OUT OF THIN AIR

It was also very gratifying to Dad that two of the most prominent Maritime newspapers, The Halifax Herald and The Halifax Mail signed a long term contract as co-sponsors of CFCY’s popular program “The Outports”. This was an indication that perhaps the dust was settling between some of the newspaper editors and broadcasters.

Dad started “The Outports” program in 1933 to fill in an off—hour in radio—five to six in the evening. The early theme called “Memories” describes the program exactly:

“Memories, Memories, Tales of long ago...”

The old songs of the British Isles were played with a sprinking of comic songs. Everything from cowboy music to the bagpipes, whatever was requested. Moore & McLeod, one of Charlottetown’s leading department stores and the first sponsor of “The Outports” program received thousands of letters containing requests. The farmers loved it so much they put back milking time an hour earlier. Typical of the many fan letters that came in to this program is the following: “We milk an hour earlier and make five to six our supper and rest hour to enjoy the old-time favourite songs.” Eventually Art McDonald took over “The Outports” more and more at that time until he became synonymous with it. Later Ray Simmons ran the program for a period of 22 years. The amount of fan mail was so great from Eastern Canada and New England, that the Halifax Herald had to issue special pleas to fans not to write any more letters until the girls in their office had attended to all those already received.

In 1931 Dad had incorporated and the Island Radio Company had become the Island Radio Broadcasting Company Ltd. In the process of doing this he gave John Quincy Adams a share and listed him as one of the incorporators. From that moment on, John Quincy regarded him— self as the senior employee and a “member of the firm”. When Art McDonald arrived on the scene it was hate at first sight.

They each held their separate titles—-Art’s was Station Manager and Program Director: John Quincy’s was Chief Engineer. They squab— bled over who had the most authority, John Quincy believing he had because he had been there longer and owned a share. If one of them

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