Rock Radio Scrapbook

AIRCHECK OF THE WEEK
For week of April 19, 2015
Edition #831

Talent: JIM VAN HORNE
Station: CHUM Toronto
Date: April 19, 1974
Time: 1:00:18 (unscoped)

(Doug Thompson/The CHUM Archives)

Jim Van Horne was a jock in more ways than one.

The Toronto-born broadcaster was a Top 40 jock on CHUM from 1972 to 1980 after coming to the station from CKMP Midland, Ont. Billboard named Van Horne Disc Jockey of the Year in 1972 - the only time a Canadian jock has ever won the honour.

After CHUM, Van Horne became a sports jock. He hosted the late-night sportscast on CFAC from 1980 to 1984, while also hosting the Calgary Flames NHL broadcasts. In 1984 he moved to the sports anchor seat at TSN, which had just launched programming as Canada's first national all-sports television network. Van Horne covered many sports at TSN, including NHL hockey, golf, bowling, skiing, boxing, tennis, swimming and equestrian.

Van Horne left TSN in 2001 to return to CHUM, which had just launched an all-sports format as The Team. After that format was cancelled in 2002, he returned to sports anchoring at TSN rival Sportsnet.

Van Horne, who has broadcast from four Olympics, is currently television co-ordinator at the College of Sports Media. He also hosts Champions of Conservation and Nature Bites on the Oasis HD channel and provides described video for the Toronto Blue Jays for AMI TV, which provides general entertainment programming for the visually or hearing impaired.

This aircheck of Jim Van Horne was sent to us by Rick Murray Hunter, who was operating his last show at CHUM before heading to the air chair at CKWS Kingston. Hunter later jocked at CFTR Toronto, The Oldies Channel, WOMC Detroit and WRBQ-FM Tampa. He left CBS radio in 2014 to produce his music blog Hunter's House of the Hits. Thanks Rick, and kudos also to Doug Thompson who digitized this aircheck.

Enjoy Jim Van Horne on CHUM (UNSCOPED) here.

(Doug Thompson/The CHUM Archives)

(The Rick Murray Hunter Collection (digitized by Doug Thompson)

More 1974 airchecks here!