Anchorage A&W Memories
Anchorage A&W Memories
Do you remember going to the A&W Drive-In located in Mountain View? What was your favorite thing to order? A burger, fries, root beer? You'love this edition.
The first A&W Drive-In opened in Anchorage in 1951 and was located at 3105 Mountain View Drive.
But our story doesn’t begin there.
Our Story Began in California
Roy Allen, the man on the left, opened a roadside root beer stand in Lodi, California in 1919.
In 1922, Allen and a man named Frank Wright decided to offer leases (franchises) for two more root beer stands that would expand their business into the bigger city of Sacramento, California.
Around that time, the two partners started using the name “A&W”. The “A” was for Allen and the “W” for Wright. And A&W was born.
BONUS
In 1963, nationally, A&W became the first chain restaurant in the U.S. to offer customers a Bacon Cheese Burger.
1951, in Anchorage
The photo above was taken in 1951 by Leon Brown Sr.
Notice that they are building Anchorage’s first A&W Drive-In, located at 3105 Mountain View Drive.
Side Note:
Anchorage Memories author, Michael R Dougherty remembers that his father, Ray Dougherty, a heavy equipment operator, cleared the land seen in the above photo.
Years later, Mike went to school with Chip Brown, the son of Leon Brown Sr.
BONUS
Take a look at these Anchorage A&W Drive-In Memories and enjoy.
You Can Share This Edition
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Share this edition with family and friends.
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Do You Remember?
A&W was the first drive-in restaurant in Anchorage.
When you ask people in Anchorage what place had the best fries, you’ll probably get the following answer… “A&W in Mountain View.”
BONUS
Take a few minutes to play the Anchorage Memories Game show.
It’s all about the A&W Fries.
Turn up the sound, click on the following link and enjoy.
(by the way, the ads you may see have nothing to do with Anchorage Memories)
A Long Way from Lodi, California
In the photo above is Anchorage A&W franchise owner, Leon Brown Sr.
32 years after Roy Allen first opened his roadside root beer stand in Lodi, California, Leon Brown Sr. opened Anchorage’s first A&W Drive-In.
Drive-In Lions
Yes, one of the unique things about the first Anchorage A&W Drive-In was something entirely different.
Do you remember the live lions that were on display just to the left of the drive-in?
BONUS
In the following story, you’ll discover the talk of the town and meet Princess and Timbo.
Take a look at the story of the Drive-In Lions told by Sandy Brown-Sanders.
The Gang’s All Here
The photo above was taken behind the A&W Drive-In. The year was 1952.
In the picture is Sandy, Patti, Vicki, Chip, and Johnny.
Sandy, Patti, and Chip Brown contributed to this story.
BONUS
Author Ed Rosek wrote the following story for Anchorage Memories.
Take a look at A&W Drive-In, Brown’s Electric and Mr. Brown… Fond Memories and enjoy.
Did You Know?
Did you know that one of Anchorage’s favorite restaurants, The Lucky Wishbone, was owned by George and Peggy Brown?
George was the brother of Leon Brown Sr.
BONUS
Take a look at The Lucky Wishbone Story and enjoy.
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Contact Mike and Mary
All these stories about the A&W Drive-In and the Lucky Wishbone have made Mike and Mary hungry for some chicken, fries and root beer.
Did you take a look at the Anchorage Memories Game Show video earlier in this newsletter? It’s a lot of fun and takes only a few minutes to enjoy.
Do you have a comment about this Anchorage Memories VIP newsletter, a suggestion for a future edition, or just want to say, “Love those A&W fries!”
You can either reply to this email, or Contact Us right now.
Until Next Time
Mike and Mary
Anchorage Memories.com
I was so eager to get those mashed potatoes french fries when my father and i stopped there to get lunch! I used to watch Leon make them and i had never seen fries made that way. Leon and George Brown were always so friendly to me. I would see George at Lucky Wishbone up until he passed away. He would always mention Chuck White, he knew i coached basketball with Chuck for 30 years. Great family!