Flashback: CKCY, my first media job
It was 1975 and between beers at the Purple Lantern, I studied Journalism at Sault College.
Classmates included David Gazer and Joe Petrolo and I mention them because all three of us managed to land part-time jobs at CKCY Radio while still “studying” at Sault College.
Gazer and Petrolo, with their booming, CKLW-Windsor-style voices, worked as newscasters at CKCY while I was the weekend sportscaster.
Thus began my sports media career, which has now surpassed 38 years.
Times, to be sure, have changed.
CKCY, which was the no. 1 radio station in the Sault Ste. Marie area back then, has since gone off the air.
CKCY may have signed off from the 920 AM dial but memories of those early radio years of mine remain vividly clear.
Gazer actually made it from CKCY in the Soo to CKLW in Windsor. I briefly kept in touch with him after he left the Soo but have not seen or heard from him since 1978.
Petrolo stayed with the news radio business for a number of years before settling into a job at Ontario Lottery & Gaming at a considerably-higher pay rate than the $3 an hour we used to haul in at CKCY back in 1975-1976.
As Gazer and Petrolo were consummate pros in our CKCY days, I wasn’t quite as attentive and committed as they were. Oh, I never missed a shift or an assignment but reading sports on radio was lower on my list of priorities than drinking beer at the Purple Lantern or The Vic.
Those were good days amid a cast of radio characters, none of whom I will forget, even if — except for Petrolo and Frank Kennedy — I have lost touch with them.
There were Gazer, Petrolo, Sam Kaplan and Denise Daniels on the news side, Paul Leonard Sr. and me at the sports desk and disc jockeys that included Kennedy, Tony Chipman, Dave Carter, B.W. Martin, Robert E. Lee, Phil Parks, Tony Dee, Don Wayne, Tony Marziale et al.
The legendary “Voice of the Soo Greyhounds” Harry Wolfe also served as station manager and Russ Hilderley was the program director.
The radio was good — even if formal training of announcers was next to nil — and it was live, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
I have managed to stay in the sports media business all these years.
I know what it’s like to be fired — I became pretty good at that — but have been at Sault This Week as its primary sportswriter since 1982, which is 32 years ago this month.
The industry has changed.
There are websites galore — I just started this one on February 1 of this year — the newspaper industry is different than it once was as are radio and television.
I have managed to change with the times, mostly at the urging of my wife Mary, daughter Cara and son Bobby.
Really, I would be lost without my wife and kids, not to mention my dog Stafford. I thank God for them every single day.
As HockeyNewsNorth.com evolves and as I continue to write for Sault This Week and host the Hockey North Show and Thunderbird Hockey Show on ESPN 1400 Radio, I feel fresh, motivated and pretty-good for a 61-year old sportster.
But regardless of the many good people who I have met, worked with and worked for over the years, I like to harken back to the 1975-1976 days at CKCY Radio.
$3 an hour, 25 cent draught beers and cab rides home with my radio buddies Joe Petrolo and B.W. Martin.
And let it be forever known that it wasn’t Petrolo or me who puked in the cab.
What a grand time it was Randy. We worked with some great personalities in what is often referred to as the second golden age of radio. Glad we have stayed healthy and in touch all these years. You forgot to mention catching CKLW on the old Dodge Monaco’s AM radio 🙂
For sure it was a golden age of radio, Joe.
I was going to mention your parents’ (Anthony and Liberata, if I remember correctly) sleek, well-maintained (brown with gold interior, I think) Dodge Monaco and CKLW. But then I would have had to tell the story how you used to pick up girls at the Purple Lantern by inviting them into your car to…listen to the radio.
Yup, you were slick, Joe.
Good memories, man. We need to get together for a beer soon. I think it’s Art Osborne’s turn to buy.
Regards,
Randy
Mr. Petrolo:
CKCY enjoyed another, preceding “golden” age in the mid 60’s, when the station was owned by Carmen Greco, managed by Al Bestall / Johnny Meadows and represented by on-air personalities including Harry Wolfe (sports), Karl Sepkowski, Norm Fera and Russ Hilderley (news), Art Christmas (mornings) and Barry Sarazin (evenings). The “formal” training to which you refer was unnecessary; those folks had talent transcending anything schooling could provide. I was there and experienced all of it as manager of the FM station.
I am so glad that I was responsible for hiring the majority of you guys and splitting many a beer in those days.I am so proud of you Joe and Randy and Frank and all our buddies.I am also glad to be facebook friends with the majority and that includes your wonderful wife Helen.How I missed her mother from the CJNR Blind River days.Love you fellas to death
Those were the days.So glad I was instrumental in your careers.So loved splitting beers too.Nice to be faebook friends too.Good luck with hnn Randy.
Thanks for all you did and for your nice words, Paul.
Paul…those were the best of times and it’s because of people like you. We all have fond memories of those years and that’s something that’s very special to all of us. Thank you again Randy for stirring up the embers and letting us drift back.
Luv this RR! I used to work at CKSO Sudbury in 1975!
Happy to buy a round anytime! If we let it be known when and where we may see some others dropping by….. then we find a Dodge Monaco and take them all to ‘go listen to radio’… Enjoyed the flashback Randy and congrats on your many good years in sports media past and cheers to many more in the future.
Art,
Good to hear from you and thanks for the nice words. Coming from a true radio pro such as yourself, your words carry significant meaning.
As for you buying a round and possibly locating an old Dodge Monaco, sounds like a plan, man.
Hopefully we do meet up for a few beers and pizza, wings. Suggestions for a “bar-style” environment are Service Grill on Korah Rd. if you want to go west or maybe the “Harp” up in Pine Plaza.
We can arrange our own rides or “cab it” if Joe can’t get the keys to the Dodge Monaco.
The cab should be vomit-free…unless B.W. returns to the Soo.
Oy Gevalt!! What great times those were, eh guys? It’s me, Denise Daniels! I think I was the only girl pal-ing around with the boys from CKCY! I ended up married to David Gazer; we have a daughter who now has a family of her own, David and I separated in ’87 and I have since remarried but still keep tabs on him. He’s now incapacitated due to a number of aneurisms and uses a walker; he almost died TWICE while in hospital. Anyway, I ended up in Toronto doing some film and television acting but I don’t even do that anymore! I am politically active and am soon opening up my own store of used goods and curiosities. Has anyone heard from Phil Parks? He was a hoot! Just let me know when B.W. shows up! Sans BOOTS!! 😉
Always remember the days working with Harry Wolfe on the Greyhounds broadcasts. Was a great time. Still waiting for my pair of shoes he promised every game. Times are a changing. I got out of the writing business a couple of years ago after starting my career back in 1958 with the Sudbury Star then on to the local media newspapers.
This is Paul Wayda I was an announcer in 1975 at CKCY AM & FM. Wow great to read from you guys. I renember Sam Kaplan, David Gazer, Denise, and of course the Great Man who Hired Me Russ Hilderly to do Noon till 2 pm on CKCY 920 Am then 2pm till 6pm On FM. I also remember Steve Jackson and Frank Kennedy, and Gary Boulay on the overnight shift.
This is Paul Wayda again. I also remember Tony Deresti and Mr. Wolf, Ronald Thomas Robertson and Tony Chipman. My regrets were that I did not stay in Sault Ste. Marie, and that I wish I would have kept in touch with my friends from CKCY. 1975 was one of the best times in my life. if any of you want to get in touch e-mail or text Me. PAUL WAYDA 1-905-531-1599. In Hamilton Ontario. Direct E-mail: hamiltonsingleman@gmail.com
worked pt sundays 5 to 11,pm, 1975-1977 . sports mgr. at canadian tire full time russ hilderly hired me from toronto at 5.00 /hr. worked with; gazer,lee,martin,daniels,parks,diresti,wayne. gazerand i kept in touch at 680 news toronto early 1980,s great memories at ckcy.
I think CJIC turned out many good announcers too – the list is endless.
Good article here tho Randy on your CKCY days. Those were the days!
Hey Randy,
Reading your excellent recall of the good old days. Sure miss the Soo since I left in ’93. Life’s been good, Program Director in Cornwall for two fmers .
The early days for me listening to Tony Chipman and Lou Turco inspired me since going to school at SIr James Dunn. So many personalities have come and gone but their memories live on. Glad to catch up with you
Darryl
Darryl,
So good to hear from you, man. Remember you and your pleasant voice well from erstwhile AM 1050 CFYN in the Soo.
Glad to hear you are doing well, Darryl M.
From one Sir James Dunn grad to another, my regards.
Randy
any 1970s air checks out there?
Hey Randy. Hope you are well and thanks for posting stories about the good old days. I recently heard from Scott Miller (formerly of the BIG 8) and he asked me about Dave Gazer. Rumour had it that he owned a clothing store in Timmins a while back. Have you heard anything from Dave or Denise recently?
Hi Robert E. Lee! How are you, man? All good here. Have not heard from Dave or Denise in quite a while now.
I owned a recruiting firm in Toronto for 16 years and before that worked for a large company doing the same thing. I specialized in the Consumer Goods Industry. Now, I’m doing Day trading on my own and absolutely love it. I have re-acquainted with our old broadcast buddy Kris James aka Bill Allard. He works and lives down the street from me on St. Clair and Yonge. You probably know he’s mid afternoon and evening drive at Boom 97.3. Remember when you, Bob Pratt and me roomed together at the top of Bruce Street in an ugly blue sided house?
I had Scott Miller (a former CKLW jock) ask me about Gazer last week. I believe someone told me he owned a clothing store in Timmins a while back. If you hear anything let me know. Say hi to Peter Ricci for me. Go Greyhounds!
Sounds good Rob, glad you are doing well. See updated story on this via http://www.saultbusinessmatters.com
(Yes, I remember the ugly blue house, ha ha.)