Sky Studio, page 2
S K Y S T U D I O
Recalling those who contributed to Sault Ste. Marie broadcasting…
We remember one, we remember them all.
Issue # 97 January 13, 2023; previous issue dated December 5, 2022
This edition of Sky Studio is dedicated to Frank DelBosco
who joined former colleagues in Sky Studio January 10, 2023
Frank DelBosco joined Sky Studio in his 86th year.
He’ll be recalled as a gentle person, always with a smile and a laugh. Those who worked with him will remember his quiet efficiency and determined work ethic. Frank made cablevision a viable business and a popular service in Sault Ste. Marie and grew its community channel as part of the package with legendary creative staffers such as Albert Jones and Bert Luciani among others, who brought their vast background in broadcast television from CJIC.
Frank was General Manager of Lake Superior Cablevision, originally created and owned by Hyland Radio and Television with offices on Queen Street that now house the Community Development Corporation. Cable television started in Sault Ste. Marie with Redifusion in the early 1960s that became Continental Cablevision offering the city’s first community television channel that featured Jane Richards interviewing those involved in community events and causes. Frank was there from beginning overseeing the administration, technical aspects and programming.
It wasn’t easy getting customers in the early days, as Frank said himself in a 2014 story by former Hyland Radio and Television’s Craig Huckerby in a SaultOnline story (link below). Frank called it a “hard sell” and door to door sales personnel were needed to convince potential subscribers paying for television was worth it. Frank even hosted a weekly show in Italian, “Profilo Italiniano” for several years on the Community Channel.
Patty Page says Frank was wonderful to work with and for during the 20-some years they were in cablevision together. Patty came to Lake Superior Cable from the Hyland Radio and Television switchboard starting in a clerical role and then becoming Office Manager, continuing on through the various ownership changes from Hyland to Maclean Hunter, then to Rogers (for one day) and then to Shaw. Patty and Frank worked together on plans for the building and relocation of operations from Queen Street to Manitou Park. Employment ended for office staff when the local office was closed by Shaw around 1995.
“Through all that time, different companies and staff, Frank always tried to make the operation a great place to come to work,” she recalls.
Diagnosed in 2016 with dementia, Frank and his family were supporters of and participants in fundraising efforts for the Alzheimer’s organization (see story link and photos below from 2018).
.....
Background story on Frank and support for Alzheimer Society, 2018:
Walk For Alzheimer's 'hits close to home' for local family - Sault Ste. Marie News (sootoday.com)
On local cable community channels, 2014:
These Guys Make Your Local TV | SaultOnline.com
Special Announcements:
DELBOSCO, Gianfranco 'Frank' - Obituary - Sault Ste. Marie - Sault Ste. Marie News (sootoday.com)
Obituary of Gianfranco DelBosco | Northwood Funeral Home Cremation...
(Names of two others who worked in cablevision came to attention while compiling this item on Frank. Eva Aileen Smith worked with Redifusion, Continental Cablevision and later Lake Superior Cablevision and would have worked with Frank. She passed away in 2005 at age 84 and is now also entered on our Sky Studio list. Eva Aileen SMITH - Obituary - Sault Ste. Marie - Sault Ste. Marie News (sootoday.com) And, Joan Collins who also worked in cablevision and recently passed away December 2022 at age 96 in Toronto is also now acknowledged on Sky Studio’s honour roll. Obituary | Joan Mary Margaret Collins | Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home
S K Y S T U D I O
Recalling those who contributed to Sault Ste. Marie broadcasting…
We remember one, we remember them all.
SCOTT ALEXANDER (DARBISHIRE)
FRAN ARONSON
AUDREY ASHTHORPE
JOHN BAIRD
SUE BARBER
LOU BARNES
WILLIAM BARROW
JOHN BELL
MIKE BELEC
WILF BELEC
AL BESTALL
CLARE BESTALL
HERB BENNETT
NELLIE BLACK
NORM BLAKELY
BOB BLAIR
RAY BOUCHER
RAYMOND ‘BUTCH’ BOUCHER
JOE BOYLE
ANGELO ‘SKEETS’ BRAIDO
MINA BROWN
JOHN DAVID CAMERON (RALPH GLASSFORD)
JOHN CAMPBELL
DAVE CARTER (CARTNER)
TONY CHIPMAN
ART CHRISTMAS
GERRY CLIFFORD
PEGGI MCNEIL CLIPPERTON
JOAN COLLINS
STAN CORBETT
BILL COWLING
CHRIS COYLE
FRANK DELBOSCO
TONY DERESTI
MITCH DROLET
BILL ELGIE SR.
JOSEF ERSCHEN
DR. ROBERT EWING
JOANNE FARKAS
MAUREEN FOCKLER
FERN FORTIN (McDERMOTT)
HOMER FOSTER
JIM FRANZ
JAMES ‘JIMMY’ FULLER
EVY FULLERTON
DANNY GALLIVAN
FRANK GARDI
DON GIBSON
BOB GILRAY
CARMEN GRECO
DOUG GRECO
BARB GRIFFIN
BILL HAIGHT
RAY HAINES
JOHN HAMPTON
GORDON ALLAN HILL
HELEN DORIS HILLSTROM (PAVELICH)
DAVE HOLLINGS
PAULA HUCKSON
EILEEN HYLAND
GRANT HYLAND
DAVE IRWIN
TOM ILEY
LARRY JACKLIN
WANDA JACKSON
MARG JANES
BOB JENKINS
ALBERT JONES
SALLY JONES
GEORGE JONESCU
EDWARD (BUDD) KENT
BILL KERNAGHAN
JERRY KLOSS
RAY KOIVISTO
MARCEL LACOSSE
CAROL LENOARD
PAUL LENOARD
BERT LUCIANI
JERRY MACDERMID
BOB MACDONALD
NORM MACDONALD
MURRAY MACGILLIVARY
GEWEN MALLORY
MICHAEL MAHN
ANDY MANTHA
GINO MARCON
PHIL MAKI
TARZ MASCARDELLI
LIONEL MCAULEY
MAC MCCURDY
DAVE MCDOUGALL
JUDY MCDOUGALL
RAY MCGEE
SANDY MCPHERSON
DANIEL MEADOWS
JOHN MEADOWS
MR. JUSTICE PAUL H. MEGGINSON
MARLENE MERVYN
LARRY MICHAELS (MANDZIUK)
HELEN MILLEN
ALEX MITCHELL
ALF MITCHELL
BEVERLEY MOONEY
PAUL MORRIS
LOIS NYLANDER
BARB NOVICK
HELEN O’CONNOR
LOUISE O’NEILL
FRANK PARSONS
DAVE PATTERSON
DICK PEPLOW
JIM PHILLIPS
STEVE RAY (PINE)
PETER RAY (RAKOBOWCHUK)
BABS PITT
GRACE PITT
SAM PITT
STAN PRATT
RITA PURDY
BOB QUINN
DON RAMSAY
LOVERNA RAMSAY
MARG RAMSAY
RON RAMSAY
RUSS RAMSAY
RANDY RAVLICH
JOHN RHODES
JANE RICHARDS
DIANE ROGERS (PEPLOW)
GEORGE ROY
BARRY SARAZIN
KARL SEPKOWSKI
CALVIN SHAULE
DON SIMS
BRUCE SMITH
EVA AILEEN SMITH
ALFIO SPADONI
WAYNE TURNER
FERN VALOIS
EB VANCE
STEPHEN WEST
WARREN WEST
NEIL WHERLEY
JACK WHITBY
SYD WILLIAMS
CARL WILSON
JOHN WISHART
HARRY WOLFE
FRED ZIMMERMAN
Any additions, errors, omissions are regretted.... send information to art@artosborne.com
Issue # 96 December 5, 2022; previous issue dated Septermber 17, 2022
This edition of Sky Studio is dedicated to Joanne Farkas
who joined former colleagues in Sky Studio November 29, 2022
Joanne Farkas joined Sky Studio friends November 29, 2022 at age 80.
Her smile resonated through any room she was in and her brightness was always uplifting during her time with Algonquin Radio and TV on Queen Street and later at Huron Broadcasting on East Street, and always during her many involvements with and contributions to community events and causes.
“Generous, kind, left a large footprint, humour, humble,” are a few of the several kind descriptors left by many in their memory and condolences comments.
In the 1970s with CKCY AM and FM she was script writer and Traffic Manager. Colleague at that time, Russ Hilderley reflects that, “Sky Studio has a feisty entrant. She was an assertive, outspoken young woman in the sales department of CKCY's 1960 -70 era. Full of ideas and perhaps with so much energy, she had to try TV production. Joanne was her own supervisor and did it with gravitas.”
Helen Petrolo remembers moving into Joanne’s script writer role in 1971 and got the clunky Remington typewriter that came with the job. Helen recalls Joanne had not been able to get the station to acquire a new typewriter and so, ever always the one to get things done that needed doing, Joanne tossed the old one down the stairs. A new typewriter was quickly purchased.
During her time in television she was involved with television productions and commercial campaigns being part of a team that was awarded four national CanPro TV Awards for Excellence.
Colleague at that time, Wendy Hamilton recalls, "I never worked at the station with Joanne but I knew her work. Jo was a hero to me. A woman in broadcasting who was able to churn out quality tv scripts and keep up with the boys. She was a great writer. We became friends when she joined Cathy Shunock, Madge Sanderson and myself in the formation of the Oral History of Sault Ste. Marie back in 2011. Jo made a working lunch a whole lot of fun - I’m grateful for those times together."
Joanne also had great fun with long time friends Dianna Malysh, Shirley Real and Mari Eagle-Nichols who recalls Joanne would always say, “Let's do lunch! We did and sometimes even ate! Once at the then Holiday Inn here, we visited so much the staff told us lunch was over so, we continued on and did dinner!”
One always felt happier after an encounter with Joanne Farkas and that’s one memory all who knew her will share.
Special Announcements:
FARKAS, Joanne Margaret - Obituary - Sault Ste. Marie - Sault Ste. Marie News (sootoday.com)
Joanne Farkas Obituary - Sault Ste. Marie, ON (dignitymemorial.com)
1970s staff listing
Issue # 95 September 22, 2022; previous issue dated June 4, 2022
This edition of Sky Studio is dedicated to Dave Patterson
who joined former colleagues in Sky Studio, September 17, 2022
Long time country music supporter and media staffer Dave Patterson joined colleagues in Sky Studio September 17, 2022.
Dave is known and recognized by many across Northern Ontario and elsewhere for his long serving and dedicated role in creating and maintaining The Northern Ontario Country Music Association (NOCMA) as well as his time meeting clients’ advertising needs while with Sault This Week as well as serving clients and listeners while in radio. His online profile includes his 1976 through 1994 work association with Gilby Canada.
From the Northern Ontario Country Music Association website:
“Back in the 1960s Grace Kozak, a local well-known performer and promoter, started using the term "The Great Northern Opry" in her music shows, but she did not register that name.
“The organization that gave birth to the country music effort in Sault Ste. Marie, was the original Country Club and was created by the efforts of Al Mooney, George Pinder and Carol and Dave Patterson in 1989. From that, The Sault Ste. Marie and District Country Music Hall of Fame was formed back in 1991, by those same founders, with Don Ramsay as the first inductee.
“In 2000, the original Country Club was replaced by The Northern Ontario Country Music Association (NOCMA) and the Sault Ste. Marie and District Country Music Hall of Fame was replaced by The Northern Ontario Country Music Hall of Fame with Carol & Dave Patterson, as founders registering both the new names. The Great Northern Opry, registered by the Patterson's in 1993 remained intact, but now with country talent being inducted from across Northern Ontario.” Northern Ontario Country Music Association :: History (nocma.ca)
Dave was with FM 100.5 in the early 1980s and later at Q 104. He also spent many years at Sault This Week in sales.
Former broadcaster and sales representative for radio/television and later print, John Chambers says, “Dave and I were friends and working acquaintances for close to 30 years. He was very friendly and would go out of his way for anybody. I’ll miss him.”
“Very good memories working with Dave in formation years of the Country Club,” recalls colleague and former broadcaster Bruce Krause. “His enthusiasm benefited his organization and Q104 at the time as well. Condolences to his family. His legacy will continue.”
Musician Ric Datson commented, “He helped keep country music alive for Northern Ontario over these 30 plus years and we appreciate all you've done. I have been honored to be the drummer for most of the shows since day one, with the induction of Don Ramsay into the Hall of Fame, doing all the singing contests for the Country Club with New Country, the great Northern Ontario Tour with the Texas Street Band, and backing up countless performers with Mike Case & White Stallion. Rest In Peace and thank you Dave for your love of country music. You will be missed."
Deb Kaye, a Sault Ste. Marie recording and performing star internationally was inducted into the Northern Ontario Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005.On her Facebook she posted, "I am so sad to hear of the passing of one of the most tenacious men I have ever known..He lifted the country music scene of Sault Ste. Marie into the atmosphere. Against all odds and nay sayers, he managed to create a way to honour and celebrate the many talented artists in our city in ways that we never dreamed possible. Dave Patterson! He was made of country music right down to his boots.Thank you sir for your commitment to us and to the music of Ontario. My heart goes out to his whole family. There are no words that soothe at this time. We are here ... standing by you."
Dave left us as he was dancing to and enjoying country music at a Saturday matinee event.
(Thanks to James Warner-Smith for efforts in the Messenger Group, source for some of the recollections included in the above.)
Tribute story by Brian Kelly, Sault Star:
https://saultstar.com/entertainment/local-arts/patterson-recognized-northern-country-talent
From ShawTV, 2017 a video with Dave, Al Mooney and George Pinder.... Northern Ontario Country Music Association - YouTube
Special announcements:
https://www.sootoday.com/obituaries/patterson-william-david-dave-5841646
William Patterson Obituary - Sault Ste. Marie, ON (dignitymemorial.com)
Issue # 94 June 20,2022; previous issue dated January 27, 2021
This edition of Sky Studio is dedicated to Judy McDougall
who joined former colleagues in Sky Studio, June 4, 2022
Many kind and generous words of praise have been offered about Judy McDougall as she joined colleagues in Sky Studio June 4, 2022.
Common themes from those who worked with Judy surround her welcoming, supportive nature and ability to do many functions at the radio station, always pitching in when needed.
Johannes (Hans) Geenen recalled, “So sad...I worked with Judy a number of years... just first class all the way...Terry McPhee and I were heavily involved with the Musical Comedy Guild while employed at CFYN..we needed a seamstress for one of the shows..Funny Girl..Judy said she would help out and ultimately took on the whole task with help..what a trooper...always willing to pitch in...she'll be missed. R.I.P. Jude....”
Mike Beckwith worked at CFYN/CHAS 1977-78 and says, “I was only 17 and she made me feel welcome, she handed out the cheques… she always was dressed nice and had a smile on! We had good talks and the Friday handing out of cheques blossomed into a half hour talk.......I will miss her.”
Scott Witty remembers her in the front office, “… always smiling and dressed to a tee. I believe her role was in traffic and in advertising. I was so young and working evening and weekends.“
Darryl Adams, still in broadcasting now in Cornwall, remembers Judy as fun to be around, “… seeing her bright smile when I walked up the stairs to the radio station on Queen Street. She was a gem and her memories of her kindness and laughter will remain in our hearts. Amazing lady. Rest In Peace Judy!”
John Chambers says, “So enjoyed working with Judy at CFYN, and all those wonderful summer bbq parties with the gang, out at the famous Goulais Bay camp, all those years ago! A true dyed in the wool, Orange and Blue Detroit Tiger's fan, Judy was a kind, funny and talented woman, who will be missed.”
“Tracey, your mom was great to work with,” says Liz (Baia) Boyle, adding: “Beautiful, strong, woman who was full of life. Hard worker but always had a sense of humor. Loved hearing her banter with Dave Macdonald over his Cleveland Indians. Don't tick her off or she'd have a few choice words for you especially if you brought in a commercial order last minute...right George and John? Her favorite place to be was Goulais. Judy loved to be at camp on her days off. Work just happened to get in the way. We had the pleasure of spending a weekend at camp to relax and enjoy camaraderie while having a few bevy and playing horseshoes. Highlight was good ol' Bob Wood wearing his "Real Thing" pants. A lot of great people worked together during our Gilder days, and Judy always made it a fun place to work.”
Vancouver CTV weathercaster and host, Marke Driesschen recalls, “Not only was CFYN my first job in radio, it was my first venture out into the world on my own. I'd left my home in suburban Toronto in the summer of 1979 to pursue my dream of working in radio. Sure, I was excited but there were also times of doubt, stress and loneliness in adopting to a new life in e new place. Judy was a warm, welcoming presence who helped you find your way around, make sure you did your paperwork so you could get you paycheck (which was pretty small, back then!) and keep you grounded and focused when you needed it. She was the den mother to all of us wayward radio orphans trying to make sense of this strange business we chose. Because of her kindness and caring, we all chose wisely. She helped make my first year in the business one of the best. Thank you, Judy.”
“Was saddened to learn of Judy's passing, says Dave Webb. “She was great to work with. My heartfelt condolences to the family. Rest in peace Judy. ❤⚘”
Special Announcements:
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/sault-ste-marie-on/judith-mcdougall-10778660/amp
https://www.sootoday.com/obituaries/mcdougall-judith-anne-5448691
(Thanks to James Warner-Smith for starting a ‘Judy Tribute’ Messenger group, source for much of the above.)
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