Greetings from ex-CFGP

[spitsnrovers]

Hello to all on RadioWest!

I stumbled on this forum while on a whim, searching for CFGP. I was absolutely shocked to find the 1964 Top 40 sheet, complete with the photo of a very young Lionel Kyle! It brought back such a lot of memories. It was such a shock because I had been working at CFGP with Lionel, Claude Burrows, Vaughan Desjardins, Jack Soars, Fran Tanner and a host of others at that time. Many have moved on to bigger and better things - or the great control-room in the sky.

I started at CFGP in 1960 writing ad copy part time while in grade 9, when the station was down on 99 St just off Richmond Ave. It was a rabbit warren of a place, but it sure was an interesting time. I remember Auntie Barbara and her storytime for kiddies. I think her name was Barbara Cook. While there I discovered the old disc cutting lathe in the back studio and even learned how to use it! I still have some of those aluminum disks with the black lacquer coating. "Its Light Up Time in the Peace, with RCMP Constable ???"

I progressed into on-air work and eventually moved with the station to the fantastic new studio on 103 Ave. Man, wasn't that state-of-the-art stuff then? Jim DesRoalds helped design and kept all the technical stuff working, and even changed the light bulbs on top of the stand-by tower on the station roof. I managed to climb half way up one year helping him change the regular blue bulbs to Christmas colours. Half way was far enough for me!

After a short period away, working for CKRD-AM (plus the new FM) and CHCA-TV in Red Deer, (but that's another story) I came back to CFGP in 1966. I remember the manager, Cam Perry, and Gord Pearcy both asking why I would want to quit and move to Australia! But I was young, adventurous, and did. I did some broadcast work there and in Papua New Guinea before changing careers and returning to Canada. It took until 1984 to get back here, and by then I was out of the broadcast sphere.

I did attend the 50th "Golden Anniversary" of CFGP in 1987 and meet a few of the old timers. But I believe it wasn't long after that that the station moved to its newer, smaller location upstairs near Montrose.

I haven't kept in touch with Grande Prairie over the past 20 years, but recently I was so disappointed to see that good old CFGP had folded, and re-emerged as a rock station under a new banner. I miss "broadcasting" in its true sense. What I hear now is 'narrowcasting', where you only get one type of music, news or talk format on a station. In the good-old-days broadcasting meant a listener could hear show tunes, western music, rock and roll, even classic music interspersed with variety shows, open-line, sports, - in other words a "broad" variety of entertainment.

But enough rambling. If there are any other old ex-CFGP-ers out there, I'd be glad to hear from you.
Fred Griffiths

[jon]

It's been a year and a half, so I wondered if there are any ex-CFGP staffers in our midst now.

[radiofan]

I'd love to track down some more of those mid 60s CFGP charts!

[Becker]

I'll go digging in the basement and see what pops up.

[EX-BOSSJOCK]

My first radio gig was at CFGP in '62. I seem to recall we were right next door to a hotel,and when the beer truck would unload the beer kegs, the whole station would shake. Needles jumped off records.( Hey, it was 1962 ) The staff were good people, and it was a great place to learn the business. Long Live The Voice Of The Inland Empire!