 'wash out,' even in sunlight!" touted the ad. A 21-inch television was "sensationally priced" at $215.

At Hartley Motors, a 1953 Ford Mainliner, with "heater direction lights," was listed at $2,741.

If you needed to get a taxi, you could call Valley Taxi Service. Their phone number was "4."