Uncategorized

SALEM HISTORY: Do you know who’s in this mystery photo?

A mystery undated photo from Willamette Heritage Center’s collections. (WHC X2021.006.0001)

Editor’s note: This column is part of an effort from Salem Reporter to highlight local history in collaboration with area historians and historical organizations.

In May, Salem Reporter ran a photo from the early broadcast days of KOCO, one of the first stations to reach the mid-Willamette Valley. Willamette Heritage Center curator Kylie Pine hoped to identify the people in the photo and when it was taken.

Within a day, an astute reader recognized the picture from a book of historical photos and sent Pine the description of the 1947 portrait of broadcasters Margaret Pickett and Dave Hoss.

Now, Pine is hoping for help with the photo above in front of Salem’s Elsinore Theatre. Here’s what she shared about the picture:

“This group portrait was found in the museum’s collections showing a group outside Salem’s Historic Elsinore Theatre. Does anybody recognize who these individuals are and why they might have posed there?”

If you have any information, email Kylie Pine at [email protected] and Rachel Alexander at [email protected]. We’ll update the story if any new information comes to light.

JUST THE FACTS, FOR SALEM – We report on your community with care and depth, fairness and accuracy. Get local news that matters to you. Subscribe to Salem Reporter starting at $5 a month. Click I want to subscribe!