It simply couldn’t survive:  a new outdoors magazine focused on the Territory of Alaska, launched in the middle of the Great Depression in a small, remote community - a publication intended for, and dependent upon, a national audience for its success.   

Survive it did, against all odds.  The Alaska Sportsman was the brainchild of Emery Tobin and a few dozen other avid Ketchikan outdoorsmen.  In the summer of 1934, they formed the Alaska Sportsmen’s Association to promote wise management of Alaskan fish and game and share their knowledge of hunting, fishing, trapping, and backcountry living.  A few months later, in December 1934, the first issue of The Alaska Sportsman came of the press, proudly proclaiming itself “the official organ of the Alaska Sportsmen’s Association.”  Many of the Association’s members played key roles in producing it.

The first year was rocky – only six issues of the projected twelve were published, and many of the enthusiastic founders slipped away.  Emery Tobin emerged as editor and principal shareholder of the magazine.  When it became clear that subscriptions and newsstand sales wouldn’t pay the bills, Emery and his wife, Clara, started Alaska Specialties Company to sell books, maps, curios, etc. through the magazine and directly to tourists visiting Ketchikan.  They didn’t get rich, but they got by – and the magazine put out an issue every month and steadily grew.

The Tobins sold the magazine to a Juneau company in 1958.  It continued to grow and, after a few more changes in ownership, and after more than 75 years of publication, it thrives today as Alaska magazine.  And it started right here in Ketchikan!    

                                         

 

 

Opening Night Friday February 25, 2011.