A Last Call to the Voices of Magic: Honoring 40
Years of Radio and TV Personalities
By
Barry Bowman
For over four decades, they were the voices and faces
that shaped our days. They woke us up in the morning,
kept us informed through every hour, and tucked us into
bed at night.
Today for one last time we celebrated a
final reunion to honor the memories of the many
beloved radio and television personalities who have
graced our lives over the past 40 years.
I say “celebrated” but not with speeches and banners.
No, not t these avuncular dusty denizens of dimly lit
newsrooms and cluttered control rooms. A warm hug or
a firm handshake seems to do just fine. These voices
aged alongside us. Wrinkles were marks of life lived fully,
not airbrushed away. Perhaps that’s why we related to
them so deeply—they felt like friends, people who
shared our highs and lows, who spoke to us, not at us.t
They were real people with a rare gift—the ability to
create magic using only their voice.
Whether from the
car radio during a long commute, a glowing television in
the living room, or the transistor radio held close during
summer afternoons, they became our companions. Like
trusted bar buddies sharing a drink, they were at once
familiar and larger than life.
The gatherings have always been well-attended, full of
disc jockeys, news anchors, field reporters, and
announcers who filled our lives with warmth, laughter,
and constant news updates. They were the legion of
personalities who made the ordinary extraordinary,
warriors of the airwaves who connected us in a way we
rarely see today.
You’d find them in diners, leaning over burgers, soup,
salads, and beer—not unlike the rest of us.
The magic they carried was personal. With a well-timed
pause, a hearty laugh, or a gentle word of comfort, they
transformed an impersonal medium into something
intimate and timeless. They knew the secret of radio and
TV: it’s not about being seen but being felt.
This final gathering is both a farewell and a celebration. It
honors a time that may never return—before algorithms
and streaming replaced voices that told stories we could
trust. But while the microphones have gone silent and
screens have dimmed, the memories remain vibrant.
Those voices live on in the hearts of those who tuned in
faithfully, day after day, year after year.
To the many who shared their magic with us, thank you.X
I’m proud to say I was one of them and I know that our
legacy endures—a testament to a golden era when a
voice could change a day and a familiar face on the
screen could feel like home.
Here’s to the broadcasters, the legends, and the
memories we will cherish forever.
Barry Bowman
December 16th, 2024
Victoria, B.C.
Ed Note: Jordan Cunningham did some interviews which was on CHEK News tonight..
