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Memories of Pickford, Royalty... Bruce Armstrong recalls highlights of radio days on retirement eve by Shirley Whittington A kiss from Mary Pick- ford - Opening a brand new radio station - Three days later, covering a Royal Tour - These are some highlights in Bruce Armstrong's 35 year Career in radio. Armstrong retires at the end of this month with a file of memories that yeppounds like a Who's Who j Canadian show business. Sandy Stewart has 'Shuster, The called him one of the best technicians in the business. He began in the control rooms at the CBC in 1942 and he's worked with all the greats Andrew Allan, Frank and Austin Willis, Wayne and Happy Gang, Lorne Greene, Elwood Glover, Giselle Mackenzie and Bernie Braden are just a few. Armstrong also served his time on the remote dance broadcasts from places like the old Palais Royale, with bands like Benny Luois, Bobby Gimby and Bert Niosi. Remembering those nights, Armstrong lowers his voice and does the remote announcer routine: "...overlooking beautiful Ashbridge's Bay, with the music of Joe Banana and his bunch..."' He's pretty good at vocal imitations - so good that his Charlie Farquarson impression once confused Gordon Sinclair. "Which one of is Charlie, anyway "?"' said the crusty old broadcasters once, in a meeting with Arm- from strong and Don Harron. every When big names came to Toronto for broadcast specials, Armstrong was the operator. Jack Benny brought his own technicians with him, but Armstrong was the stand- by. "'It was Jack Benny's birthday that night," says Armstrong. "He asked us all to the Royal York for a piece or birthday cake." Mary Pickford and_ going Raymond Massey were into t guests on a show called we Comrades in Arms. was?' could on the ingen doing door of his closet to reveal a full wall of postcards Boyle - one from spot the boss had visited. 'Why didn't you ask me where Mr. Boyle asked Dunn. 'I have told you.'"' Sound effects are on tape these days, but in the' old days they were made spot in some pretty LOUS= aWaysa, --. 1 remember once we were a show that called for the sound of a man overboard - splash - he water. Nothing did suited the producer. Finally, as a transfer to any other department." This was when he, and two other CBC em- ployees, Stan Tulk and Grant Forsythe, decided to open a new radio station. Why Midland? "We looked at a map of Ontario, and spotted this location as one that needed radio service." CKMP opened in 1959. Three days later, the Royal Tour was scheduled to pass through Midland. With equipment borrowed from CFRB, CKMP set up five remote locations in Midland and been actively involved in the family business. Bruce senior was manager for 18 years, and his wife Em wrote copy, managed traffic and secretarial duties as did daughter Arlene. Sons Jim, John, Bruce and Donnie all worked full or part time at CKMP. Now CKMP is part of Eastern _ Broadcasting. Bruce Sr. retires on February 28. His wife Emma, died early in January. Jim Armstrong is still at CKMP. John is in Victoria B.C. Bruce and Donnie are in Huntsville. "They had to leave alittle joke, the sound effects Penetanguishene, and early, recalls Armstrong, man brought his assistant provided live radio Bruce Armstrong says "and Mary went around into the studio, dressedin coverage of the whole every day of his life has thank everybody bathing trunks, and he _ event. been an education. '"'And Local Red Cross celebrates -- scctticrrt' second birthday Thursday by Shirley Whittington The Red Cross is two years old in the Huronia area. in our area, and plans are already under way for a water safety program which will centre on small blood Donor's Clinics in the past. The charter an- niversary, and the fund the console, both hands busy, so instead of shaking hands, she kissed me on the cheek."' A little CFB main- tenance man called Eddie Dunn figures in a lot of Armstrong's memories. in the "Once Harry Boyle, a top The CBC executive, went overseas for a few months stand had the guy jump into a tub of enough the thought that was perfect, so the poor guy had to water. Oddly producer around shivering in his wet trunks until the time came for the splash script." years at CBC were exciting and stimulating, but Bruce Armstrong felt Armstrong remembers his words as the Royal couple entrained at the end of the day. "'I said, 'There goes our beautiful Princess and her char- ming Prince! She looked up at me and smiled. I found out later that they carried a portable radio with them at all times, so she heard what I said, and retirement is like a graduation." Long range plans are not firm yet, although Bruce thinks he'd like to own a small business of his own. Immediate plans are very definite. The week after he leaves his manager's office at CKMP for the last time, Baw we" and nobody seemed to know where he was, or when he was coming back Armstrong is heading for Florida where _ he's planning a couple of golf he wanted to explore other aspects of radio broadcasting. "But by acknowledged it." Armstrong thinks that his is perhaps the only Since its inception in craft safety. raising blitz will form an February 1975, Midland, In order to help appropriate kick-off for ~R Bruce Armstrong at his desk Red Cross hopes to pe. eo ee a | THIS GREAT Pp ; ; see i ; tee Park Wee Nesh seveleo sfaa cipaanvais es as Be ee ~ which 'to the office. Much later, that time," he says, "I'd familyinCanadain which games with an old Victoria Harbour, healthy life styles, the © Eddie Dunn opened the priced myself out of a all seven members have _ friend, Earl Cameron. Elmvale and parts of Flos and 'Medonte have benefitted from solid and worthwhile programs carried out under the at better physical and mental health, nutrition, dental health, accident 9 familiar Red Cross prevention and \\| banner. awareness of _ health hi Jewe ers Homemakers, under hazards. Bee kk P. D urp the supervision of Isobel M4 . Jones, assume the care of a household when the person usually respon- sible for it is ill or unable to carry on. Such service has been provided to over 125 homes in the area, since the Huronia Red Cross began Homemaker's __ Service. The cheerful and efficient SALE ENDS FEB. 26 SHOP -D. Murphy ~ Jewellers Branch. People who are Hacker also hopes that lonely, infirm, han- the community will dicapped, bereaved or promote new avenues of beset with emotional or _ service. adjustment problems can Dave Tournour is the avail themselves of Campaign Chairman for friendly visits, from the Huronia Branch. The others who can support week of February 28- them through their March 5 has been set President-elect Fred i 2 Hacker has' several fe suggestions for those who would like to help the Huronia Branch of the Red Cross to continue their remarkable growth in service to our area. People are always needed to assist in various programs, and if you want to help, contact presence of ahomemaker Mary Theakston, at 549- has made illness easier to 2064. Existing programs bear in many homes. will work even better with . Mrs. Edna Stephens the support and en- heads up the Visitation couragement of everyone troubles, and provide aside for a door-to-door practical assistance, like blitz for funds in the transportation to needed Huronia area. The goal services. for 1977 is $4000. Money -- - Blood Donor Clinics are collected goes to further Sy CO ff NS one of the best known of the work of the local Red Cross activities. The branch, as well as for Midland Lion's Club, and provincial and __in- RCA have both sponsored _ ternational programs. such clinics, with the It's a worthy cause, and support of the Red Cross. one that has been around There's a constant need _ on the international scene for donors, and Mrs. since 1804. After just two Marion Galt is in charge _ years locally, the Huronia of this valuable life Branch has accomplished saving service. All blood a great deal. collected goes to Toronto, You can find out and is supplied to exactly what they've hospitals as needed. done, and what they are Service of the Huronia in the community. Youth services going to do by attending TOTAL CARAT WEIGH BRIDAL Shi 1/4 to 1 carat total weight SPECIALLY PRICED AT SS Si aE David Chambers is the their annual meeting - ----_-- = oy | newly elected chairman nd second birthday - on -- ED | of the Youth Services Thursday night, N SILVERPLAT , | | committee. He and his February 24, at 7:30 p.m. | group hope to bring the in the Windrifter BEA ya Red Cross into the _ restaurant. ( | | classrooms of the area to Robbert Hartog, BRIAN tk | make our young people Marian Galt, Eric ENICAR @ | aware of the scope of the Eisenberg, Nell Peever Swiss organization. Service and Gary Westgarth are ents TWO 77 18 INCH projects, fund raising the five founding mem- ; move™ STYLES TRAY and health education bers of the Ra OFF ce programs are someof the Branch, and they will be ideas under con- especially honoured CTE R BETTER QUALITY 199" sideration. during the evening. Alec pri RA M OR HE Reg. 230° SE 2 retired ad- all = L ------ - = s r Craig, ministrator of St. Andrew's Hospital, will be presented with a citation for his work in There are other Red Cross programs on the horizon. It's hoped that regular blood © donor Tea Sc MONEY'S WORTH AT THESE -- y LOW, LOW -- 16!( SALE PRICES clinics will be established MEN'S PEWTER Jewellery oy | each SILVER ~ CHESTS Oak Finish MEN'S INITIAL Jewellery "JOLYN™ Jeweller yy Selection -D. Murphy Jewellers 251 KING STREET, MIDLAND WHY WAIT USE YOUR CREDIT President-elect | Red Cross president-Elect Fred Hacker puts up one of many posters to be used by the Red Cross in its annual campaign which starts in Midland on Monday. ---- Wednesday, February 23, 1977, Page 5_