2CA’s 75th Birthday: Photos and Video
November 15th, 2006 at 12:01am
As you probably know by now, it’s 75 years since Jack Ryan started Canberra’s first radio station, 1053 2CA…and also from the “as you know” files, 2CA’s breakfast show had an outside brodcast from their original location (well, a few metres away…but close enough) at 42 Giles Street in Kingston.
I had planned to stay up all night finishing off the Persiflage and all of the processes that go with it (still not quite finished) and then head off early so that I could be in Kingston just before 6am…well it didn’t quite happen, I went to bed at 2am while the Persiflage was uploading and decided to get up at 4am which would have given me plenty of time…but I forgot to set the alarm and as such it went off at 5:30, at which time I got up, updated the Persiflage RSS feed, rushed the show notes and burnt an Audio CD of the show for 2CA Breakfast Boy Paul Blunt…only to end up with two coasters before getting a useful CD…effectively meaning that I didn’t have the time or a spare CD for either Leighton or 2CA manager Doug Bell.
This debacle prevented me from having any time to address an envelope for my booking from for John Kerr’s Terrigal lunch…so I just threw it in my bag and decided to deal with it at a post office later in the day…somehow I managed to get to the Outside Broadcast sometime around 6:30 (probably closer to 6:45).
When I got there the crowd was small, but the sausage sizzle was underway, which was a good thing as I needed some breakfast. I met 2CA’s Breakfast Boys Paul Blunt & Leighton Archer…and from there the day went more or less according to plan.
I don’t recall every event in order, and I spent most of the time chatting with various people and observing events…so I’ll just let the photos and video tell the tale. As per usual, clicking on a photo should take you to a large version of it.
Breakfast Boys Paul Blunt and Leighton Archer.
Paul receives 2CA t-shirts and a new toy (2CA’s old xylophone) from former staff member Cheryl McKay. Also in this photo is the sign of the store occupying 2CA’s old spot, the Hungry Chino coffee shop…and I still can’t find it in the phone book.
Paul instantly falls in love with his new toy, and makes sure that the listeners do too.
Plenty of former (and current) staff turned up, including erstwhile Breakfast host (now Win News Newsreader) Peter Leonard, 2CA’s first employee (now aged 91) George Barlin, and former admin lady (and probably much more…but my mind had drawn a blank) Cheryl McKay.
He just can’t help himself…he even has to entertain the former staff with his new toy!
Here’s a photo of Cheryl McKay when she was working for 2CA.
There was a bit of a crowd too!
The sausage sizzle continued for quite a while. To the far right of this photo is 2CA manager Doug Bell.
BWS bottle shop were quite happy for 2CA to cover their window for the morning, and 2CA did so with a stage and a lot of old logos and photos…and even Paul and Leighton, who are discussing things during a song.
One thing I found very difficult during the morning was finding a suitable moment to take photos of people, as everyone was very busy and constantly doing this, that or the other…as such, I took advantage of other people’s photo opportunities. This one of Paul Blunt, Peter Leonard and Leighton Archer was taken at the same time as 2CA’s official photographer took photos.
2CA night host, ex-breakfast host, and current Prime Television weatherman Daniel Gibson turned up…everytime I see him in person I am reminded of just how tall he really is.
At about 7:50 the cake arrived, Paul Blunt interrupted the 2CA loudspeaker feed to make an announcement, and unfortunately the 2CA feed was turned up a tad louder afterwards, which reintroduced the feedback issue they had resolved earlier in the morning. In this photo, Paul Blunt is holding the “announcement microphone”, 2CA manager Doug Bell is adjusting the cake and Leighton is probably listening to cues from Gregg Easton, who was the studio panel operator for the morning.
It doesn’t look like 75 candles…but it was enough to nearly set the cake on fire!
Here comes the (really) interesting part…I captured video footage of the cake being prepared, the crowd singing “Happy Birthday” and George Barlin proving his fitness beyond all reasonable doubt by blowing out the candles…YouTube has managed to desynchronise the audio and video slightly, but not enough to be an issue, and the video can be seen by clicking play below. Alternatively, you can see the slightly higher quality original video by clicking here (12.7MB).
Here is a view of part of the crowd as seen from the stage just after the birthday cake event. As you can see, the Hungry Chino coffee shop sold quite a few cups of coffee…I’m not entirely sure if 2CA intended on paying for coffee for everyone, but I think it turned out that way…I know they didn’t ask me to pay for my coffee and I heard the same from others…although the phrase “make sure the station pays for it” being said to a member of staff (who I won’t name, but is in this photo) as they went to get coffee for some of the special guests does have me a bit confused.
More of the crowd.
Another one of those photo opportunities that I couldn’t resist…as you probably know by now, Paul Blunt and Leighton Archer
Same people, different angle (and once again I’ve drawn a blank on the name of the photographer…it’s late, I haven’t had much sleep in the last 48 hours, and it’ll come to me while I’m busy working on something completely different tomorrow).
More from the 2CA memories stage
The cake while Doug Bell was cutting it…I think it originally said “2CA 75 YRS BIRTHDAY”…it was a delicious cake (I’m hungry just thinking about it).
The 2CA website lists Leighton’s job as “make sure Paul behaves himself”. There was little chance of that once Paul started with the xylophone…and Leighton was either excited or cold or both (it was 3.4-9.5 degrees between 6am and 9am), so eventually Peter Leonard had to step in and add some sense to the show…that didn’t work though, and Peter ended up giving Paul a lesson in “playing the xylophone correctly”.
During the course of the morning, 2CA regular caller “Edward” turned up, and it was nice to be able to put a face to a name…for the benefit of 2CC and 2UE listeners, Edward is kind of like 2CA’s version of Lon (aka Latrine), just more musical and probably a bit closer to the planet…and he doesn’t ride a bicycle with a yellow helmet as far as I know.
Unfortunately I had to leave just after the 8am news so that I could get to work, and as such I missed the unveiling of the 75 years plaque…Win News arrived not long after I left and captured the plaque amongst other things. I did offer James Goodwin at WIN News my footage, but Win don’t currently have the facilities to easily transfer video from a memory card to a broadcast ready format. I have recorded the Win story and will endeavour to do something with it in the coming days…I’m too tired right now though.
I really should thank James for the tour of the Win facilities…I went into Win Television at lunch time as I couldn’t quite work out on the phone whether or not James was interested in, or could use my footage (and I will have to write a review on the excellent cafe around the corner), so I went in and met James…we quickly established that my footage wasn’t really useful due to the media format (memory card), but James didn’t turn my visit into a waste of time…he first showed me the footage Win had captured, and then gave me a quick tour of the building…oh, and hello to reporter/weathergirl Jessica Good and Peter Leonard (who wasn’t in the building at the time, but I did have a chat with at the 2CA birthday).
I had a wonderful time at the 2CA birthday, and I think everyone else did too…it was also good to be able to meet a few new faces, and catch up with some familiar ones.
I’m now going to try and catch up on some sleep…which is probably easier said than done…so much for my early night! (Apologies for my typing tonight…I’ve corrected as much as possible, but I’ll proofread it when I’m awake and not battling to keep my eyes open…Leighton was right, I do put a lot of effort into this site.)
Happy 75th Birthday 2CA!
Samuel
Entry Filed under: Canberra Stories,Samuel News,TV/Radio/Media
30 Comments
1. Loki | November 15th, 2006 at 12:21 am
Once again, a great series of photographs Samuel – all that was missing were some magpies and kangaroos.
Can you confirm there was no trespassing involved in the gathering of these superb images before I collate them in to my third Samuel Slide Show extravaganza?
Great work!
2. Captain Flume | November 15th, 2006 at 2:22 am
Great to see such a young crowd. God knows what sort of shennanigans were engaged in at the after-party. I’m prepared to bet Peter Leonard slipped into the BWS to mix up a few cheeky shandies while Paul and Leighton engaged in some boisterous slap and tickle with the xylophone under the table. Someone plants a cracker in the cake, some blow-in charges a double latte to the 2ca tab and a forearm is bruised in a scuffle over a promotionial sticker.
So much excitement!
PS Scroll up from here exactly four pictures. Is Leighton have a little pocket fondle?
3. Loki | November 15th, 2006 at 7:08 am
Leighton’s put on a bit of weight since he played in the Australian Open!
4. the_total_cynic | November 15th, 2006 at 9:32 am
I don’t listen to 2CA.
5. the_total_cynic | November 15th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
Speaking of Peter Leonard, he was looking quite happy on WIN local news last week when Phil Small was away.
Now that Small’s back, poor ole Pete is wearing his ‘tired, haggard’ look again.
Never mind Pete, Small Phil might get the sack — one day. haha.
6. Samuel | November 15th, 2006 at 9:58 pm
I really don’t know whether to be amused or to start deleting comments…
Re comment 1: Loki, thanks. Kingston isn’t known for its kangaroos, although I did see a couple magpies…I was more interested in 2CA’s festivities. I can assure you that there was no trespassing involved.
Re comment 2: Lots of packing up equipment I think Captain Flume…and you have an odd (and possibly “adult material oriented”) imagination…I’ll take the comments as tongue in cheek for now, unless certain people on the receiving end of your humour object.
Re comment 3: Loki…different person, different spelling.
Re comment 4: I thought as much Cynic…and now you know how Edward fits in to the 2CA listener base…in much the same way that Lon/Latrine fits in to the 2CC/2UE listener base. Oh, and I heard your wobble board impression on the drive show, I got a big laugh out of it, even if Welshy didn’t at first.
Re comment 5: The spam filter must have picked up on “tired, haggard”, which seems to appear in a fair bit of spam for some reason. I can’t say that I really noticed any difference in Peter’s appearance…and I don’t think Phil will ever get the sack, he is a wonderful presenter.
I should have aksed James Goodwin what Tony Lynas is up to these days though…oh well, never mind.
7. the_total_cynic | November 15th, 2006 at 10:42 pm
Hmmmm …. perhaps I should have used a different word, but there’s no doubt that Pete was looking a LOT happier last week — maybe because the temporary sports presenter was a woman.
8. Captain Flume | November 16th, 2006 at 1:31 am
So it’s confirmed… Cynic IS JohnB1B5. So much for the dramatic exit.
9. the_total_cynic | November 16th, 2006 at 7:13 am
Samuel – Could you please tell our ‘mutual friend’ Captain Flume, Colonel Moodus, Loki, Roger Millet, or any other name he chooses to use, that John B1_B5 said he wouldn’t be back, and so far there hasn’t been any sign of him, so he truly is a man of his word, and absolutely nothing has been confirmed nor denied.
Oh… and the reason I’m asking you to tell him, is because I’m not talking to him until he learns some basic manners. The Total Cynic.
10. Loki | November 16th, 2006 at 10:51 am
Whatever you say doesn’t cut any ice with me Mr Cynic. You’re just another faceless nobody hiding behind a keyboard.
I don’t know why you want to continue this Johnboy style feud under yet another underscored pseudonym.
I will follow Samuel’s lead, who showed maturity beyond his tender years when dealing with Johnboy’s barbs, and take no part in it.
Just to close my summation, here’s a link to a very odd scupture:
http://ab.id.au/gallery/v/canberra/img_1116.jpg.html
And I can assure you I do not have multiple personalities and wish to disassociate myself completely from Captain Flume, Colonel Moodus and Roger Mullet … I find many of their observations very odd, and often a tad too ribald for my tastes.
Such naughtyness will surely put them on thin ice, and I don’t want to be hit in the crossfire!
11. the_total_cynic | November 16th, 2006 at 11:21 am
Are you going to allow these personal attacks to continue Samuel ?
12. Jey | November 16th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
cynic, it’s the interwebs, there’s also going to be personal attacks.
Just try to ignore it.
13. the_total_cynic | November 16th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
I see you list “The Riot Act” & “The Spin Starts Here” as links on your site Jey – guess that speaks volumes about YOU.
14. Jey | November 16th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
I wouldn’t say ‘volumes’ but of course all the content on my blog speaks something about me. It is, after all, my blog.
15. Roger Mellie | November 16th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
That surely is a very odd sculpture Loki. I quite like it being from NZ and all that.
It seems John R2D2 has again got his frilly knickers in a knot over nothing. Cross dressers usually have a crisis of identity, frequently change their name and are in constant denial.
I remember the last time I had a 19 year old stick up for me. I was signing a Red Gum song and was told to shut up.
16. Jey | November 16th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
re post number 12:
always going to be
rather than ‘also’ as I have written
17. Colonel Moodus | November 16th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
‘Personal attacks’?! Give me a break, cynic. First, all I did was point out that a visually impared person could pick the uncanny similarity between your comments and those of former contributer John_B1_B2. Who, I might add, went out with a vicious and bizarre outburst aimed at most of the regulars here, including one person in particular who I remember handled it with good humour. SO don’t start calling the kettle black.
At least have the gumption to admit you’re back under a new name, and don’t go trying to start fights. We’re all friends here.
18. Loki | November 16th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
Colonel and Mr Mellie, I can only suggest we don’t add fuel to the fire of his Johnboy-style taunts.
You have been quite polite and welcoming with me, but I do admit I find you can make very odd interpretations of some of Samuel’s pictures and some of your humour’s a bit raunchy for this family-friendly blog.
Let’s get back to discussing Samuel’s view of the world … and I resolve to post no more links to very odd sculptures.
19. Colonel Moodus | November 16th, 2006 at 3:12 pm
Agreed. It’s all too odd for words.
20. the_total_cynic | November 16th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
Well, at least you HAVE a site Jey ….. more than one can say for that wimp and coward who refers to himself as Loki, Colonel Moodus, Roger Mellie, and Captain Flume. harhar.
21. Colonel Moodus | November 16th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
Good grief.
22. Loki | November 16th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
I’d like to start my own site John … any chance that I can get membership of the Koala Club so I can see how it’s done?
23. the_total_cynic | November 16th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
Why don’t you apply and see what happens –
Click here to apply to join –
http://groups.msn.com/TheKoalaClub
24. Loki | November 17th, 2006 at 12:14 am
Mr Cynic – I thought you weren’t John, and you weren’t talking to me! And I assure you that, unlike you, Mr Multiplicity, there is just me, and, as previously stated, I am not also Colonel Moodus, Jey, Alan Jones, Samuel, Nattie, Captain Flume, Roger Mellie or Chuck A Spear.
Oh, and my post was directed to a “John” and YOU responded … what are we to think? Harhar!
Meanwhile, I checked out your site, and that’s a great photo of the bucket under the sink with your name on it (are you worried it’s going to go the way of your Ralegh bicycle?).
You are definitely enriching the world with such documentary subject matter, and your seemng obsession with all things Nazi!
25. Captain Flume | November 17th, 2006 at 2:04 am
Moodus and Flume are one and the same. I just forgot a password and had to re-register. Anyone who has ever read the book Catch 22 would have realised that.
Only a drongo like b4b2 would imagine conspiracy. You my friend are a goose, a turkey, a moron.
I’ve twitched my duelling glove, but I guess I won’t expect much of a comeback from a poor inbred with such a tiny imagination as you. I think I hear a toilet flushing.
26. Jey | November 17th, 2006 at 6:45 am
Jey is Jey. At least that’s what the voices in my head tell me.
That is all.
27. Roger Mellie | November 17th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
Roger is Chuck, like the good Colonel, I use different mainframes and can’t remember my word press password.
I am on John/cynic/barnes/brock’s side. You are all very odd. His feedback on Persiflage explains everything there is to know about him.
From,
Zaphod Beeblebrox
28. Loki | November 17th, 2006 at 2:36 pm
Thankyou Captain and Roger for your honesty.
Now I must confess that I am in fact also John B1_B5, aka the_total_cynic, hence I have been taunting and sending links to very odd sculptures to myself!
29. Chuck A. Spear | November 17th, 2006 at 7:01 pm
I like your site Loki. Nice bicycle pity is was knocked off by that evil loony woman. Great clipping of the flying V guitar. I don’t know why the girl is wearing two sweatbands though. Is she a clit licker? I don’t know what one is.
Nice underscored bucket.
Have considered sending this to a news publication?
http://john33805.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!F2B226DE742C41C9!3423.entry
Or maybe going on the Einstein Factor to talk about tongs:
http://john33805.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!F2B226DE742C41C9!3438.entry
30. Samuel | November 17th, 2006 at 8:21 pm
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! It is very easy to get a headache reading through all of those comments…they almost prove that I need to hire someone to monitor comments when I’m not around.
I’ll be dealing with individual comments shortly, but right now I am closing comments on this post.