Even in the ‘50s/’60s 4th Avenue had a good side and bad side. Maybe it was always so? Ralph Alley and his friend Frank ventured into a bar on the bad end in 1962. Also in this episode — Denali flightseeing, a Hofbrau Halloween and sleeping through the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Bars and bars and more bars! Looking east on 4th Ave. around 1941. Two decades before Ralph lived here, the pattern had been set. Photo from Eleanor Louise Wedge papers.

Same general area, opposite side of the street in 1956. Photo from AMRC, Ward Wells Collection.

The last days of the Scandinavian Club Bar [1984]. Rear view from the alley between 4th and 5th, just east of C St. looking north. Just before the bar and the rest of the block were razed for the 5th Ave. Mall parking garage. Photo from Sam McClain … — The last days of the Scandinavian Club Bar [1984]. Rear view from the alley between 4th and 5th, just east of C St. looking north. Just before the bar and the rest of the block were razed for the 5th Ave. Mall parking garage. Photo from Sam McClain papers.

President Eisenhower hurtles down 5th Ave. in 1960. Loussac Sogn Building that included the offices of Manley & Mayer Architects on the right. Photo from Jim Ruotsala photographs.

Denali view from near the Eielson Visitors Center inside the park. Unknown vintage, guessing 1970s. Photo from Francis J. Huber slides.

The vastness and raw beauty of Alaska unfold through the windows of small and really small airplanes in this early 1960s-based episode. After a peaceful housesitting gig ends, Ralph gets his own place — taking over a 4th Avenue apartment from his departing friends, the Gibboneys. Helping to furnish the new digs are a stereo and TV, bought from a colleague and retrieved on a road trip to Willow. 4th Avenue is a pleasant place to live at the time with a bustling scene.

Aerial view of Dillingham, 1955. Photo from McCutcheon Collection, Anchorage Museum.

Kenai, AK from the air in 1965. Photo from University of Alaska Anchorage, Consortium Library, Archives and Special Collections.

Breakup on Lake George. Photo from Stewart’s Photo Shop slide collection.

Iceberg at Lake George, left behind after the lake “dump”. Photo from Stewart’s Photo Shop slide collection.

The lake after the annual drain. Photo from Stewart’s Photo Shop slide collection.

Hofbrau Restaurant on 4th Ave., 1958. Photo from Ward Wells collection.

Hofbrau Restaurant, 1958. Photo from Ward Wells collection.

Hewitt’s Drug Store building in the 1930s. Looking northeast at the NE corner of 4th Ave. and E Street. The drug/photo store on the corner and what would later be the Cheechako Bar on the right hand side on 4th. The building was destroyed in the 196… — Hewitt’s Drug Store building in the 1930s. Looking northeast at the NE corner of 4th Ave. and E Street. The drug/photo store on the corner and what would later be the Cheechako Bar on the right hand side on 4th. The building was destroyed in the 1964 earthquake.