CHOO Radio Recollections

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

=================================================================

A Letter From Rob Reid...

Hello John: I looked at your site a few months ago and for some reason decided to look again tonight - June 27, 2009. Low and behold there I am on Page 10 in the CHOO Ad from the Ajax Newspaper. I was indeed Creative Director but I also was on-air. Good Lord, I must have been a little heavy then. I look rather beefy. I worked - as far as I remember, Saturday Mornings. I also filled-in on-air. Joe Frechette was PD and I even set up a new "clock-wheel" for the announcers when we updated the on-air sound. I believe I even had the title of Assistant Programme Director for awhile.

I started at CHOO at 97 McMaster in maybe May of 1982 - maybe a few months earlier. I have a record of sending a resume in March of 1982. I think I was there until early 1984 (maybe late 1983). I believe I just sent out some resumes to area stations in 1982. I had moved to Pickering from Orillia where I had worked at 3 radio stations. While I lived in Pickering, I worked at a Roller Rink - until I got the CHOO job. The company I worked for ran two rinks and I was manager of the one in Mississauga. It was a long commute. My notes from the response [to] my initial letter to CHOO said that there was "a full staff compliment" at the current time. I got an interview shortly thereafter. Things can happen fast in radio. I vaguely remember the interview for CHOO. I think it was with Lorna Braid and Joe Frechette. I was asked if I listened to Country Music. I said I started in Radio in 1972 playing Country Music. I was hired on the spot.

I remember the poster in the paper because that was something new - "Country Sunshine". I remember seeing the artwork in colour - all yellows and oranges. I have found the "clock wheel" I put together for the new "format style" starting on January 31st 1983, with an introduction from Joe Frechette saying I had put it together and I could answer any questions at announcer meetings. There were 5 full time, 3 part time announcers. It also said I worked on-air every second Saturday Morning and filled in for announcers on vacation.

I can't recall too many negative stories. Everyone was pretty good to work with. I do remember that it was frustrating in cramped office space and there was not much money to go around. Things needed to be updated. Like my typewriter. I don't believe the landlord wanted to put money into the building. Always needing money. Isn't that true of most stations though - even today?

I remember that cold back room with the wall of windows and usually one or two were cracked or broken and stuffed with an old cloth. Lorna was Station Manager. Brian Belfry was mornings. Bill was there and Eric Anderson, too. You got paid 75 dollars a month if you had the CHOO Logo painted on your car. I never did.

I did a lot of in-person stuff for CHOO. One of the biggest I attended was the Quarterama Horse Show at the Horse Palace at the CNE Grounds. We had the CHOO booth there. I don't have a picture of the station or anything from around that time. In fact I don't have pics of most of the stations where I worked.

I have the CHOO button shown in the pics. Probably a pen too if I search through an old cardboard box in the garage. I also have several reel to reels with commercials and stuff on them. I don't have a reel to reel tape player anymore, so I can't listen. One commercial I remember vividly, was a spot I wrote, voiced and produced with Brian Belfry (he did the Maude Frickert type character). It was for County Honda.

We must have been a little busy because they let me hire another copywriter in that cramped 2x4 office. His name was Peter Worthington. He worked for me at CHAY FM in Barrie for a couple of years. Another radio friend Linda Smith came in from time to time to help with copy. She lived in West Toronto and it was difficult for her to make the commute. I do remember getting Linda to do CHOO Country Traffic in the mornings and afternoons. She would phone it in "live" and compiled the reports by listening to other stations and I believe she watched CITY TV's morning show, too. It sounded great. Lost track of Linda 20 years ago. I think Peter went on to work at CITY TV in the news department.

I remember Dave Scott quite well. Always smiling I seem to remember. Also from the ad, Rick Davis - nights. He came in new and wanted to be in radio in the worst way. Jay Mandell in news. Of course who could forget Joe - especially when you were on-air and played Clap Your Hands. What a crew. There were a lot of people. What a difference to radio today when a handful - or less, people run a station.

One of my fondest CHOO memories was meeting Carroll Baker. I loved her voice and music. "I've Never Been This Far Before." Still like listening to her. She puts on a "live" show that is straight from the heart! I caught up with her again about 2 years ago when she was on the Grandstand at the Lindsay Central Exhibition. George Fox opened for her. I waited and spoke with her after the show - reminding her of CHOO. We both laughed and said - "Those were the days!" What a special lady. She is currently on a Farewell Tour. She is on Swisssh Radio and the website and keeps in touch. Usually her husband sends me an e-mail every now and then.

When I finished at CHOO I headed to CKAR/CKQT. They actually stole me away. They made an offer I couldn't refuse. The Oshawa stations were the only stations I ever worked where I did not have an on-air shift. My voice only appeared on spots. I was Creative Director. After that, I worked for BBM and then for the airlines - Wardair and Canadian Airlines for almost 13 years. I got back into radio for another 10 years at EZ Rock Orillia, then Lite FM, then Energy FM, JACK FM Orillia and finally The NEW CHAY in Barrie. I retired from Radio in 2006 - Victoria Day weekend. I live in Orillia and have for 16 years. Born here too. Back to beginnings.

What do I do today? I am an actor these days with my own group - The Garage Door Players. I also perform for other theatre groups as well. I have a website called Swisssh - An Arts, Muckraking and Entertainment Webspace. It will be 3 years old in July [2009]. On March 7th 2007 I began an Internet Radio Station that is heard through the Swisssh Website called - Swisssh Radio - Playing Adult Favourites! (www.swisssh.ca) So that it's for me for now. Sure would appreciate a link - oh.... and a new picture too. LOL

Rob Reid

(ABOVE) All images courtesy Rob Reid. Photo of Rob (contemporary); Cover 1981 rate card; Inside 1981 rate card; Sticker (c. 1981). Many thanks to Rob for sharing them and for his excellent letter.