It’s an often inevitable progression for many in the radio biz – jumping ship to the boob tube to match the face with the voice. (Plus, the money’s better.) Here’s a look back at some Toronto talent who made the leap so you could see how they looked.

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Jay Nelson
 
Yes, he came to fame in this area as “Jungle” Jay with a kid’s show on WKBW-TV, where legend has it, Allan Waters’ kid suggested him for the new CHUM morning show. But he was also busy, at least in the summer of 1966, hosting an obscure CTV show called “It’s Happening.” As you can see by the first week’s guests, and with apologies to Robbie Lane, it wasn’t exactly an all-star line-up.

 

Jay would later briefly serve as a weatherman on the old CityPulse on City TV. And Nelson wasn’t the only CHUM jock to host an on-air music show. Dave Mickie (aka Marsden) was in front of the camera on the early 60s dance show “Mickie A Go Go.”
 
Mike Darow

He was on CHUM in the 60s but had bigger plans in TV. Mike Darow would eventually end up on an ABC game show called “Dream House,” which gave contestants a chance to win just that. But before he crossed the border, he hosted another competition on CTV known as “Going Places.” It offered trips as a prize, although knowing the budget for these kinds of Canadian shows in those days, you likely wouldn’t be sent very far.




Larry Solway
 
I honestly don’t remember Larry Solway having his own TV talk show, but the ad below proves he did. Like many others featured here, it was on CHCH out of Hamilton.




Al Boliska
 
Former CHUM morning man Al Boliska had his own TV show? Who knew? Well, whoever was watching something called “Point Of You,” a weekly light-hearted look at the news. It aired in 1967.


 

John Michael
 
The late, great John Michael, who fronted talk shows on both CJRN and CKTB in St. Catharines-Niagara for many years, often referred to this TV show on air – and not always favourably! It was called “Street Talk” and here’s the proof that it actually did exist back in 1978.



 
Bob McAdorey
 
He gained fame on CHUM, but ended his career as a much loved Global-TV personality. In this Canadian TV Guide article from Dec. 1982, McAdorey revealed how close he came to not choosing TV at all.


 
Elwood Glover
 
Best known for his “Luncheon Date” show on TV, he also did afternoon drive on CBL, the powerhouse CBC signal that used to be on 740.


 
Tom Gould
 
Tom became famous as an international CTV correspondent, but he also appeared for a while on CKEY, doing an afternoon drive newscast. It was popular and he continued on it, until one fateful afternoon when they played his intro and listeners heard only a very loud “arrgh, arrgh.”
 
Gould had a heart attack on air seconds after turning on his mic. Paramedics saved his life and whisked him to the hospital, but he was never the same after that.


 
Gord Martineau
 
Not really a Toronto radio guy, Gord started on that side of the medium in Montreal and Eastern Canada before becoming a famous Toronto TV newscaster. Here he is on CFTO under his real name back in 1974. Early on in his time there, they insisted he go by the name “Gord Martin,” which he did reluctantly. But it always made him angry. When he left CFTO and returned before his long tenure at City TV, he was allowed to use his real moniker, although I don't ever recall him referring to himself as "Gordon," like in the ad below.


 
Pat Murray
 
One of the great smooth voices on CKEY and other Toronto stations, Pat Murray was also a regular in the early days of CFTO. This ad is from 1961, not long after the station signed on the air.