It Happened In Windsor - CKLW Behind the Scenes 1960's

[@giovanni5063]

I was born and raised in South Detroit AKA Windsor. CKLW was 50000 watts of booming power. I was hospitalized for cerebral meningitis at age 10 and Captain Jolly came to the children's ward gave me a present and wished me well. Later in life I lived in Bill Kennedy's neighborhood and saw him driving around in his "57" porthole T-Bird. CKLW radio was popular back in the day and had great DJ's. Because of its powerful signal it could be picked up for great distances in both the USA and Canada.

[@chong2389]

My uncle lived next door to a family that invited Captain Jolly (Toby Davis) to backyard parties. True to, his character's profession, my uncle said he swore like a sailor!

[@chong2389]

When the band I was in appeared on Robin Seymour's 'Swingin Time' I remember a door with the name plate Bozo T. Clown. We threw them for a loop because we didn't have a recording. They had to shoot us live and actually adjust the sound levels. 😊

[@compcitizen]

Thank you for sharing, I'm posting this link for a forum I run, and especially our English friend, who I'm sure didn't know Captain Jolly, Poop Deck Paul & Bill Kennedy. My first recollection of tv was watching a Pop-Eye cartoon, I'm sure on Captain Jolly's show.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

My pleasure Bob.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZrHpoqPrNl7r5Y

[@stevedavies2334]

The teen show shown was hosted by Bud Davies. The show was Dance Party.

[@henrygingold6549]

I went to that once and I was shocked at how small the studio was

[@GK-ev5rd]

Too bad there was no wrestling footage! Lord Layton from that era. Channel 9 in Windsor was a favorite back then with local programming and the never missed CBC Hockey Night In Canada in our house! Thanks for the memories....those days sure were special! We loved CKLW in Detroit!

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Thank you for sharing the stories.

[@peteharwick1357]

Great footage. I watched CKLW (later CBET) growing up in the Detroit area. I enjoyed watching the programs on Channel 9 which were different than what you'd see on any of the stations on the U.S. side of the river. I liked to watch news on Channel 9 to see whas going on in Canada. I remember watching Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau addressing the nation and being interviewed along with Bill Davis, who was the Premier of Ontario back then. Hey Mike if you come across more footage having to do with CKLW, post it if you can. I found this interesting.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Sweet. Thanks for the feedback on the topic Pete. I will keep an eye out for more footage. Anything or anyone in particular you are interested in?

[@geebeeman1]

Thank you for the memories! When I was 11 years old I made an appearance on the Popeye/Poopdeck Paul show on the limbo contest. As a matter of fact I was the champion for that week! It was great seeing Poop Deck Paul in this video!

[@ranaldthurgood4875]

I remember watching those limbo contests. You guys -- I remember mostly, if not all, guys, and mainly Black guys at that -- were amazing. I remember the champions limboing under coke bottles! I also recall Poopdeck Paul showing a series of short films of Chubby Checker teaching how to do the Twist. Years ago, at a party in Toronto, I mentioned this to Ron Mann, the documentary film director, who was then making a movie about the Twist. He was quite interested, but apparently couldn't locate those films as they didn't make his final cut ("Twist", 1992).

[@rfjohns4452]

My sister & I watched wrestling on CKLW couldn't believe the cruelty of the Sheik. Dad brought my brother & I to see boat races on River Canard with Poop Deek Pal there as M/C but I was so disappointed that anchor on his arm was definitely fake.This must have been near the end of my childhood now I know growing up too fast.

[@nozecone]

First time I've seen Captain Jolly in colour! Re: Bill Kennedy - he had been a member of the 'Devil's Brigade'; I stumbled onto a celebration of the movie's premier, on Ouellette Ave one evening, after Judo or swimming at the Y; Bill Kennedy was there in his veteran's beret, and I got his autograph - still have it! When I'd watch his show - yes, when I was home sick - I'd be intrigued when he'd be joking with the crew who were, of course, off camera ....

[@ljgould6834]

Awesome! Thank you, Michael!

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

So much fun making these.

[@kimkristy2274]

And it was Bill Kennedy who voiced the iconic Superman opening..’Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a speeding train….’

[@henrygingold6549]

I remember Bill Kennedy's blue '55 Thunderbird and I remember the night the transmitter mast nearly fell over and CKLW had to broadcast using the emergency one out in the county somewhere.

[@debraoliver505]

I always watched Capt. Jolly and Poopdeck Paul.

[@arae7587]

That host on Teen Town was Bud Davies.

[@jamesrbaylis6363]

As a child, I remember back in the 60s going to the Emancipation Celebration Parade, would you have in archives footage of this parade? I have seen other footage of this North American event just looking for more footage covering interviews of celebrities.

[@ranaldthurgood4875]

Thanks for that -- many memories. Regarding the Captain Jolly commercial: product promotions were worked right into Captain Jolly's show ("Popeye and His Pals", I believe). He talked, doing funny routines between Popeye cartoons (which were mostly the excellent old Fleischer Brothers originals). During his talking bits, Captain Jolly promoted treats for children. I think that in the film he has Bosco, a chocolate syrup for making chocolate milk. However, what I remember him promoting continually was Hostess baked treats, especially Twinkies. He'd tell kids that when you come home from school and call out, "Hey, Ma, what's for dessert?", she should have Twinkies on hand. I quickly learned that walking in the door and shouting, "Hey, Ma, what's for dessert?" was not acceptable in my house! The powers that be haven't allowed advertising by characters in children's shows for many decades.

[@torgman]

Those cars are mid-50s, at the latest.

[@sashia53]

I would love to know where to get old films of the Poopdeck Paul show and the limbo contests

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Those shows were broadcast live and not taped. It would be a small miracle to find one. Especially one with audio.

[@judyvanrees4748]

Bud Davies, not Robin Seymore

[@realitychick8903]

RIght on--- It was Bud Davies Dance Show... I was young and use to watch it... Windsor was doing great back then. We had a star City ..

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Thank you very much.

[@GK-ev5rd]

Robin Seymour is the proper spelling. We mourn his passing a few short months ago.

[@dhealy61]

I lived in one of those houses on crawford in the mid 60's

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

I am sure this film is of the same era.

[@peteharwick1357]

One thing I find interesting is that Channel 9's tower in Windsor is made of pipe (or whatever it is called) and not a lattice type tower like other broadcast towers are. The old tower on Riverside Drive was only 600 feet in height while the Detroit stations transmitter antenna are 1,000 feet high. Was the transmitter for CBET 9 moved south of Windsor to MacGregor at one time?

[@kimkristy2274]

The tower was shortened but not removed. (It’s still there). The greedy new owner who bought the railroad cut where the tower was anchored on the east side said he wanted an exorbitant monthly rent to keep the ‘Tower of Power’ anchored. So management had it shortened and anchored ‘Stubby’ on station property. I was allowed to climb to the top to take pictures for the station. The McGregor site behind the little white church at the end of Howard ave was a ‘repeater transmitter’ so the signal could still reach the U.S. market.

[@bobcook]

i worked at cklw TV in 65-68. The tower was rather unique. It in itself was the transmission line and was fed at the base. Normally tv antennas were fed with 2" coax cable. We almost lost the tower when someone cut one of the upper guys because hockey night in canada was blocked off. They had to evacuate the surrounding area. If the wind was greater than 20 mph the tower would have come down. He must have spent hours trying to cut through the HS steel anchor rod. I was working that night. This film was done in late 50's. Those PYE cameras were replaced with GE color cameras in 1967.

[@chong2389]

People in Florida reported receiving CKLW!

[@arae7587]

@@bobcook And those Pye cameras were first replaced by French made Visuals monochrome cameras before the GE-350 colour cameras.

[@arae7587]

@@bobcook Say Bob. Are you the one who used to do his homework on Bill Kennedy's desk?

[@SyntheticStuntMan]

2:28...the game is called Skittle Bowl

[@bigjohnhere6522]

Great video mike

[@arae7587]

The lady next to Bill Kennedy could have been Judy Garland, maybe playing at the Elmwood, Stars on Bill's show were usually in town to entertain there and get publicity on Bill's show, Like Jimmy Durante.

[@PaulLangan]

Wow

[@bonriver9420]

That is not Robin Seymour.

[@MikeEvansWindsor]

Indeed it wasn't. Bud Davies is his name.

[@philnkris]

I was born on kildare

[@judyvanrees4748]

Burt Pilcher {sp} director signing off on show..