by jon » Sun Apr 06, 2014 5:23 pm
John Barton was extremely well known in Edmonton, too, though in an earlier time. In the 1950s, he was Morning Man first at CFRN-AM, then at CHED, with a couple of years in between as PD at CKRD Red Deer. He wasn't part of the original CHED 1954 air staff, but arrived soon after to become Morning Mayor. In 1959, he switched to Sales (National Sales Manager), still at CHED, and turned over the Morning Mayor reins to John Dolan, during the station's first Top 40 era.
Jim Archibald, known on-air as Jim Roberts, checked in earlier this afternoon, and reports that John died "after a long battle with leukaemia." He also mentioned that Jim's wife, the legendary CFRN Receptionist from 1960 to 1995 known as "Nonie", was John's cousin.
Here is John's EdmontonBroadcasters.com station chronology:
John Barton - Evenings/weekends while in high school CKRD Red Deer AB 1949-51; morning host CFRN Edmonton 1951-53; Program Manager CKRD 1953-55; The Morning Mayor CHED Edmonton 1955-59; National Sales Manager CHED 1959-64; morning host CKWX Vancouver and CHAN-TV Vancouver game show voice-overs 1964-69; morning host CHFI-FM Toronto 1969-71; Program Manager CJOR Vancouver 1971-73; daily one-hour talk show host and CTV Game Show host What's The Good Word? and Hot Hands early to late 1970s; morning host/weekends CKDA Victoria 1973-76; host daily one-hour talk show Barton & Company CHEK-TV Victoria 1976-82; Creative Director Copeland Communications Victoria 1982-92. Retired 1992, moving to Qualicum Beach 1994; book illustrator and drawing teacher Malaspina College Parksville and The Old School House Qualicum current. Born in Saskatoon.