OUT OF THIN AIR

network which came via the Borden—Tormentine cable, and which, after it reached Borden, would have to be transmitted through the iron

telegraph wire of the Canadian National Telegraph.

After clearly stating his findings, Dad reasoned that for him to receive the broadcast directly from Drummondville he would not, in any way, be interfering with the committee’s planning and would not be . .causing an extension to the regular network.” To reinforce CFCY’s position, Mr. Justice Arsenault, the local Chairman, wired the central committee for its permission for CFCY to rebroadcast from Drummondville.

Commander Edwards, Director of the Radio Division of the Department of Transport, and Chairman of the Central Committee on Broadcasting, had had enough. Exasperated, he wired back to Justice Arsenault:

TELL THAT MAN ROGERS TO DO WHAT HE DAMN WELL PLEASES STOP

That was all Dad needed.

His company, the Royal Corps of Signals—“Roger’s Rangers” as it was known locally—was in summer camp at Charlottetown’s Victoria Park. He had technicians on hand ready and willing to gain new expe- rience. They assembled and installed the first public address system ever on Prince Edward Island. It consisted of some 12 powerful Magnavox speakers ranged around what was known as the “cricket field”. These faced the “grand stand” or bleachers constructed by the local committee.

When the big day arrived all the local speeches from the VIP rostrum were fed through the loudspeakers, and when the time came for the broadcast, a perfect reception was tuned in from Drummondville which was fed through the address system and through the Island on CFCY. Percival Price played “0 Canada” on the Peace Tower Carillon, and a choir of 1,000 school children sang. Of course, there were ; speeches by Prime Minister MacKenzie King, and the Leader of the 1 Opposition as well as other dignitaries. Throughout the entire proceed- ings there was nothing to mar the one hundred per cent perfect rebroad— ' cast. For his own satisfaction, Dad monitored the broadcast from

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