The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Radio studios in trailers to promote events

**Posted by darcyh** July 27, 2025 10:49 am

In the early 70's my dad took me any my sisters to the Central Ontario Exhibition (COE) at the Kitchener Auditorium. Inside the 'aud' were displays from vendors, outside were midway rides and arc lights that swept the sky to advertise the event which was typically a fall fair. I also remember that the local radio station 1490 CHYM had a trailer with large windows on one end.

Through the windows you could see the announcer sitting behind a board with turntables etc. selecting and playing records. They seemed to be doing their show from the event - not just a remote. They would frequently mention we are live at the COE... It was quite fascinating to watch.

I seem to recall CJBK 1290 London also broadcasting from the Western Fair doing this, but not sure they had a trailer.

In my opinion the stations did a great job promoting the COE and Western Fair.

Does any else remember these trailers?

Did any of you do any shows from them? What was your experience?

Thanks

**Posted by paterson1** July 27, 2025 11:50 am

I did many broadcasts from the CFOS/CFPS mobile studio during the six years I was at the station. They had dropped the turntables etc. by the time I started there in 1980. So we did just the announcing from the mobile, I think because there were often so many interviews, and the number of people who would come and go during the broadcast. The mobile studio like at CHYM was normally reserved for events like winter carnivals, fairs, downtown promotions, trade shows. I am not totally sure, but the CFOS mobile may have been originally from CHYM. CHYM's crack technical department helped CFOS a lot with the launch of CFPS on CHYM's old frequency 1490. I believe the gentleman's name was Paul Firminger who did a lot with CFOS courtesy of CHYM.

**Posted by turkeytop** July 27, 2025 11:59 am

I sometimes attend the International Plowing Match, whenever it's held in Western ON. CKNX is always there doing a mobile broadcast.

**Posted by maybo** July 27, 2025 12:11 pm

I was just a kid when my parents went shopping at the Westmount Mall in London. On our way in, we passed the CFPL-980 mobile unit. No idea what they were promoting but I was mesmerized watching Dick Williams do his show. He and his fellow “Lively Guys” were radio heroes to me.

**Posted by RadioActive** July 27, 2025 12:15 pm

CHUM famously had a trailer at the CNE where "CHUM checks from the Ex." I think most people who were young kids at the time went there as part of their annual trip to the fair.

CKEY also was present during their all too brief time as a rock station. They called their colourful trailer a "Circus Wagon."

There's no pic, but CKFH during its time challenging 1050 was also present at the Ex. Not sure if they had a trailer, but they were there in some way in 1968.

(CHUM & CKEY pics courtesy Doug Thompson and the CHUM Tribute Site)

**Posted by darcyh** July 27, 2025 11:25 pm

RA:

Great photos. Thanks for posting.

**Posted by Shorty Wave** July 28, 2025 7:35 am

Thanks for all the posts here so far! I used to love this type of thing when I was young, watching a DJ at work was very cool and impressive. Definitely from a different era. Thanks again for the posts!

**Posted by Doug Thompson** July 28, 2025 11:08 am

Here's the inside of the CHUM satellite station. Console and turntables. The CHUM DJs seldom played records on these. The operators back at 1331 Yonge Street did all that.

Last edited by Doug Thompson (July 28, 2025 11:09 am)

**Posted by RadioAaron** July 28, 2025 11:12 am

Doug Thompson wrote:
Here's the inside of the CHUM satellite station. Console and turntables. The CHUM DJs seldom played records on these. The operators back at 1331 Yonge Street did all that.

Ah, I was wondering. So a little classic smoke & mirrors

Also, get that coke away from the board!

**Posted by Doug Thompson** July 28, 2025 11:18 am

This is a photo of Dave Johnson I took at the CNE in 1960 in the CHUM satellite station. He was actually playing 45s there. The box contained the CHUM Top 50.

**Posted by tvguy** July 28, 2025 11:21 am

While working as a "swing man" I did a lot of remotes for CFPL Am and CFPL FM in 1976. The remote studio was a winnebago and fully drivable. It was pretty large. Most of the remotes were outside of London, so there was lots of highway driving to places such as Strathroy. It handled really well on the 2-lane highways in the area. The remote announcer's role was to interview the business owners "live to air" or adlib a 60 second commercial, based on sales points that the store management provided. I was in my 20's but sounded like one of the staff announcers who at that time was probably in his 50's. I got some interesting "looks" from people who peered into the remote studio expecting to see a grey-haired announcer. I wish I had some photos of the remotes. But it was decades before instant photos. One fun fact, in those days FM commercial loads were highly regulated by the CRTC. I remember being able to adlib a "60" without a stop watch and the timing was bang on.

**Posted by Glen Warren** July 28, 2025 4:27 pm

In the mid 70s to the 80s, CHWO 1250 Oakville had their "Sunshine Studio", and it used to be their presence at many local events in Oakville... like the annual "Mayor's Picnic" at Coronation Park, etc.

They would have a couple of chairs and mics outside of the Sunshine Studio under the awning with a couple of speakers where you would hear CHWO 1250, and Michael Caine and others would do interviews with people and other well known locals attending the 3 day event (it was over the August long weekend / Civic holiday)

The "Studio" was an actual GM Motorhome of the era, and it was painted up with the branding, and station calls etc. (similar to image below).

Actually, it was more of a toy for Michael Caine, as when it was not being used for promotions, he could take the family camping!!!

**Posted by RadioActive** July 28, 2025 4:48 pm

Not everybody had access to a trailer. Here's a pre-Bonanza Lorne Greene on location at the CNE hawking Alka-Seltzer. This is from the City of Toronto archives in 1955.

**Posted by Doug Thompson** July 28, 2025 4:57 pm

Then, there was the '80s and a cheaper way of being on location. Just take a couple of microphones, chairs and a table and sit outside the station entrance on Yonge Street. CHUM jocks John Majhor and Mike Holland did that.

Last edited by Doug Thompson (July 28, 2025 4:58 pm)

**Posted by RadioActive** July 28, 2025 5:01 pm

How did they soundproof anything? Wasn't it noisy on air?

**Posted by Doug Thompson** July 29, 2025 12:09 am

Yeah, the traffic on Yonge would have been whizzing by, but I think that was the point...to be where the people were.

**Posted by LOSat** July 29, 2025 5:39 pm

I like how the lawn chairs match the colour scheme of the van.
ANd that table Lorne Greene is sitting at. My parents had a very similar one. I actually used it when I went to university.