Posted 20 hours ago
by C. Scott Holland
Very few community-oriented radio stations across Canada have reunions, but Leamington's original station known first as CJSP and later CHYR, will hold their fourth annual reunion on Fri. Jan. 13, 2012 at Ray's Ribhouse 6:30 pm. Organizers Chuck Reynolds, and Bill Gay held the first reunion a few years ago with a handful of CJSP/CHYR alumni. That small group has steadily grown over the last two years as former employees of the radio station and Essex Cable TV which was started by the late media mogul Al Bruner, grew to an astounding number of 40 last year. Many more sent notices they would have liked to attend, but could make it because of travel distances. From part-time weekend staff to the regular djs, newscasters, salespeople and office staff gathered at last year's get-together – they represented all eras of both the radio and TV broadcasting eras. The station itself began in February 1955 after a small group invested in the station and got it going. Among the founders were George Whaley, Ross Bruner, Bob Clark, Lou Thomasi, Art Gadd and John Garton Plus a little known fact about the investment group is that then Leamington mayor Grace McFarland was a minority shareholder. The station's history itself is full of revered names including talk-show host Wayne McLean, Dick Hildebrand, Don Brown, Craig Cole, Percy Hatfield, Don Ambrose, Heidi Hotz, Mark Allen and Chuck Reynolds. Many others, including this writer, began their media careers there. During the 1950s up to the mid-1960s CJSP (Sun Parlour Radio) ran on air at 710 on the AM dial and from dawn until dusk. Newscasts were sponsored by Leamington's H. J. Heinz Company and for several decades the farm report and obituary announcements were prime parts of the station's noon hour news. Those newscasts centred mainly on local news and play an important role in the development of Leamington and the former Mersea Township. One of the station's longest-lasting features has been its Sunday ethnic programs. Those ethnic programs are the longest running in all of Canada and featured names like Alfio Golini, Herman Leuteritz, Gene Barna, Joanne Fillmore along with a host of religious programming and local church services done live from Leamington churches. In the summer of 1968, the station made a significant change. CJSP's call letters were changed to CHYR (Cheer Radio) while simultaneously it expanded its power to begin broadcasting into the night time. With that move came a split frequency signal – 710 during the daytime and 730 at night. Along the way, the station broadcast Argonaut football games, and in April 1980 after a long, battle with the Detroit Tigers organization, over the possibility of airing Toronto Blue Jays' games, CHYR began broadcasting the Jays baseball games. As station reps at the time commented to the Tigers, the broadcasts would only draw more interest to the sport instead of luring fans away. It was a huge benefit locally and those broadcasts were heard for many years except on Sundays when the station's ethnic programs took precedence. As music styles changed so did CHYR. By the 1990s, Mark and Dick were big draws with a successful morning show of music and news succeeding the immensely popular long run of Chuck Reynolds. Soon CHYR switched to 96.7 on the FM dial and began a country music format. Chuck Reynolds often recalls the big business takeover of the local station in 2000 as the"purge." Once again the music, faces and names changed as the station geared itself towards a younger audience. Briefly CJSP came back into existence as the station tried a new country format a few years ago. The two stations are now known as 96.7 Mix FM and 92.7 Max FM. From the airwaves to TV waves, Leamington's radio station has been an important part of Essex County for almost 60 years. Also, with Al Bruner and a young entrepreneur named Ted Rogers, Essex Cable TV was founded and became a pioneer cable TV outfit which operated out of Leamington. It served the Leamington-Kingsville area before Bruner started what eventually became Global TV. With the reunion, employees will relive the days of the golden age of rock and roll and Leamington and Essex County plus will have the chance to renew old friendships. Anyone who has been a part-time or full time employee of the station (radio or TV) and who would like to attend the reunion, please contact Chuck Reynolds at : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . for more info.. A History of Cheer Radio On Website Local fans who may be interested in CHYR's vibrant past can check our some of it on a website. Former CHYR personality Jerry Tobias (aka Jerry Walker) as put Together a Cheer Radio website. On it are photos and memorabilia relating to the station's heyday when it was considered the # 1 radio station in Essex County. The site is www.chyr7.com.
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