1 of 1- haydenmatthews14
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Re: Happy 70th anniversary CHCH
CHCH is still a great station to watch retro shows, their newscasts and Morning Live too.
- RadioActive
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Re: Happy 70th anniversary CHCH
It's hard to remember now in an era of streaming and before that, DVD and even VHS rentals farther back, but CHCH used to have quite a reputation for acquiring first run and television premiere of big movie titles, before anyone else did it. It seems to me (and I could be misremembering this) they showed The Godfather before any other station, including in the U.S., ever got their hands on it.
It was a coup that they kept up for several years, until the business changed. But they were a real pioneer in the field with their "Movies Eleven."
Plus, as the promo sheet from 1968 below proves, they were doing Retro TV a long time before today.
- paterson1
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Re: Happy 70th anniversary CHCH
On this day June 7, 1954 CHCH TV in Hamilton began broadcasting. CHCH initially picked up programming from CBC, ABC, NBC and the Dumont networks in addition to producing local shows and news.
The station was actually licensed to go on the air in 1952 but was delayed by two years since the demand for television transmitters was so great with so many TV channels going to air. They couldn't get a transmitter until 1954.
CHCH is showing 70 years of great movies every Monday at 8pm. Harkening back to when CHCH was known for showing the best movies on television many decades ago.
Here is a great page of memories and video from this remarkable TV station. Happy Birthday CHCH!
- RadioActive
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Re: Happy 70th anniversary CHCH
At last! A broadcaster that celebrates rather than ignores its own history. Bravo CHCH! (I still prefer to watch in "Ultracolour...)
- RadioActive
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Re: Happy 70th anniversary CHCH
Toronto Star coverage from Friday, June 4, 1954:
- RadioActive
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Re: Happy 70th anniversary CHCH
A former camera operator who was there on that first day, recalls the CHCH sign-on and the days that followed. Steve Dunn was with the station for years and came up not only with the idea for one of its most famous shows, Tiny Talent Time, but the lyrics to the theme song as well.
"Dunn directed and produced the program. He came up with the show’s name and the theme song:
“Here is the show that is big for those of you who are small.
“So, watch right now and you will see a show we know will please you all.
“All the cameras, lights and microphones are here for tiny talent to shine.
“So, Bill Lawrence, introduce us please to our guests on Tiny Talent Time.”
Dealing with children had its challenges: “You would do a close-up, to try to get a cute shot and unfortunately kids would sometimes start picking their nose. You can’t do much about that on live television.”
Lots of great pics in this article, as well.
Steve Dunn remembers operating a studio camera at CHCH TV’s historic first broadcast 70 years ago
- RadioActive
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Re: Happy 70th anniversary CHCH
Congrats to CHCH - they're one of the few broadcasters who seem willing to celebrate their own milestones.
I just heard a spot on 680 News Radio from them congratulating themselves on their 7 decades on air. Not sure how often it's running and where, but it was great to hear them spending the money to acknowledge this outside of their own channel.
- ckg927
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Re: Happy 70th anniversary CHCH
It should be noted that CHCH isn't the ONLY TV station in the area turning 70 this year. WGRZ(ch. 2)in Buffalo signed on the air August 14, 1954...becoming Buffalo's third TV station(WBUF-TV(ch. 17, now WNED-TV)was the actual second TV station in Buffalo).
- RadioActive
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Re: Happy 70th anniversary CHCH
Here's an ad for the new WGR-TV from August 29, 1954, just two weeks after they signed on for the first time. What a very different era that was, when stations originated a ton of their own programming. Remember the two Pixies?
- mace
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Re: Happy 70th anniversary CHCH
ckg927 wrote:
It should be noted that CHCH isn't the ONLY TV station in the area turning 70 this year. WGRZ(ch. 2)in Buffalo signed on the air August 14, 1954...becoming Buffalo's third TV station(WBUF-TV(ch. 17, now WNED-TV)was the actual second TV station in Buffalo).
Technically, WBUF was the third station in Buffalo. WBES ch 59 lasted less than three months from Sept 29-Dec 19, 1953.