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Recollections of CKUA

by Dr. Edward Jordan

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That evening, everything went well (that is, there were no calls to the station during or after the dinner hour). But, next morning, word came down that the boss, Mr. E A. Corbett, had listened to the program and immediately issued orders that henceforth, for the duration of the vacation period, the record selection would be made by Miss Montgomery, long-time librarian for the Extension Division. Even now years later, I cannot help but feel that that evening's program was one of the best Dinner Hours of Music ever aired over CKUA.

The First, British Empire Round-the-World Christmas Day Radio Broadcast

In December of 1928 (or perhaps it was 1929), it became known that the British Broadcasting Corporation was going to put on the first, Christmas Day round-the-world broadcast, with segments originating in different parts of the British Empire. As a member of the CNR radio network, CKUA would air this special in Edmonton. The broadcast would begin in London with Christmas Day greetings from the King and Queen, followed by a musical program, after which the segments would follow from Montreal, Vancouver, and then other different parts of the British Empire.

Because of the time difference, the program opened in Edmonton at 6:00a.m., which meant someone had to get up at 4:30a.m. to arrive at the studio in time to check out the circuits and equipment. Mr. Brown asked me if I would handle the assignment, including the opening and sign-off announcements. I accepted with alacrity, as I was most pleased to be allowed to participate in this historic event. It was a thrill indeed, to be on the line to hear the London engineer checking the circuits with "Hello Montreal? Are you there, Montreal?", and to hear Montreal respond. When the time cam be I opened In Edmonton with the CKUA announcement, switched lies through to the station, and monitored the two-hour program, which proceeded without a hitch. At the end of the program, BBC signed off, then Montreal signed off, and finally yours truly signed off for CKUA, the radio station of the University of Alberta. It was an experience I would never forget.

When l returned home, I learned that my mother and dad had sat up in bed listening to the program on the radio set I had made. Mother told me that when Dad heard me make the final sign-off announcement, he stood up in bed with arms above his head and shouted, "That's my boy!"

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