The Voyage of The Alaska Union— Adventure, Danger, Scurvy, Romance

Mr. Whitekeys Headshot

Mr. Whitekeys, Performer, Entrepreneur, Historian

Thursday, January 30, 2025 ¦ 6:30 PM ¦ UAA Fine Arts Recital Hall

Mr. Whitekeys will speak about his new Alaska gold rush book, “The Voyage of The Alaska Union” in the Recital Hall. In The Voyage of The Alaska Union, Mr. Whitekeys reveals a true tale of Alaska History that has never been told. Lavishly illustrated with 100 of Charles Harris's photographs, the book relies on century-old diaries, letters, manuscripts, and newspaper accounts that tell the story in the words of the men who were there on the Koyukuk in 1898. It's the story of tough men who survived with what they had. It may be 70 below, you may have forgotten to pack your tent on a hundred-mile trek, but if you had doughnuts, everything was just fine.

About Mr. Whitekeys 

Mr. Whitekeys is an Alaskan musician, entertainer, and author who is most known for his performances of “The Whale Fat Follies” at Mr. Whitekeys’ Fly By Night Club.  He can be considered “World Famous” because he is as well known in Cairo as he is in Singapore.

Mr. Whitekeys moved to Alaska in 1998 and immediately began playing piano in sleazy bars. He has described his chosen profession as “mouthing off and making snotty comments,” and his writings have appeared in an Anchorage Daily News column, Alaska Bizarre—a comedy print version of The Whale Fat Follies, humorous contributions to The Alaska Almanac, a monthly column in Alaska Magazine, and weekly satirical newscast commentary on Anchorage’s KTUU-TV.

Mr. Whitekeys’ Fly By Night Club was a mecca for “Spam, Booze, Rhythm and Blues” for 25 years, and The Whale Fat Follies remains as the pinnacle of Alaskan vaudeville and satire. His DVD, Alaska, The First 10,000 Years, is a farcical romp through Alaska’s history, and despite its absurdity, it has been used instructionally by misguided history teachers throughout the state.

In his spare time, Whitekeys is addicted to coral reef marine biology and is currently the Commander-in-Chief of the Anchorage Audubon Society where he will continue to embarrass the entire environmental community until someone else agrees to take the job.