Art Osborne and Sault/Area Broadcast History
Radio and television in Sault Ste. Marie is been documented here, from the sign on of AM Stations WSOO, CJIC, CJWA, CKNR, CJNR, CKCY and CFYN and FM Stations CJIC, CKCY, Q-104, CHAS-FM, CJIC-TV and CHBX-TV and more through the 1970s, our own Golden Age of broadcasting and beyond. Stories, photos and sound files coming soon.. .stay tuned!!
History links include...
(some not active as content is being transcribed/archived)
Remember CKSO Radio, Sudbury? Here's what those folks are doing to recall their history CKSO
From CJIC AM Control Room board, internal telephone extension list
Three names from the list above have an Oral History (2021) video interview accessible here. Look for Ken MacDougall, Ruby Newell and Karl Sepkowski.
Some of the Art Osborne broadcast files here… while my files are limited, hoping photos/stories of others can be added here as material becomes available and/or, maybe on a dedicated Facebook page should be created for ease of submitting content?
Above, Art Osborne in early 1970s at CFCH 600 radio in North Bay, ON. The same style McCurdy-Gerard control board was used in CJIC AM control, shown below along with CJIC 1050 TOP 50 music charts
The studios/offices address stayed the same but, in 1977 the stations changed when ownerships and companies changed. History link - CJIC CFYN - at top explains.
With Art Osborne far left and Lou Turco middle right are lead guitarist and vocalist Rich Dodson, bassist Ronnie King (deceased March 2024) and drummer Kim Berly, November 1975. Sampeders background The Stampeders - Wikipedia
Early 1970s at Queen Street CKCY studios, Art Osborne (on phone) in newsroom with colleague Kevin Trudell.
Below, with CJIC morning show host/Music Director, Lou Turco and Wolfman Jack during a fundraising Telethon on CJIC-TV early 1970s.
TeenTime Radio Show on CJIC in Sault Saint Marie, CANADA
TeenTime (CJIC - Sault Ste. Marie, CANADA 1954)
The role of broadcasting in the history of the Rotary Parade
Art Osborne - commenting on media’s role over 100 Years of Rotary Community Day Parades
Rita - “The girl with the beat” was the last living connection to the beginning of the broadcast era in this area. She performed in the original studios of CJIC radio at the then Windsor Hotel.
Below from Facebook ‘Celebrating The Sault’ July 2025
A popular former Sault magazine featured Russ Ramsay on its first issue. Russ was General Manager, Hyland Radio and Television and later Vice-President, Huron Broadcasting and was well-known as a sportscaster and for his many city involvements, support of community causes and provinical political career.
Cover photo below posted in Sault Memories https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AmjmL8Z4K/
From Shaw TV - Sault Museum video production
The Fockler Files
Longtime radio station personality, manager and station owner during the 1970s-1980s in Sault Ste. Marie, Paul Fockler compiled many photos, stories and history of Sault and area broadcasting and provided them for use on this website. This first entry is an overview about the legendary country music performer, promoter and one time Mr. USA DJ, Don Ramsay...
Click the Don Ramsay profile and celebration picture below to view the PDF file or click here
A tribute to Don from daughter Donna, husband LeRoy Anderson and Whisky Jack band, June 2025 performing in Sault Ste. Marie …
The second episode in the Fockler Files features an inside look at a social gathering held at the station manager’s home, Russ Ramsay, who hosted then CBC National Television personalities Fred Davis and Lloyd Robertson….
https://www.artosborne.com/s/FRED-DAVIS-LLOYD-ROBERTSON.pdf
(subsequent to posting, a ‘top right photo’ in the attached document with ‘unknown’ is identified as Sheila Sepkowski)
Background on Fred and Lloyd:
Fred Davis (1921-1996) – The History of Canadian Broadcasting
Stay tuned for more epsisodes from
The Fockler Files
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan AM station WSOO marked it’s 85th year of service in 2025 …..
Mark SanAngelo, Operations Manager for Sovereign Communications and morning host on Oldies 93 as well as on 1230 WSOO, 10A-3PM on Rock 101.
Mark hosted an interview with Tom and Bernie June 25, 2025 on some of the history of WSOO.
Tom Ewing now retired was the vice president and general manager of Sovereign Communications, which owns and operates 15 radio stations across the Upper Peninsula, including WSOO, where he started at age 16.
Bernie Arbic is a Lake Superior State University professor emeritus and active historian with the Chippewa County Historical Society.
Art Osborne’s 1930s RCA Victor Globe Trotter multi-band table top (called a ‘portable’) radio showing preset station selections including WSOO, CJIC and CKAC (the latter a French language radio station still onair in Montreal, Quebec that signed on in October 1922; CKAC - Wikipedia )
Some household(s) in the city/area listened to early days radio on this RCA Victor that still works! It was used as a prop on stage by the Sault and Area Old Time Radio Players.
Here’s Digital Museums Radio at Home in Canada….. it’s structured into ‘chapters’ of radio broadcasting evolution including some historic audio clips… https://www.communitystories.ca/v2/radio-chez-nous-canada_radio-at-home/
