Rock Radio Scrapbook

AIRCHECK OF THE WEEK
For week of November 7, 2010
Weekly issue #604

Talent: DAN INGRAM
Station: WABC New York
Date: November 9, 1965
Time: 8:22

"That's Lazy River ... in the key of R"

Remember the night the lights went out?

It was November 9, 1965. Thanks to a faulty relay near Queenston, Ont., more than 30 million people in several northeastern U.S. states plus the province of Ontario were plunged into darkness for several hours. The power began to go off at 5:16 p.m. and before long about 80,000 square miles were without electricity. Trains stopped between stations, theatres closed and stranded travellers slept in hotel lobbies. In New York, Times Square went completely dark, an unusual sight for "The Great White Way."

The beginning of the blackout is captured on this fascinating aircheck of Dan Ingram's afternoon WABC show. The 'check begins with Jonathan King's "Everyone's Gone to the Moon," which is starting to play very, very slowly. Ingram notices and demonstrates the quick wit and timing that made him a radio legend. At that moment, nobody knew what was happening but it's obvious something is wrong. The newscast that ends this aircheck makes no mention of the problem but it quickly became one of the biggest stories of the year.

Hear Dan Ingram on WABC during the Great Northeast Blackout here.

(Scrapbook archives)

More 1965 airchecks here!

Talent: MAL FARIS
Station: CKFH Toronto
Date: June 30, 1979
Time: 1:52

(Picture courtesy John Martin)

He loved to jock, and worked in every province from Quebec to Saskatchewan.

Mal Faris may be best known for his time at Toronto's CKFH, where he was for most of the '70s and into the early '80s. Part of that time was spent in mornings, and where we had the pleasure of meeting him, in the winter of 1974-75 during our time as a young op.

Prior CKFH, Faris was at CKGM Montreal, CKRC Winnipeg, CKXL Calgary and CHIC Brampton, Ont. The native of Balcarres, Sask., also jocked in his home province at CKRM Regina, CHOM Saskatoon, CHAB Moose Jaw and Regina Internet station K-HIT. In addition, Faris was the voice person on STV Regina (now Global Regina) and had a music career writing songs and singing in bars.

 Faris died October 5, 2010 in Regina after a long illness. He was 67.

Enjoy Faris on CKFH here.

(The Bill Dulmage Collection)

More 1979 airchecks here!

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