Rock Radio Scrapbook

AIRCHECK OF THE WEEK
For week of July 27, 2014
Edition #794

Subject: CANADIAN GRAFFITI with SCOTT CARPENTER
Station: CHUM Toronto
Date: August 24, 1975
Time: 43:54 (unscoped)
12:44 (scoped)

Nostalgia was in following the release of American Graffiti in 1973, and CHUM got in on the fun with Canadian Graffiti. The '50s and '60s music came alive along with the jock talk and the jingles of the era on CHUM every Sunday night from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Scott Carpenter normally hosted the program - ably emulating the style of a '50s-'60s deejay - but now and then Wolfman Jack would do a show (CHUM jocks Terry Steele and Jim Van Horne were also heard as fill-ins). Much effort was made to bring back the fun of '50s-'60s radio in the show, which debuted in early 1974 and continued until at least 1976. According to Carpenter (Pat Bergin), it was estimated that 60 per cent of radios in use in Toronto on Sunday nights tuned into Canadian Graffiti. Which brings us to the story of "The Big Honk."

To promote the show, the station organized the "CHUM Annual Graffiti Parade and Greasers Ball." Listeners gathered at a mall in the north part of the city and drove their vintage '50s and '60s cars down the city's main street - Yonge Street - to city hall. The day ended with a concert by Freddie Cannon and other period acts and was attended by more than 50,000 people.

This show from August 1975 includes an appearance by Terry Steele talking about Mike Cooper, who was in the midst of a world record of 21 days, 10 hours and 10 minutes on a Ferris wheel. You'll also hear commercials for two brands that were really big in Toronto back in the day, Steak n' Burger and H. Salt Fish and Chips.

Enjoy Scott Carpenter with Canadian Graffiti here. (unscoped)

Enjoy Scott Carpenter with Canadian Graffiti here. (scoped)

(The Joe Evelius Collection)

More 1975 airchecks here!