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This Article On Vancouver Radio Raises A Few Questions
I love this type of article, but I also can't believe some of what it says.
It talks about radio in Vancouver and I'm sure lots of it is true. But I have a real question about this one, titled "The First Rock Radio Station."
"In 1968, the easy listening station CKLG AM switched formats to play the new music the youth were listening to, and Canada's first rock radio station began broadcasting. It later started broadcasting on the FM dial too."
1968? Canada's first rock radio station? What about CHUM, which started playing R&R in in May 1957. Where are they getting this fact from?
Second, did they really broadcast the Beatles concert in B.C. on the radio in 1964? I suppose it's possible, and this video - or rather soundtrack - appears to confirm it. But why would the group or the promoters have allowed it?
Whatever the reason, it's vintage early Beatles live and you don't often get to hear that.
5 things you (probably) didn't know about radio in Vancouver
- albertaboy4life
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Re: This Article On Vancouver Radio Raises A Few Questions
I will very happily defer to fellow SOWNY member, jon, as he was in the market while I share my understanding. As well as Doug Thompson.
"Middle of the Road" CKLG AM 730 switched to a Top 40 format in the summer of 1964. It was CKLG FM 99 that became Canada's first rock FM radio station in 1968. CKLG AM was in its "Boss Radio" years in the late '60s.
980 CKNW had announcers present for the Beatles' concert at Empire Stadium anchored by the late Jack Webster. Radio "bad boy" Jack (John Francis) Cullen placed a microphone under the Beatles' concert stage at Empire Stadium and Jack recorded the full concert which was then reproduced via "bootleg" Beatles' concert albums. CKNW aired the concert while having Jack Webster and others with him comment on it, in real time. NW broadcast from the booth used for BC Lions football games.
I recall that the late Mike Marshall attended the Beatles' Vancouver concert with a contest winner from 930 CJCA in Edmonton. Mike was in between his 630 CHED gigs that book-ended his time at CJCA. Doug Thompson can correct me if Mike was at CHED and not CJCA, in August 1964.
The late radiofan/Ted Wendland posted some of the CKNW audio on RadioWest about the Beatles' only Vancouver concert - along with some additional information.
Last edited by albertaboy4life (August 24, 2026 7:08 pm)
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