Talent: J. MICHAEL WILSON
Station: CHUM Toronto
Date: June 9, 1970
Time: 51:50 (unscoped)
16:22 (scoped)

CHUM had a mouse long before personal computers came along, but this was the kind that eats cheese. And that particular "rodent" was all the creation of one CHUM's most entertaining jocks of the late '70s and early '70s, J. Michael Wilson.

Wilson had big shoes to fill when he arrived at CHUM in the afternoon drive shift in the fall of 1968. After all, he was replacing one of southern Ontario's most popular deejays, Bob McAdorey. But Wilson won 'em over with his corny jokes and his trusty sidekick, Rodney The Rodent, during his two-and-a-half-year stay at CHUM.
 

Hear J. Michael Wilson on CHUM (UNSCOPED) here.

Hear J. Michael Wilson on CHUM (UNSCOPED) here.

Hear J. Michael Wilson on CHUM (scoped) here. 

Hear J. Michael Wilson on CHUM (scoped) here.

(The Bill Dulmage Collection)


More 1970 airchecks here!

Talent: JOHN RODE
Station: Q-107 (CILQ-FM) Toronto
Date: May 22, 1977
Time: 59:15 (unscoped)
5:06 (scoped)


 

To be the first voice of Q-107, the Toronto FM station chose a jock better known for his success on the AM dial.

John Rode, whose long radio resume includes such biggies as WRKO Boston, WSAI Cincinnati, WDRC Hartford and WIBG Philadelphia, had already made his mark in Toronto radio when he arrived at Q-107 in the spring of 1977. Rode took over mornings at CKFH in 1969 and moved up the street to CHUM the next year. After a stop at CFUN Vancouver in 1973, and a return to CHUM, Rode arrived at Q-107 and was given the honour of launching the station which happened at 1:07 p.m. on May 22, 1977.

Rode was Q-107's original morning man, followed by Murray Smith in late mornings and program director Dave Charles in early afternoons. Then it was John Donabie in afternoon drive, Mary-Anne Carpentier in evenings and Scott Marwood on the all-night show.

Officially, the first song played was Deodato's Also Sprach Zarathustra. That was followed by Murray McLachlan's "Hard Rock Town." These songs are not included on this aircheck.

Enjoy John Rode and the launch of Q-107 (UNSCOPED) here.

Enjoy John Rode and the launch of Q-107 (UNSCOPED) here.
 

Enjoy John Rode and the launch of Q-107 (scoped) here.

Enjoy John Rode and the launch of Q-107 (scoped) here.
 

(The Bill Dulmage Collection)


More 1977 airchecks here!