MCAT benefit auction in Missoula draws community support, highlights local shows

Missoula Community Access Television held a benefit auction and dance Saturday evening, Sept. 20, 1996, at the Boone and Crockett Club in the old Milwaukee station, where a silent auction was under way and a live auction was scheduled to begin later that night.

“Lots and lots of good items, hopefully, for everyone. The live auction will get started with auctioneer Bruce Nicholas shortly, probably another 30 to 60 minutes, and it's it's a fun time,” said Randy Atman, the event host. The event combined fundraising with appearances by MCAT on-air hosts and local performers.

MCAT staff and volunteers spoke about programming and participated in the auction. Andy Thorgerson, identified in the interview as an MCAT staff member, said he represents “the younger set” at the station and described his program, Andy’s Dog Show, which he said airs the last Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. and runs about an hour. Warrior the Punk, who identified himself by that on‑air name and described his program as The Awful Truth About Society, said his show airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. and that he has hosted it since December 1994.

Andrea Olsen, introduced as a member of MCAT’s board of directors, and Terry Gibberman, identified as a producer at MCAT, both said they enjoyed the evening’s bidding and community turnout. “Each year it seems like it gets to be more fun,” Gibberman said of the auction. Musicians who performed included a trio that identified itself as the Mudflaps; David Horgan said he played guitar with Chuck Florence on saxophone and Beth Lowe on bass.

Attendees described purchases and donated items during on‑site interviews. One item described on the microphone was a framed Bighorn print with a market value listed at $300. Speakers did not specify the total amount raised or the funding breakdown; the proceeds were described generally as benefiting MCAT.