by RadioGuy89b » Thu Feb 02, 2017 4:12 pm
It's nice seeing some memories of Arnie. I assume a few things visavis there haven't been a lot of posts on this topic: a) there are listeners of Arnie from years ago that remember him and DON'T know about this forum and b) he's been off air for so-long that many may not know his history.
I guess I was so close for a time (on the inside) as it was, via my father -Walter Jones -ex Sales CISL in 1984/85 (CISL was at 940 briefly during his time there, then switched to 650 - he joined CISL in June 1984). I remember dad enjoying have Arnie voice commercials for clients he landed in the "new " Market of North Delta. Particularly Sunshine Hills Centre (at the top of the hill 64th and Scott Road as the copy read) and Kennedy Heights Shopping Centre (88th and Scott Road North Delta).
Arnie had a lot of enthusiasm on air. My memories are flooding back. "Wake up with Celsie" I believe was the name of the morning show when he did it in the mid 80s. Walt Judas did sports with him. I got to know both Walt and Arnie from my attending various Station events based on my interest in the industry.
I saw "the business" of radio and it created a dilemma as to whether to pursue the business with both feet in it or not. I still question - even with the state of the industry today - whether I could have done relatively well, had I jumped in with both feet - but that's another story.
The Arnie I got to know a bit - and I hadn't talked with him in over 20 years to be honest - left a vivid impression on me, about how we was passionate for the industry - no doubt about it. I remember him leaving CISL in 1990 and getting the chance to join Bohn and Associates.
The recollections by others here are nice to hear. He also was a key part of the winning bid to get a FM licence that turned into Z95 in May 91 - the leg work was done years earlier. I as mentioned, got to know his 2nd child a little bit when I worked with his son - outside the radio industry -and I was glad to hear Arnie was doing well from all I could determine (about 6 years ago).I felt so much time had passed, that it was hard to reconnect with Arnie as it had been so long since we talked (and apparently his memory of me was minimal - ha ha).
I'm sorry to hear he battled cancer, a battle I know well from a close friend last year and my dad 5 years ago - both whom also passed from it.
Again, my sincere condolences to his family. If they read this, I hope they know I have good memories of Arnie. He was very strong in his opinions, but I believe they were
always from a firm belief in what he spoke.
I just wish more people who "woke up with Arnie" in the 80's, would somehow comment their good memories. As I end this, I remember from a Province Newspaper contest on naming the Best Radio host for the morning drive from years ago, the profile of Arnie talked about how he cooked breakfast for many in Richmond (Contest) and owned something called "Tacky Tours" in Ontario I believe as part of his history. I've lost alot of my archives I had of Arnie (Audio and otherwise) through moves etc, but if you want to hear Arnie's voice, look at a youtube that is out there as of earlier this week, if you search Arnie Celsie (and his wife Diane).
Mark Jones