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After being seating on the 401 for an extended amount of time this morning, it got me wondering. When did Toronto radio start giving traffic reports, who came up with the idea and how has it evolved and changed over the years.
Its been a staple on local radio and TV but who was first and when did other stations pick up the idea.
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I don't know about traffic reports after newscasts, but Eddie Luther began doing helicopter traffic reports for CFRB in 1961. The "CHUM Chopper" began flying over Toronto soon after. I am not sure when CKEY started their helicopter reports. I suspect it came after the switch to an MOR format in early 1965.
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In the U.S. on Aug 10, 1935 NYC Police Deputy Commander Harold Fowler reported traffic conditions over WINS from the Goodyear Blimp. In 1937, KNX joined forces with United Airlines to report on traffic conditions in L.A. In 1948 WMAQ experimented with a "Birds Eye" experiment reporting on traffic conditions on Memorial Day Weekend. These early reports were all done in cooperation with local police forces. in 1956 KLIF Dallas became the first station to hire a pilot and aircraft to broadcast hourly traffic reports. WOR followed suit in March 1957. In 1958 WLW, KABC, KGO, WJBK and WPEN all debuted their helicopter traffic reports.
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Here are a few stories about traffic copters in the early days of Toronto radio.
JUNE 1960
I'm guessing $95 an hour was a lot more back then that it is today!
MAY 1968
This one gives most of the dates that some of the major stations in town started doing Chopper Traffic.
MAY 1976
Describes the kind of copter each station was using and who was flying them.
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mace wrote:
I don't know about traffic reports after newscasts, but Eddie Luther began doing helicopter traffic reports for CFRB in 1961. The "CHUM Chopper" began flying over Toronto soon after. I am not sure when CKEY started their helicopter reports. I suspect it came after the switch to an MOR format in early 1965.
The appended news article says 1964 for CKEY
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Anyone remember a woman named Pat Curran? For years, she was the voice of the Ontario Motor League on radio stations all over the GTA.
To that end, anyone remember the Ontario Motor League?
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RadioActive wrote:
Anyone remember a woman named Pat Curran? For years, she was the voice of the Ontario Motor League on radio stations all over the GTA.
To that end, anyone remember the Ontario Motor League?
My wife and I attended the CNE in 1978 or 79, and I distinctly remember CAA sales representatives haranguing us as we entered through one building's doors, and OML representatives pitching us as we exited through doors at the other end of the building. 😁
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I remember flying a few times with Henry Shannon while at CFRB and CKFM. At least once in a Bell Jet Ranger and on other occasions in the "Twin Comanche" fixed wing. I can't remember the dates of the transition to the different aircraft. When they went to the Twin Comanche they did Cottage Country Traffic because of the extended range of the aircraft. I believe that CFRB always flew out of Buttonville Airport.
Last edited by tvguy (June 17, 2025 3:30 pm)
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Link to article about Henry Shannon @ CFRB circa 1978
MPL002496070pf_1192.pdf
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tvguy wrote:
Link to article about Henry Shannon @ CFRB circa 1978
MPL002496070pf_1192.pdf
Here's a rare recording I found with Henry Shannon and Andy Barrie on CFRB. The occasion? Shannon's retirement from broadcasting. In this 30 minute piece, he talks about how and where he started and where he ended up.
Henry Shannon's Retirement From Broadcasting, June 30, 1995