Rock Radio Scrapbook

AIRCHECK OF THE WEEK
For week of July 17, 2016
Edition #894

Now in both Real Audio and MP3

Where were you in '72?

The same question would soon be asked about 1962 in connection with the 1973 George Lucas film American Graffiti, but we're taking it a decade later, and focusing on the summer.

July, 1972. Details of the Watergate break-in were just beginning to emerge, but it would be a while before the full extent of President Nixon's involvement in what White House Press Secretary Ron Ziegler called a "third-rate burglary" would be known. Ultimately, Nixon would resign in disgrace in August, 1974 but not before winning the 1972 election over his newly-minted but overmatched Democratic challenger, George McGovern.

Controversy was brewing over Bobby Hull's exclusion from Team Canada, as it prepared to face the Soviet Union in the Summit Series (or as it is known in French La Série du Siècle - The Series of the Century). Despite strong public support in favour of his participation, Hull would not play, but Canada would win the series by the narrowest of margins in September.

Pierre Trudeau was Canada's prime minister; he would win the barest of minorities in a federal election that year but ultimately serve for some 16 years as Canada's leader. One political dynasty - that of Joey Smallwood in Newfoundland - ended earlier in 1972 and another - W.A.C. Bennett's 20-year reign as B.C. premier - would end later in the year. William Dennison was in his final months of a six-year run as Toronto mayor.

Locally, Godspell was beginning a smash run at the Royal Alexandria Theatre. The nuclear plant in nearby Pickering had recently opened. Toronto theatres were showing movies like The Godfather (in Technicolor and listed as "Adult Entertainment"), Clockwork Orange (now at "regular prices"), Dirty Harry, The French Connection and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. You could shop at now departed retailers like Shoppers Bazaar, Mr. Broadloom, Collegiate Sports and Woolco. You could still Ramble into Rumble to buy a car and - after safely parking it and putting away the keys - enjoy a Calgary Export. Sam the Record Man was advertising for franchise dealers and promising "exceptional potential."

Want a house? Homes in Bramalea were going for $26,500 "only a few left" and there was an ad for six-room house at Eglinton and Mount Pleasant in Toronto for $33,900 "with private drive." How about some air conditioning for your brand-new '72 Pinto, Maverick or Torino? Elgin on Bay was offering that for $199. And for $89.95 you could buy a "radio cassette" - complete with AM-FM radio and a microphone - at Kelly's Stereo Mart.

In July, 1972, the rock world was buzzing about the Rolling Stones tour. It stopped in 31 cities including three in Canada - Vancouver (June 3), Toronto (July 15) and Montreal (July 17). The Stones did two Toronto shows - at 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. - and a ticket could be had for just $4.95. Or - as mentioned in the Toronto Star - you could get one from a scalper for $40 to $65.

The Toronto Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup drought reached five years - their longest in over a decade - but for Leaf fans the misery was just beginning. The Munich Olympics - which would be marred by the murder of 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team - were a couple of months away. The Montreal Expos were in the middle of a season that would see them finish fifth in the National League East while the Oakland A's won their first of three consecutive World Series.

On television, the top-rated U.S. shows according to Nielson were All in the Family, The Flip Wilson Show, Marcus Welby, M.D. and Gunsmoke. Canada A.M. debuted on CTV in 1972 - the original co-hosts were Carole Taylor and Percy Saltzman - and Toronto would get a new station - CITY-TV (Channel 79) - in the fall.

CHUM was flying high in July of 1972, thanks to an all-star jock lineup. There was Jay Nelson with Dick Smyth news (5-9 a.m.), John Rode (9-11 a.m.), Roger Ashby (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) and Duke Roberts (3-6 p.m.). Also behind the CHUM mic were Terry Steele (6-9 p.m.), Scott Carpenter (9 p.m.-midnight) and Mark Edwards - a.k.a. Bob Magee - (midnight-5 a.m.). As for the tunes, here's a look at the CHUM Chart from July 15, 1972.

Thanks to Bob Seed (who originally recorded them) and Don Shuttleworth (who sent them to us) we have a nice collection of CHUM airchecks from July, 1972.
 

Hear Scott Carpenter on CHUM from July 12, 1972, Pt. 1 here. (30:53)

Hear Scott Carpenter on CHUM from July 12, 1972, Pt.1 here. (30:53)
 

Hear Scott Carpenter on CHUM from July 12, 1972, Pt. 2 here. (31:18)

Hear Scott Carpenter on CHUM from July 12, 1972, Pt. 2 here. (31:18)

Hear Jay Nelson on CHUM from July 14, 1972 here. (31:35)

Hear Jay Nelson on CHUM from July 14, 1972 here. (31:35)

Hear John Rode on CHUM from July 14, 1972 here. (31:39)

Hear John Rode on CHUM from July 14, 1972 here. (31:39)
 

Hear Roger Ashby on CHUM from July 16, 1972 here. (21:12)

Hear Roger Ashby on CHUM from July 16, 1972 here. (21:12)
 

Hear Duke Roberts from July 16, 1972 here. (21:50)

Hear Duke Roberts from July 16, 1972 here. (21:50) 
 

(The Bob Seed Collection)

* These airchecks were sent to Rock Radio Scrapbook by Don Shuttleworth

More 1975 airchecks here!