Collection search - Finlay, James - Interview

Record information – Brief

1

Finlay, James - Interview

Item number (ISN):

304317

Hierarchical level:

Item (Accession level)

Date:

1981-08-04/1981-09-19

Item number (ISN):

304317

Type of material:

Sound recordings

Found in:

Archives / Film, Video and Sound

Link to this record

Add to My Research

Link to this record

This link identifies the web page describing this particular record. Unlike the temporary link in your browser, this link will allow you to access, and reference, this page in the future. To link to this descriptive record, copy and paste the URL where ever needed (wiki, blog, document).

Sign in

Sign in to start saving records using My Research

Sign in
Record information – Details

Fonds/collection:

CARLETON UNIVERSITY: INSTITUTE FOR CANADIAN STUDIES

Accession:

1982-0055

Media:

Sound

Part:

3 of 3

Production date:

1981-08-04/1981-09-19

Production company:

Carleton University Institute For Canadian Studies

Production credit:

interviewer, Ross Eaman

Description:

Show detail Hide detail

Ross Eaman interviews James Finlay, former CBC producer and administrator. Finlay discusses: his personal background; his immigration to Canada; his interest in wireless; his work in the Ottawa gallery; his move to the United States; the Depression; his return to Canada to join Marconi (CFCF, Montreal) as a broadcast operator; outside broadcasts; his work for CRBC; CRBC staff; early cross-Canada link; the excitement of live broadcasts; radio in the Depression and beginning of national counsciousness; bilingual broadcasting on CRBC; his invitation to join CRBC as a junior producer by Ernie Bushnell; 1937 move to CBR, Vancouver; school program at UBC; Vancouver staff; 1937 station move into Vancouver Hotel; producer's responsibilities; working hours; CBC management; network vs. regional programming; camaraderie, good working relationship throughout Corporation; regional flavour how to make singers capture true feel of a sea shanty; unreliability of CBC accounting system; importance of sound effects; best radio play of the day; radio drama; 1940 transfer to Toronto as producer; Ira Dilworth; duties in Toronto; war shows, personnel; attentiveness of audience to news during war; program featuring Laurence Olivier and wife; 1943 discovery and performance of C.P.E. Bach harpsichord manuscripts; recording organ recital from dining room of Royal York; distribution deals between CBC and private affiliates; work in 1943 as Toronto station manger; commercial fees for producers and announcers; competition from other stations; and CBC as employer of artists in regional centres.~Finlay also comments on: commercial fees for producers and announcers; competition from other stations; CBC as employer of artists in regional centres; importance of CBC in rural areas; Toronto as "the network flagship"; French/English service separation tragic; contretemps with Ernest Macmillan over broadcast of Verdi's Requiem; dealing with artists; enthusiasm of CBC employees; resentment of public broadcasting in the west; first 25 years of CBC marked by love/hate relationship with public; speeches he gave on coming of TV on prairies; CBC paved the way for private stations; no PR department but many employees made speeches on behalf of CBC; 1954 opening of Winnipeg station; use of radio personnel; TV often like radio being photographed - communication value mainly verbal; training Winnipeg TV staff; buildings adapted for TV; selection of staff; programming capability was developed faster than planned; criticism of regional programming; Winnipeg artistic community; farm broadcasting; regions have to substitute ingenuity for money; TV inherited 50 years of Broadway, Hollywood union problems; capitalizing on local talent; sacred and folk music; Royal Winipeg Ballet; complex program distribution system; program scheduling; and coverage of prairie transmitter (CBK, Waterous).~Finlay discusses: 1944 integration of prairie French programming in two hour blocks; CBC office in London; Finlay's opinion of London chief's position, which he held for two years; 1966 interim director in Newfoundland; delicacy of Newfoundland situation - replacement Regional Director needed; his stay in Newfoundland; ideal Regional Director; native programming in the west; Alphonse Ouimet; western alienation; Ernie Bushnell; Charles Jennings; Engineering Headquarters; Roy Calhoun; Dominion/Trans-Canada network split 1944; lines of authority regions - Ottawa; Davidson Dunton; Toronto program hierarchy; lack of facilities in the west in Finlay's time; competition with two provincially owned radio stations; Christmas program which offended Winnipeg Ukrainians; diplomatic function of prairie Regional Director; W.O. Mitchell approached for rights to novel - done in Toronto instead; strength of CBC should lie in regions; and how the CBC is currently a Toronto network distributed nationally. <4h 11mn>

Language:

English

Notes:

Show detail Hide detail

1. Recorded in Vancouver on 1981-08-04 and Ottawa on 1981-09-19.

Detailed holdings information:

Show detail Hide detail

Vault ISN:

339660

Format:

SOUND

Location number:

C02927

Number of items:

1

Kind of sound:

R/R

Technical description:

POLY

Made from:

FROM LOANED MATERIAL

Status:

MASTER

Vault ISN:

339661

Format:

SOUND

Location number:

C02928

Number of items:

1

Kind of sound:

R/R

Technical description:

POLY

Made from:

FROM LOANED MATERIAL

Status:

MASTER

Vault ISN:

339662

Format:

SOUND

Location number:

C02929

Number of items:

1

Kind of sound:

R/R

Technical description:

POLY

Made from:

FROM LOANED MATERIAL

Status:

MASTER
Ordering and viewing options

Conditions of access:

Open

Reproduction access:

with permission of Advisory Committee of CBC Oral History Project

You can order materials in advance to be ready for you when you visit. You will need a user card to do this.

Cannot visit us on site? You can purchase a copy to be sent to you. Some restrictions may apply.