Welcome to a little bit of nostalgia for those of us who were involved with or who listened to a Toronto radio station called CKEY and, in my case, the glory years when we took on CHUM and, later, CFRB trying to be top dog in the hectic market that was Toronto radio.
Through this website I hope to hear from some of the former staff, be it announcers, operators, the news folk and the office gang who helped make the operation at Av/Dav and, later, Number One Yonge, one of Canada's best radio stations ever to hit the airwaves (I can't believe I said 'airwaves').
Please use the menu on the left of the screen to visit the various comments, memories, sounds and pictures that are continuously being updated as I hear from more and more people almost daily.
This will be a labour of love for me and, with your indulgence, I'll sprinkle some of my own memories throughout the website.
The site itself will get fancier as I add more pages and if you want to contact me just click on 'EMAIL US' on the left menu.
Don't forget to click on the 'BOOKMARK US' feature on the menu so that you can easily check up on the site often.
May 15th, 2012, update:
Surprise.. surprise.
Back in the early sixties we had a large news department led by Gosfrey Hudson.
His right hand man most of the time was Bill Rathbun.. a tall dude who, as I recall, was responsible for running our Queens Park operation amongst other duties.
Here is his email:
"ust to let you know that the news department is alive and kicking (at least some of us.). If you recall, I was at 'EY from 1961 to 1966. I have many memories of those days, some of which I have written up for a memo Iprepared for my children to explain "where I was when I did not come home for supper."
I am just in the process of moving into a retirement complex in Richmond Hill from Gravenhurst, where we have lived for the last 16 years. Wen I find my material, I'll send you some tidbits.""
Great to hear from you Bill.. we look forward to more from you.
February 24th, 2012, update (three more days and I hit 69!.. ouch)
Got a coupla emails from former staffers t'other day (actually over the past few weeks. One is from former newsperson Oksana Healey and a day or three ago came one from Pat "Supersalesman" Hurley.
Oksana is up first:
Hi, Bob:
I don't know if you remember me, Oksanna Healey/Crawley, but I sure remember you. I worked as a reporter and newscaster for CKEY for about 3 years beginning in the summer of 1986. I worked out of the old police headquarters on Jarvis when Jocko Thomas of the Toronto Star was still there. Prior to CKEY, I worked at CJME in Regina, and CFSL in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. I left broadcasting to pursue a career in teaching. I've been an elementary school teacher for many years now, and have published a children's book about Toronto Maple Leafs legend, Bill Barilko. The book is called "So, You Be Keon and I'll Be Mahovlich".
All the best!
Oksanna Crawley
Now Pat, being the eloquent person that all salesman are, didn't just say hello.. he sent a fascinating look at CKEY under Jack Kent Cooke and then the Westinghouse/Globe & Mail regimes. If you are interested in a peek into the sales side of radio in the late 50's and into the next two decades.. just click on "Office Staff Memories" on the left menu..
I love hearing from ex-staffers and sharing some memories
Enjoy!
'Captain' Bob Rice
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