It wasn’t the golden age of television, but it’s an age that no longer exists. CKNX-TV in Wingham used to create original programming and host its own newscasts and commercials. It was a “thing”. And when I worked there, from 1986-1990, there were many opportunities to be part of that thing.
I was fortunate to be a co-host on the quiz show, Reach for the Top. I hosted a local-music-scene segment and even did one disastrous attempt at delivering TV weather. Recently, I dug up some old photos from 1988 when CKNX-TV created a show to celebrate disaffiliation from the CBC.
CKNX-TV was rebranded several times over the years, and it’s now just a repeater for CFPL-TV here in London. Before my time, there were locally produced morning shows, kids shows and all sorts of farm and news programming. The late John Day, a director at CKNX, told wonderful stories about television in the 50s and 60s. People didn’t understand the concept of affiliates and syndicated programming. The station would conduct tours and someone would invariably ask, “Where do you keep all of the horses?” Horses? “You know, the ones on Bonanza.”
Often you here the expression “that’s progress” thrown around when things of this nature are discussed. Taking a giant step backwards is hardly progressive.
It was a great time for television Lisa. I seem to remember you attempting to do the weather. It wasn’t bad at all. A lot of good memories in those studios.
That’s sweet of you, Jack, but it was SO bad (how bad was it?) that Don Fraser used to show the tape to announcers and TV hosts when they had a bad day, to make them feel better! 🙂
Good times, and some foggy memories