CHOO Radio Recollections

An on line scrapbook of images & text for former staff and listeners alike

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Here's a Real Blast from CHOO's "Town & Country" Past...

(CHOO advertisement circa 1973/74 courtesy Ted Yates)

TED YATES WRITES...

Hello John,

Here's a full page newspaper ad which ran in the local paper back in either late '73 or early '74. We played popular/Top 40 music then before CHOO switched to Country. Our photos appeared with our time slots as follows:

• Mornings with Brian Barker (retired and enjoying the good life)

• Mid Days with Bob Bowlan (later owned a station up north in Parry Sound)

• Afternoons with Paul Douglas Scott (now heads a college broadcasting dept. in K/W)

• Evenings rock with Ted Yates (38 years later Morning Show Host at Oldies 1150 CKOC and author of "The 60's - The Hits and The Trivia". )

• All-nite with Kevin Kipping (working outside of radio these days).

Yes, it was the same building as the one pictured on your website. The shag carpeting was part of the real 70's show. How I got there? Roger Ashby helped me make an audition tape in the studios of CHUM. The PD, J. Robert Wood, sent a note to CHOO 's owner Justin McCarthy saying that I was a young ambitious broadcaster who Roger assisted. I then went for the interview and got the job. At that time the station was top 40 at night and similar, but softer during the day.

Best regards, Ted Yates

PS I don't know if I told you, but our afternoon guy here at CKOC Rock 'n Ray Michaels worked at CHOO. It was a few years after me. The PD when he was there was Joe Frechette, formerly of the group the Beau Marks, known for the hit 'Clap Your Hands'. I just looked over your site again and discovered someone I worked with at CFOR in Orillia, Rob Reid. I don't think I knew he worked at CHOO too. I also remember Jim McAleese. During my High School days we worked together part time at the Dominion Grocery store at Shopper's World at Victoria Park and the Danforth in Toronto. I see him from time to time in TV commercials.

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Thanks Ted. I love it. Especially that reference to CHOO being "a new high". But from what format had CHOO changed? If anybody else from CHOO's first decade is reading this and has any photos, etc please get in touch.

(RIGHT) Cover of Ted Yates' latest 60's trivia book now available at Chapters, Coles, Indigo and on Amazon.ca and .com and .uk. His followup, "The 70's - The Hits and The Trivia" arrives on bookshelves later this Spring. Click HERE or on the book cover itself for more information.

Ted also sent along two more great photos. (BELOW, LEFT) A glossy poster of '14 CHOO A New High' circa 1973/74. (BELOW RIGHT) A full page ad from the Oshawa Times - Oct. 26 1973. Ted comments, "Both were inspired by [then CHOO] owner Justin McCarthy's fascination with the movie 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' featuring music by Neil Diamond."

PHOTOS ABOVE - Courtesy Ted Yates. Many thanks again, Ted. The first decade or so of CHOO history is still to be documented. This is just the beginning. But what a great beginning. The whole "seagull" thing is so early 1970s. Fantastic! If anyone else reading this has any more early CHOO stuff - please write in. My e mail address is at the bottom of page one.

And now... more mid 1970s memories of CHOO from Paul Douglas Scott... on the next page...