Leon Cole; 1940-2019
What attracted you to radio in the first place?
When I was growing up in Halifax, radio was a very important part
of my life. TV wasn't even an option until I was 15. So, the family gathered
around the radio on Sunday evenings listening to shows like Our Miss Brooks and
Amos and Andy. I avidly tuned into late night baseball games in my bedroom.
That interest in sports led to me being interviewed at the age of 12 by Danny
Gallivan from the gondola of the Halifax Forum – I suppose they thought it was
amusing to have a junior colour commentator on the show. I also remember
singing on a local radio program called "Your Children Sing" on CHNS
– in my best boy soprano I warbled "I Whistle a Happy Tune". So,
radio represented showbiz to me – and in my 20s, when I had a chance to
audition for CBC, I was thrilled. It was exciting to be one of 'those' voices
advising the audience that they were listening to the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation. Over the years I got to read the news, deliver weather reports and
sports scores, interview celebrities and, quite often, introduce classical
music. I left announcing for several years to work as a producer and
manager—but was relieved to find my way back to the microphone as host of two
national radio shows, Soundtrack and RSVP, both originating from Winnipeg.
What were the challenges of the profession?
Performing 'live' was always the biggest challenge for me - when I
could pre-tape a show, complete with a written script, I felt relaxed and
comfortable. Put me in front of a live audience and things were much
scarier…although oddly enough those were the most memorable shows. One time a
wasp kept swooping around my microphone, terrifying me. Luckily an audience
member stepped in and killed the beast. On another occasion we kept losing
power to our cd players and, in desperation, a young guest and I actually sang
his request for a tune from Gilbert and Sullivan. The spontaneity and
interaction were always rewarding but I admit I was happy to get back to my
studio cocoon.
What were the rewards?
The greatest reward was feeling connected to a community of music
lovers, right across the country. People wrote to request music and often
shared how the composition had affected their lives. They talked about
memorable concerts and trips and important events in their lives. Some of these
letters were very moving -- others extremely funny. In fact, after I retired,
we put together a book of some of those letters (Dear RSVP). I felt privileged
to be part of so many people's lives. And it is that contact -- the letters and
calls - that I miss most about the job.
One of my favourite road trips was to the Commonwealth Games in
Victoria, BC in 1994. RSVP had 'borrowed' my wife (arts journalist
Jacqui Good) to be part of the production team -- and we had so much fun
working together. I got out of the studio and tried my hand at 'calling' a race
at the swimming pool and describing the arrival of Prince Edward by yacht. I
toured the lieutenant-governor's extensive gardens and ate a salad full of
edible flowers at legendary Sooke Harbour House. Another favourite broadcast
was from the Broadcast Centre in Toronto with two of my children as special
guests. Allen Cole is a composer and he was scheduled to play a number from one
of his musicals with his sister Holly Cole as soloist. I was incredibly proud
of them both -- but they nearly gave me a heart attack by not showing up on
time. (Holly is notorious for this.) I had to keep improvising and filling time
until they finally made it to the studio. People wrote to tell me
that they stayed in their cars when they reached their destinations because
they just had to find out if the kids got there! Another nerve-wracking event
was co-presenting the classical music Junos on national television one year
with daughter Holly. I got on stage and realized I couldn't read the
teleprompter. So I made up something and we survived.
What are your thoughts on the state of radio today?
I think there are many fine programs still to be found on CBC - I
admire hosts like Michael Enright. I am saddened by the erosion of classical
music programming.
How did your passion for the Boston Red Sox come about?
My father took me to games at the Wanderer's Field and I fell in
love with baseball's intricacies. My summer days were filled with pick-up games
and, in the evenings, I listened to my beloved Brooklyn Dodgers on the radio.
When the franchise moved to Los Angeles, I was heartbroken. So, I guess you
could I saw I took up with the Red Sox on the rebound. They were the closest
big-league team to Halifax and they had a storied history. So, I became one of
the legion of Red Sox fans. And I could continue to hate the Yankees.
