http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl? http://www.eblah.com en http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1283013585/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1283013585/#num1 OBITUARY -- MEL SPRACKMAN

By: Dick Drew
Broadcaster.com
August 27, 2010

It is hard to accept the fact that Mel Sprackman is no longer with us.. He died suddenly in his home August 10th. He was 70 years young.


Right to left: Mel Sprackman, Stephanie Albulet, Jerome Gignac, John Gattens

The photo with this story says it all about Mel Sprackman and his attitude towards life and selling. Mel is the guy on the far right leading his CBS crew of Stephanie Albulet, ,Jerome Gignac, and John Gattens likely celebrating another sale on behalf of their stations.

While Mel was growing up in Toronto his mother Ann Sprackman would gather the family around the radio Sunday morning 9;05 to listen to the " Harry Harris Jewish Hour" on CHML Hamilton. This program was the information pipeline into the Jewish community throughout Southern Ontario. What Mrs Sprackman never learned was that the nice announcer who read the announcements and commercials in English following the Jewish announcer who read the same announcements in Yiddish was a young goyem from Morinville Alberta named Dick Drew. Mel and I had many good laughs about that bit of broadcast deception.

Mel enjoyed a good laugh. He sent jokes by email to a long list of friends. I always looked forward to receiving them . In fact, the last one he sent was at 13:37 the day he died.
My wife Aline and I were in the US celebrating our 54th wedding anniverrsary when our son Mitch called us with the sad news. My first thought was " There goes Mel playing another trick on us. Like Houdini he will pop up laughing saying "See I tricked you" " Some trick,eh ?  
Mel spent his entire working life dedicated to selling product. Either as the Vice president of Kert Advertising, McCann Erickson or his own Sprackman, Green Huckvale.agency.

Fortunately for us in the radio business Mel moved into time sales in 1980 with Jim Crawford and formed National Radio Sales. Shortly after that, Dick Moody. President of Standard Broadcast Sales came out from Toronto and convinced them to become the SBS West Coast representatives. In the mid 1980's SBS became CBS and Mel managed this newly formed office until he retired in 2006. Like most guys who worked long busy hours for many years, Mel could not sit still. He made a deal with Vista Broadcasting to be their National Advertising Co-ordinator and Regional Sales Rep. Paul Mann of Vista will tell you they could not have landed a better person.  Mel was my Vancouver rep when I owned CKAY Duncan . Nothing went down that I did not know about. He had pipelines all over.

John Gattens began working with Mel when National Radio was formed in 1987. John told me " Dick,what I will always remember about Mel was his great sense of humour. He developed and produced two comedy CD's titled " The two sides of Mel"...and " The joys of Jewish Humour" google it ,you can buy them on line'

Mel was a devoted family man. He and Penny. his wife of 27 years raised a blended family of five children and now boast six grandchildren.

Mel Sprackman was one of the greatest broadcast salesman ever. A truly fun loving person who will long be remembered and sadly missed.

Donations can be made to the Mel Sprackman Scholarship Fund at the Pacific Torah Institution 604-261-1502
email office@ptibc.org or The Schara Tzedeck Synagagouge 604-736-7607 email officeassistantsharaatzedeck.com


Email Dick: dickdrew@shaw.ca
http://www.broadcastermagazine.....be9dde9b&stpc=BM

.]]> Sat, 28 Aug 2010 09:39:45 B Control http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1282574196/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1282574196/#num1 Tony Parsons
is a Canadian Achiever

    
BroadcasterMagazine.com
Published: July 2010


                                              Tony Parson and Dick Drew
                                                                                               Photo taken by Mitch Drew

For over 50 years Tony Parsons has been a newsman and news anchor, never a news maker. That began changing on December 9/09 when he retired from his enviable thirty year career anchoring the 6;00 P.M major news on BCTV/Global, Vancouver. He was its franchise. He’d built it up to where it had a larger share than any newscast in any major market in North America.   Tony is one of the most highly respected and recognized  persons in BC. Towards the end of his contract he was only working two days per week as the station geared up to replace him with Chris Gailus. Much like the Jay Leno/ Conan O’Brien transition. The station was looking for a newer younger anchor.

Lo and behold on March 15/10  just short weeks after his so called retirement, viewers were excited to see him anchoring the 10:00 p.m news on employee owned CHEK-TV Victoria. He plans to become an investor.  CHEK has excellent cable coverage throughout BC. so now viewers were at peace again. They had their Tony back leading them through the days news as only he can. . Then on April 9/10 Tony was back in the news AGAIN when he showed up anchoring news on CBC-TV. Vancouver as well as CHEK.. Going head to head against Chris Gailus on BCTV/Global.  Now Tony was really in the news. The buzz around BC was incredible. Viewers who had gone South for the winter came back wondering if they were dreaming.  When they left Tony was on BCTV/Global. Now he’s on CHEK and CBC .

Over at BCTV/Global some may have felt it was more like a nightmare.  Tony explained it to me over a pleasant lunch at his Italian restaurant called  “ The Poor Italian“ .[don’t let the name fool you]

He and wife Tammy moved to her home town of Victoria when he signed with CHEK.  Tony planned to enjoy several years in semi retirement.

CHEK’s News Director Rob Germain feels this way about it.  “Dick, when it comes to news anchors. Tony is tops. His choosing to come to CHEK was amazing. A great endorsement of what we are doing at our newly independent employees’ owned station. Tony is still passionate about broadcasting“

To make matters even more interesting, enter the bright and creative Johnny Michel, Managing Director for CBC,BC If this were an old black & white  melodrama on TV you would see Johnny hunched over wearing a black cape and stove pipe hat while twisting a black handle bar moustache over the sounds of thunderous dramatic music.  Johnny had a plan, he had worked with Tony at BCTV/Global for seven years, he knew of Tony’s Italian heritage, so he made him an offer he could not refuse. Johnny’s offer was simple. Come to CBC-TV, anchor the 5:00-6:30 pm news with seasoned co- anchor Gloria Macarento head to head against Chris Gailus. In return Johnny would give Tony a sum of money, a two year contract with options, and  a talent share deal with CHEK.  “ Dick” Johnny told me “ I’m thrilled to be working with Tony again! Not only is he the most trusted face in local news, he is also one of the nicest people in the business. The entire CBC News Vancouver family and viewers have welcomed him with open arms. He felt right at home the minute he walked into our state of the art newsroom.”  
            
Now Tony  helicopter’s from Victoria at noon week-days to anchor CBC news in Vancouver , thirty minutes is simulcast on CHEK. He signs off, rushes to the airport and flies to Victoria to anchor the CHEK 10:00 p.m news.  Its rumoured his two deals earn him  $400,000 per year plus Global pension, OAP  and CPP.  [ he’s 71]  Tony would not confirm nor deny this figure, nor would he say what his plans are for the air miles he‘s piling up...

You have to live in BC to fully appreciate the respect and credibility Tony has. If he’d only wanted something to do he could become Premier of the Province for life and play golf every day.   To my knowledge there has never been a disparaging word said or written about Tony.

I have known him since the early 60’s when we worked together at CHML Hamilton.  Someone who has known him even longer is Warren Beck who told me “ Dick, three of us, Tony, Bryon Cox and I shared an apartment in the late 50’s while we all worked in news at CHML. We were all in our early 20’s.  Tony was the “ Class” of the three of us. He always dressed to the nines. used lots of hot water for showers, and despised a cluttered kitchen.  The superintendents wife had the ‘hots’ for him. So, when we wanted anything for our apartment we would send Tony to negotiate. His charm and extreme good looks always got us what we wanted including samples of her home cooking. Occasionally she even cleaned our apartment.” Then Warren told me some juicy scandal
“If one of us were: "entertaining” we had a rule that you left the balcony light “ on” that meant ..stay away.”

Hey,what can you expect, these guys were in their early 20’s.

Four years later Tony moved on to CHUM, Toronto, then CTV, then BCTV.. Warren remained at CHML where he retired as news director. He was enticed out of retirement by the late  Dick Buchanan owner of CKPC Brantford to head up news where he is today.

What is it with these news guys?? they retire, then go back to work full time somewhere else. go figure.

Not counting his three marriages, Tony has led a very uncomplicated life.  He love’s golf. met his present wife Tammy on a golf course. Plays guitar, enjoys a glass of wine and the occasional cigar.  His life is laid out in a very interesting best selling memoir released recently titled “ Tony Parsons, a life in the news” After knowing him for 50 years, and reading his memoir I feel the title could be:

               “ Teflon Tony, nothing sticks to him except success”
                                                            He is another Canadian Achiever.

Visit Dick Drews Website
Home of the 69Cent Dollar
http://www.dickdrew.com/]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:36:36 Voice Over http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1282064299/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1282064299/#num1 July/August 2010
RADIOWATCH

      
    by John Yerxa

This issue is about WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER addressing a major difference that exists between those who succeed and those who fail in today’s competitive business world.

I hope you enjoy our most recent edition…





           John Yerxa
              General Manager
              HOT 107
              Edmonton, Alberta
              Email John: john.yerxa@hot107.com

Website: http://www.hot107.ca/


here's a pdf link

http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/Yerxa/RADIOWATCH%20JULY&AUG2010.pdf



]]> Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:58:19 Voice Over http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1279388616/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1279388616/#num1 REMEMBERING VICTORIA'S BROADCASTERS
OF THE 1940's

by Bob Thompson (Pictured in 1948 )

(as written several years ago.. Many names included here have since left us, to join the big radio station in the sky.)

I came to Victoria from Saskatoon in March 1948 on the old Princess of Victoria, to join the announcing staff of CJVI. People who resided in Victoria in the 40's and 50's will recall most of the CJVI announcers on what was, at the time, Victoria's only radio station. They included Ted Reynolds (who was to become a senior sportscaster with the CBC covering several Olympics, Pan American and British Commonwealth Games) - Ida Bianco Clarkson (crowned the Queen of Victoria telelvision upon her retirement after more than 30 years at CHEK TV) - Laurie Dillabaugh ( a favorite with Victoria teenagers in the 1940's for his 900 Club program) - Doris Dillabaugh ( Laurie's sister and my wife of 54 years, who was the first female disc jockey on the Island with her 1950 program "Dillabaugh Delivers") - Bob Thompson ( the "Bob and Elsie" program) - Monty McFarlane (who moved on to become one of Vancouver's most popular morning hosts on CJOR) - Al Collins ( with a noon hour program titled "Piccadily Parade" featuring British entertainers) - Neil Nisbet (hosted " 'Mang the Heather " with a Scottish accent) - Rudy Hartman ( "Music Lovers Corner" which featured classical music). Rudy eventually became Manager of Vancouver's only ethnic radio station - Maurice Cownden and brother Walter Cownden (who left CJVI to become a popular broadcaster and CKDA executive for many years). Other staff announcers included Peter Barker and Terry Garner.  As people moved along, Myron Belagno and Al Keyworth joined the announce staff, before themselves moving on to stations in Vancouver and eventually to successful careers out of broadcasting.

In 1950 Bruce Lowther was hired as CJVI's first News Director.

Other on-air staffers with their own special programs were sales manager Lee Hallberg ("The Old Fisherman"), production manager Dick Batey, and salesman Ralph Pashley. Ralph's Sunday evening commentary, written by Dick Batey, was highly rated because he was either loved or hated. One of his admirers was Gorde Hunter, columnist for the Times/Colonist, who wrote "One Man's Opinion" for many years. In 1948 teenagers Hugh Curtis and Ray Orchard (students at Oak Bay High) had a Saturday morning program. Hugh eventually went into politics and became Reeve of Saanich and a few years later Minister of Finance for the Social Credit Government. Ray's career took him to Britain and the Netherlands.

Venerable Al Smith was featured at the piano for a number of years and always challenged the listeners to try and stump him with a title he couldn't play. It seems to me he was only got off guard one time  - which is remarkable. English organist Reg Stone also had a very popular program on CJVI for some time.

Fred Usher and Bob McGill, who were on the sales staff, were best known for their popular western band The Hometowners. For many years they played every Saturday evening at Shawnigan Lake, and also had a program on the CBC originating from the studios of CJVI. The band featured Fred on guitar, accordionist Al Denoni, Jeff Venables viloinist, Bill Botten on bass, Andy Anderson on piano, and singer Bob McGill.

When I retired from the provincial government I decided to get some of the old gang back for a monthly luncheon. We call it the Old Broadcasters Club ( the OBC network) and include retirees from local radio and television stations. I gave it six months - it started in 1991 and is still going strong. Of the names previously mentioned above OBC members include Rudy, Ida, Walter, Doris, and Ray. We are in our late 70's and early 80's. Other members include Ron Robinson of CJVI, CFMS, & CKXM; Andy Stephen, John Mackin and Fred Cole of CKDA; and Bob Aylward, remembered for his teenage dance party on CHEK TV.

A mainland contingent comes over each year for our Roadkill Barbecue at the Orchard's farm in Metchosin - they have included Ted Reynolds, Bob Switzer, Bill Dobson, and Stan Peters (CBC broadcasters), Bob Hutton (CKNW) and Jack Kyle (CJVI, CKWX, CKNW). The upisland group that joined us for the day has included John Barton (CHEK TV/CKDA), Phil Barter (CKDA), Keith McKenzie (CKDA) and John Ansell (CJVI/CKWX/CFAC).

Many tales are told about the early days in radio and television and we all had our share of spoonerisms - "For the breast in bed it's McGavins", or the weather forecast of "shattered scowers".

The following story is a classic. It involved Laurie Dillabaugh and the night he got locked out of the station, at one in the morning, in the middle of winter. In the 40's and early 50''s CJVI was on the roof of the Central Building, seven stories up. Building codes required that the old cage elevator have an operator and a lady named Rose performed that duty faithfully for years. However, she was not on duty on the weekends and that meant we had to climb 12 flights of stairs to the studio. If you signed off Saturday evening and your next shift was Sunday morning we were allowed to sleep on the chesterfield in the manager's office, which was particularly helpful in the winter months. Laurie had signed the station off at midnight and, before bedding down on the chesterfield, went out of the office, through the reception area and out of the station, to the restroom off the hall. To his consternation he found on his return that the door was locked. So there he was - locked out, wearing only jockey shorts, six floors up, on a bitterly cold January night. He had two options - wait until the nightwatchman showed up about 4 in the morning - or walk down the stairs and try his luck at the fire escape. He chose the latter. He walked out of the building into the snow on View Street, around the corner on Broad Street to Trounce Alley, jumped up and grabbed the last rung of the fire escape, climbed to the roof, opened the window of the music library, and went to bed in the office.

He was thankful that there weren't any pedestrians at that hour- and doubly thankful that a police car didn't happen to spot him. It would have taken a lot of explaining.

( Following his retirement Bob Thompson became a published author and freelance writer.  Also you may have seen his many Letters to the Editor in the Times-Colonist.)
]]> Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:43:36 mikedup http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1276102046/ http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1276102046/#num1 Ed Note: Any problems reading the provided copy, click on View on your browser, down to Zoom and adjust accordingly

June 2010
RADIOWATCH

      
    by John Yerxa

KAIZEN - a concept any entrepreneur or manager can use in order to maintain gradual improvement in their organization.



We’re also proud to highlight two new research studies indicating that approximately one-third of all 18-34 year-olds and one-quarter of all 18-44 year-olds in the Edmonton CMA now listen to HOT 107 on a weekly basis!



           John Yerxa
              General Manager
              HOT 107
              Edmonton, Alberta
              Email John: john.yerxa@hot107.com

Website: http://www.hot107.ca/



.]]> Wed, 9 Jun 2010 09:47:26 Sam