1 of 1- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline 
I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
I came across an AI imaging site called Bing AI Creator that gives anyone who uses it 15 free pictures, based totally on a text submitted suggestion. So just for fun, I asked it for this:
"Top 40 radio station CHUM Toronto in the 1960s with disc jockey at the microphone playing records in front of a radio board ".
For better or worse (you decide), here are the four pics it spit out. I have no idea where “CHUM Torinto” or “CHUM Htinto” is (indicated on the signs), or what kind of bizarre mic that is in image #3, but that’s for another day.
- Easily Amused
- Member
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
I am reminded of the original ad copy that accompanied the original 'Westworld' movie.
WESTWORLD! Where nothing can go wrong...go wrong...go wrong.
- tdotwriter
- Member
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
Besides the usual gibberish text generated on signage and nonsensical numbers, it seems to have some of the right ideas. In the third image, the nonsensical text and numbers in the upper left side of the picture might be the algorithm trying in incorporate tear-away calendars into the image, for whatever reason, if any. To the left, that looks to me like a wall of multiple mechanical indicator gauges surrounding a sign that bears some resemblance to the station's real-life logo of the time.
The microphone might be derived by the algorithm from stations in other parts of the world that used differently formatted call signs, particularly those using three characters.
From what I understand, images generated by AI "from scratch" are essentially re-assembled composites from incredible numbers of actual photographs of all kinds of real things from throughout the internet. The algorithms tend to have "the right ideas" so to speak, but it seems like language comprehension and understanding of some logic remains limited. However, the technology is improving quite rapidly.
- Muffaraw Joe
- Member
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
This is great! Thanks RA, aside from a a few of the details you mentioned, it is pretty spot on, reflecting the times back then. We are missing David Mickie (Marsden) though and an image of Roger Ashby.
The world would be so good if it weren't for some people...
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
Interestingly, I made the exact same request, but this time inserted the name "Jay Nelson" instead of asking for a generic pic. It came back saying that was forbidden and the entire thing had to be reviewed before it could be created. I didn't pursue it further.
- •
Thread Starter- Saul
- Member
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
RadioActive wrote:
Interestingly, I made the exact same request, but this time inserted the name "Jay Nelson" instead of asking for a generic pic. It came back saying that was forbidden and the entire thing had to be reviewed before it could be created. I didn't pursue it further.
No AI for you!
- ig
- Iain Grant
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
I tried it a while back for a thing I was working on.. Seems like a popular request 
Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change.
- djwildbill
- Member
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
I didn’t know Diana Ross was a CHUM jock.
- Easily Amused
- Member
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
Seeing what you get for images after making a request of AI puts me in mind of a Firesign Theatre record.
"That's Steve Reeves!" 😎
"No, that's Agnes Moorehead" 🧐
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
I didn’t know Diana Ross was a CHUM jock.
Actually, the first time I saw it I thought it was Lt. Uhura from Star Trek.
- •
Thread Starter- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
I tried it a while back for a thing I was working on.. Seems like a popular request
Yours is much better than the ones I turned out. But doesn't that jock like a lot like Pierre Poilievre?
And did you notice the numbers on the clock in the background are out of order?
- •
Thread Starter- Doug Thompson
- Member
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
All of those A.I. composites aren't even close to CHUM's reality back then. I got to CHUM in February 1965 and all of the consoles in master and in production had round knobs not sliding faders. Frankly, the equipment at CHUM, even up until 1970 was pretty ratty, some home made, some tied together with chewing gum and spit. Everything was made by McCurdy. CHUM didn't get a production console with sliding faders until 1971. This is a photo of the master control for 1050 CHUM in the '60s. Sorry you don't get a good view of the actual console, but see the Hal Weaver photo below for a better look. 
Last edited by Doug Thompson (June 7, 2025 2:35 am)
[img][IMG][/img][/img]
- Doug Thompson
- Member
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
And this is a photo of the CHUM production studio in the '60s. Two McCurdy boards. Pretty gnarly equipment (older than I was at the time) and a pain to work with. But we got 'er done.
Last edited by Doug Thompson (June 7, 2025 2:08 am)
[img][IMG][/img][/img]
- Doug Thompson
- Member
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
And finally, a photo of CHUM DJ Hal Weaver self operating in the 1050 CHUM control room circa 1968, 69. Note, the console had been modified to add remotes for the cart machines on an underpanel. Plus, back then you could smoke in the control room and the newsroom. Cough! Cough!
Last edited by Doug Thompson (June 7, 2025 2:37 am)
[img][IMG][/img][/img]
- Tq345
- Member
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
I tried it a while back for a thing I was working on.. Seems like a popular request
Yours is much better than the ones I turned out. But doesn't that jock like a lot like Pierre Poilievre?
And did you notice the numbers on the clock in the background are out of order?
I also noticed that the mic seems to be just hovering unsupported in mid air. Quite a trick.
- Binson Echorec
- Member
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
I also noticed that the mic seems to be just hovering unsupported in mid air. Quite a trick.
None of the turntables appear to have arms. The people in the photos also appear to be much more diverse than I would've expected in the '60s.
Last edited by Binson Echorec (June 8, 2025 1:52 pm)
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
All of those A.I. composites aren't even close to CHUM's reality back then. I got to CHUM in February 1965 and all of the consoles in master and in production had round knobs not sliding faders. Frankly, the equipment at CHUM, even up until 1970 was pretty ratty, some home made, some tied together with chewing gum and spit. Everything was made by McCurdy. CHUM didn't get a production console with sliding faders until 1971. This is a photo of the master control for 1050 CHUM in the '60s. Sorry you don't get a good view of the actual console, but see the Hal Weaver photo below for a better look.
It is quite remarkable to see the real pics that Doug Thompson posted in this thread. CHUM was making mucho loot in in the 60s and that was the equipment they had to work on? Why?
I would have thought it was state of the art, not close to crumbling. I can't imagine how they let it get to that state and why they didn't replace it. But I guess CHUM management was really like the Scrooge character they used to pretend ran the place - cheap and bah humbug if you wanted something better.
I'm frankly amazed that it sounded as good as it did given what they apparently had to work with. Those engineers were heroes!
- •
Thread Starter- Doug Thompson
- Member
Offline
Re: I Asked AI To Create A Pic Of CHUM In The 60s. Here’s What I Got
Basically RA, from when CHUM moved from Adelaide Street to 1331 Yonge Street in 1959, the control room and production studios equipment stayed exactly the same. Some consoles, like the AM master control room, were modified when carts came along. As I mentioned, CHUM production didn't get a new McCurdy console with faders instead of pots until 1971. I was the first production guy to use it. CHUM FM, which was launched as a classical station in 1963, had much newer equipment and consoles than we did in AM.
[img][IMG][/img][/img]