by Marty Forbes
September 20, 2024
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My salute to ‘630’ continues.
What’s in a name? Many entertainers change their names for a variety of reasons.
Billy Idol, Rock Hudson, Charley Tuna (announcer) are pretty obvious.
Some do it for privacy issues. Some just want to dress up a boring real name. You’d often hear a Shannon (guys last name) or a Fox (ladies last name) when you listened in markets around the country.
If I remember correctly CISN had a Dusty Rhodes early in their evolution here.
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At 630 CHED the name game is kinda neat.
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Chuck Chandler isn’t his real name nor is Rob Christie (his friends know the real name)
. They had a tech guy once who also did some on air shifts. Gordon Kyle was his name. Kyle Gordon was his on air moniker.
Late in the 60’s the all night guy was Charlie Brown.
Keith James just got shortened to KJ and that remains to this day.
And who could forget Janet from another Planet?
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When I was on the air I used my middle name with my legal first name…
so Jay Martin.
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In the news department CR Nicholas changed his name quite early in his time at CHED because his real name ‘Ceece’ combined with his last name ‘Nichols’ had listeners calling in about See-Snickles.
But my favorite story was when Dad was chatting with a new employee giving him his indoctrination to the station.
The young guy asked about changing his name and Dad went in to motion.
“Where were you born son?”
Edmonton.
“What ethnic background are you?”
Ukrainian.
“Son you realize this city has more Ukrainians than any other city in Canada?”
Yes sir.
“And your name again is?”
Clifford Oginski.
Well son, with that in mind I’d suggest that you call yourself….
…Clifford Oginski.
SO he did!
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Bob Layton Yes, I remember the day Cec told us he got a letter addressed to Mr. C. Snickles. His stories were so well written and told that people would call me and ask if they could have a written copy to share.
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