CHRISTMAS BLOG (by Elliot Shatsky)

Christmas in radio is a hit and miss business. Most of the staff wants to be home with family and friends to celebrate, except aspiring young radio stars. As a rookie operator in the 70’s (check out my pic)  at CKGM, (now THE TEAM990) when the December schedule was posted, it came as no surprise that I found myself working Christmas Eve, 6 to midnight, with Ron Abel as Disk Jockey

Although the shift started quietly, it was a little more festive since Ron had brought his girl friend to the studio. She added an element of family and made things that much more friendly. Ron explained to me that we had nothing special planned, “just play the hits back to back” as it was a quiet night for commercials and there were no newscasts. We had been asked to play a Christmas song at “:15” and “:45” (minutes after the hour), to keep in the holiday spirit.

I mentioned to Ron that it would be nice if we could play the annual “NORAD tracks Santa” piece ( a radar tracking tradition)  Ron had no problems with it since he knew I would do all the work. I slogged into the abandoned news room and started searching the giant reel of “live” reports that Broadcast News sent us until I came up with the right clip. It was a well produced piece that told us all how NORAD was radar tracking Santa as he made his way, delivering toys to all the kids of the world. We ran it at the 7:15 Christmas stop set (usually a commercial segment) and both Ron and I we very proud of our initiative.  Minutes later the “hotline” rang and News Director Robert Vairo was on the blower saying he was listening and what a great and timely program segment it was.

When I mentioned to Ron that Robert had called, he suggested that Robert do a local angle to the story. I called Robert back and he told me it was Christmas and he was going to Midnight Mass but if he had time he would try. We waited patiently hoping to have more material to work with but the call did not come for at least an hour. When the phone finally rang, I had the tape machine rolling and Robert delivered in a big way. With Mama Louisa (dear mother in law) waiting in the car, he gave us a 3 part report. The first was a doubtful reporter on his way to the airport radar center, the second was a still doubtful reporter arriving and the finale was an awestruck, believing reporter seeing that Santa was on the way. He ended his final piece whispering “ And a merry Christmas to all” which I fed into the CKGM slow jingle and laid over audio of the classic “Little Drummer Boy” I can still feel the goose bumps I had at the back of my neck.

What a way to spend Christmas…on the radio!!!

Elliot Shatsky is a close friend and fan of
The Montreal Radio and Television School.