01/06/2025
Monday, Jan. 3, 1955 — 70 years ago today. The hard launch of Kingston’s television station, CKWS-TV/Channel 11. Three weeks earlier, trial broadcasts of CBC programs began booming from the new quarter-million watt transmitter on Wolfe Island. A week after that, engineers at the new Radio-Television Centre downtown began a final on-air shakedown of their studio and control room equipment. So on Jan. 3, the staff at 170 Queen St. — both behind the cameras and in front — were ready for the first full day of local and network shows. And Channel 11 came out of the gate strong. The inaugural local newscasts were sponsored by Maxwell House coffee and were anchored by Torben Wittrup (who became one of the best-known newscasters in Canada as a feature anchor on Toronto’s CFRB). Jane Sherman (later Jane Kaduck) hosted At Home with Jane, a daily three-hour marathon of interviews, cooking demonstrations and movies. Bill Luxton moved over from CKWS Radio to become a programmer and utility host at CKWS-TV. His show Mostly Music blended “musical medleys, news in a light vein and interviews.” (“Don McCallum plays musical selections on the Hammond organ… an enjoyable, relaxing half-hour for housewives.”) Joining Bill in general on-air work was Ted Curl, who hosted Teenage Dance Party. Ted eventually moved to CFTO in Toronto, worked on The Pierre Berton Show and transitioned to commercial production and voice work. Rounding out Channel 11's opening slate of in-house productions were shows like The CKWS Supper Club, Gary “Gizz” Watt and the Country Hoppers, and Club Eleven.
