CTV News Montreal

Updated: Tue Jan. 04 2011 2:59:48 PM

50 Years as Montreal’s News and Entertainment leader: Now that's something to celebrate! We're proud of the connections we've built in the community over five decades.

Click in the video player on the right to see anniversary wishes from some prominent Montrealers. And if you'd like to send in a birthday wish of your own, just go to the comments section below.

To all our viewers, thanks for your loyalty and here's to 50 more great years together!

Comments are now closed for this story

Vincent Terzano
Happy Anniversary to you CTV for coming into our home for so many years. Also thank you for coming to our school,Rosemount High School located in the East end of Montreal, we are so proud.


Sincerely,
Vincent Terzano

Paula Turner
My sister and I would walk home at lunchtime from school. My mum would have our lunch ready and we were 'allowed' to sit in the living room to eat and watch Johnny Jellybean! We so enjoyed that!! We grew up watching the Friendly Giant and Magic Tom,also.
When we were teens,mum & dad encouraged us to go on Like Young! We had such a great time!!

As we grew older, Pulse was a must to watch.Still with my family today, the CTV News brings us together by discussing events, local and abroad.

Happy 50 years....keep up the fantastic work that all of you do to make it a 'family affair'.
PS:My mum always loved Don McGowan and his 'antics'!
Paula Turner

Don McGowan
Inspired by your wonderful 50th anniversary videos, I should like to apply for the position of Temporary-Replacement Weatherperson.
I have some experience.
Need skilled and sympathetic makeup person.
Thank You.

Don McGowan
Brockville
Ontario

Carlos Castro
Happy 50Th. Anniversary CTV Montreal. Since my arrival in Canada 20 years ago, I watch you on a daily basis and really like your shows. CTV News cast is Amazing. Thank you for reporting about Montreal's community events and people. Best wishes,

Carlos Castro & Family

Nancy Bowman
Happy 50th Anniversary CTV Montreal. I grew up watching CTV News thanks to my parents who have both passed away now and watching your special edition show brought back many special memories. Keep up the good work and here's to many more years on the air...a forever loyal watcher,
Nancy Bowman

Kathy Nye
A very Happy Anniversary CTV Montreal!!!

I have been watching CTV-CFCF all my life and have always enjoyed all the shows and personalities that have come and gone over the years. I was so privileged to have been on the Magic Tom birthday show when I was just 3 years old. I still have the audio-tape of that show. I listen to it from time to time and remember how wonderful Magic Tom was to me.
Lauri Graham and Frank Cavallaro have both been just fantastic, over the years, of announcing special birthday and anniversary wishes for our family on their broadcasts on CTV. Lauri even had a close up shot, on air, of the "SUNSHINE BEAR" that we sent to her.
Our family loves you all and we can't thank you enough for being a very special part of our cherished family memories. May you continue to be as fantastic in your next 50 years!!

Fondly, Kathy Nye

EMMANUEL
THOSE WERE THE DAYS ,TOO BAD THEY HAD TO END. I wasn't born yet when CFCF LAUNCHED ,but i did grow up with it ,and one thing i really admired about THE EARLY CFCF is it had an Independent identity where it borrowed from any source that was interesting. The Consistency was CTV NEWS ,but for the other 23hours and 30 minutes CFCF was a clearing house of Great independent Television,borrowing from independents like CITY TV in TORONTO ,and TBS for the FLINTSTONES Every day at 1200 noon CFCF kept true to the original premise of TELEVISION and that was to be *AN ESCAPE FROM ROUTINE * To take you away from your daily routine and make you forget for an hour or two and enjoy watching Television.
HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY CFCF 12
AND here*s to another 50. Cheers

DAVID F G J LAFORTUNE
I would like to congratulate you on the 50th Anniversary of Pulse News. Pulse has always been one of the news stations w grew up watching since I was a child. Over the last 51 years Pulse has been the one station I personally watched for the latest news. I have had the opportunity to meett several of the anchors and have been a koyal watcher. A day doesn"t go by that I do not watch the news when I am home. The noon newscast the news cast at6:00 and the last at 11:30. Congratultion and hopefully you will still be here in the next 50 years to carry on the tradition to new viewers who will grow to follow the news on your station.

Eugenia Urban
Happy Birthday CTV Montreal! Great personalities,programming and news coverage. Thank you for the past 50 years and will continue to watch you grow.

Gena

Jenn Taylor
Congratulations on this special anniversary. We've always been fans of yours and feel that you are all like family. (Nice blouse, Mitsumi....Poor Todd looks tired today.....What a great forecast, thanks Lori.....!!!)Crazy, but true!! Keep it coming CTV News.

Sylvie Bergeron
My name is Sylvie Bergeron I have been following the souvenirs on the path to the Anniversary of my favourite stations. I would like to share my story with you.
One day I found myself in a hospital with the shocking diagnostic of acute leukaemia and spent 3 consecutive months in total isolation for chemotherapy. Thanks to the hospital staff for the proper treatments and tremendous patience with me, I am still here and in total remission for 6-1/2 years.
A BIG THANKS to CTV Montreal for being there when I needed you for distraction and to hear what was going on out there day or night, 7 days a week. You are and always will be my favourite TV station for it's great programming and dedicated news staff and reporters. Thanks for the memories...

Sylvie Bergeron

Mike Mercer
Happy 50th Anniversary ctv Montreal I'll bet that Jack Curran,Magic Tom & Nick Hollinrake are all doing shows up the sky for the angels up there right now Jimmy Tapp maybe doing Carte Blanchie or A kin to win up in the sky as well Happy Anniversary!

Maria Linhares
I am a long time viewer of CTV news and I would like to wish CTV and it's team of proffessionals a Happy 50th Anniversary. I grew up watching CTV and have seen all the changes that your station has gone through. I remember fondly all the shows that were shown during my youth and by showing those old time clips it brings back such great memories. CTV News is a staple in my family we watch it every night at 6:00 thenat 11:00 with Llyod and then at 11:30 with Debra. We feel like we know everyone there and are glad to welcome you to our home each and every day. Here's to another 50 years of honest nesw delivery. Yip, yip, horray!

FB
Hey CFCF 12 ... Congratulations! Wow, memories - lunchtime with Johnny Jelly Bean & Magic Tom. And Like Young along with so many other great Montreal moments. Wish I was currently in Montreal (but my best wishes are with you)! I will be home one day soon!!!!

Kevin Erskine-Henry
Congratulations to CFCF 12- for fifty great years of server to all of Greater Montreal ..

You have been a part of my family for all those years ...I recall coming home for lunch from school in NDG and watching Johnny Jelly Bean ...When we got our First Colour Tv ...Beat the Clock was the 1st show we watch ..we were agag at the strong colours they used ...WE would laugh and retell Don McCowans weather jokes back at School- Who open the Fiesta m when there was a big snow storm . Mostly I remember a Dance Show Called LIKE YOUNG with Jack Curran (?) A one of the Dances on the show lived next door to my cousin and when we visited we used to sit outside to see if we could get to see him and the others dancers who came over ..Even latter visiting Hollywood and seeing a few Movie stars never match the awe of seeing those first celebrities ...

CFCF-12 was and is Montreal’s station ,,,,we have seen and continue to see our city , our neighbourhoods each evening in your broadcasts



All the Best on your 50th from a 53 year old Greater Montrealer who grew up on CFCF 12 ....

Kevin Erskine-Henry

Debra Barry
Very well-done trip down memory lane so far, I will watch tomorrow's anniversary show for sure. CFCF-12 was the backdrop of my life as I was 6 when it started. It was on before I left for school as I ate my toast or cereal, I watched at lunch from my grandmother's house near my school, and watched after school as I did my homework and chores. After supper, the family watched together or we went to watch special programs with friends.
I was actually on Magic Tom in March of 1963, his first guest of the day. My mother was a bit upset because he made me wear a velvet cape and carry an umbrella that he used for the trick - covering up my new dress bought especially for the show. I got to recite a poem and sing a song, too. I wish I could see that again!
It is rare that I have missed a newscast in the 50 years following, my children have shared great TV with me on "channel 12" as I still say! Thank you, thank you, CFCF-12!


Debra Barry

Enza Caruso
To all the staff at CTV Montreal (CFCF); Keep up the good work. (P.S. we share the same Birthday!)

Angela Tarzia
Happy birthday ctv once called cfcf 12 and many more. When my father work't for CFCF12 back i was one years old. Happy birthday CTV.

Angela Tarzia

Ken Greene
Pinbusters.
I was on this show in the early 60's.
If you remember, this was bowling 4 frames, and winner went on to the next week. It was juniors,intermediate, and seniors.
I, apparently, was the only senior grand champion. I still have the trophy.
Sure would be nice to know if you have any footage of these shows. They were from Laurentian Lanes.
Congrats on your 50th.

Claudette Singleton
I thank CFCF because of your programes my 5 french children learned to speak english. I thank you all very much and wish you all the best of luck, wishing you another 50 years so my grandchildren can also learn englisn.Thank you CTV

H.Rankin
Wow. 50 years. CFCF. You guys will always be that to me. Pulse news . Always a great news cast at 6 pm. Flintstones at lunch time,Johnny Jellybean, Magic Tom, Lke Young were just some of the shows I watched when I was a kid. Loved you's then a still do today. Would be nice to know were some of the former on air staff from Pulse all went on to. You are Montreal. Keep up the great work.
H.Rankin

Lise Mailloux
Congratulations on 50 years of keeping us informed. I'll be 60 this year and I think that since your early days, our family would sit down to dinner and catch up on the happenings of the day. We have all grown now but still continue to tune in - that includes my 88 year-old father.

Keep it up!

Dave Lucas
My grown children still talk about the CFCF Christmas parties from the 1970's My late wife, Diane Lucas, was a weekend switchboard operator at the station then on Ogilvy ave.
Congratulations on your fiftieth.

Dave Lucas

Gervaise & Louis Trudeau, Sherbrooke, QC
Congratulations CTV on your 50th anniversary. We enjoyed watching the previous generation and the new generation is as good as the previous one.
Happy birthday everyone. Keep up the good work for another 50 years.

Gervaise & Louis Trudeau

mary
thank - you for all the memories. I would often come to your studios in my childhood to see various tapings Excuse my French, Beat the Clock, Pay Cards, Puppet People, The Cliff Edwards Show the Mad Dash. I also won door prizes ( $ 5.00) . It also helped that your studios were not to far away. Happy 50 th anniversary and hope you have many more.

Del Archer
Hello. I'm Del Archer, a CFCF Radio news anchor and CFCF Television reporter and anchor from the 1970's .. 1970 to 1977, in fact.



I want to add my sincere congratulations to CFCF/CTV Montreal on its 50th anniversary and to Thank my former colleagues and viewers for the many kindnesses shown me and my family during our time in Montreal.



It was an amazing time in Quebec's history and I was given free rein to explore the limits as I understood them at the time... an awesome experience.



It became the springboard for my entry to the CTV Network news operation, where I remained for nearly 25 years. I am forever grateful.



Thank you, all !! Merci !! Party on !! Bon fete !!!

Del Archer

M. Michael Petosa
I'd like to say how much I appreciate watching CTV NEWS at noon and at 6:00 PM each and every day. I'd also like to extend my best wishes to you CTV Montreal a very happy birthday and at least... another 50 years. I wish Mutsumi Takahashi for the 21st of January a very happy birthday and congratulations for the great work she does with Todd Van der Heyden and the other members of CTV Montreal news team. So, Congratulations and Happy Birthday Mutsumi! Froma faithful watcher of CTV News in Montreal for at least 40 years; M. Michael Petosa

Serina
My mother is going to be 50 years old on January 20th as well.I was wondering if you were doing anything special for the people born on the same day. Happy anniversary CTV News!

Cheryl Nye (Montreal)
Thank you CTV for being a magnificent part of my life! I have treasured memories of starting out my Singer-Songwriter career on your telethons, and T.V. shows.
Your on-air personalities and entire staff are "World Class", warm, and generous professionals.
I watch you every day, as you will always remain a "constant" in my life.
Thank you for being so amazing! xo

Fred Friedberg
I would like to wish CTV happy birthday. From Majic Tom, to The late night Comedy Show. We grew up together. Looking forward to another 50 years.

Best wishes.

Jim Akazawa
Just want to add my congrats to to the staff of CFCT-TV. I worked as a young office boy back in 1960 when the offices were located on Hutchinson St.and the studios were located on Laurier Ave. I worked for a year prior to going to iniversity and for 2 summers. My first job and a eye opener - transporting props to the Laurier Ave. studio from the Arts dept. to singing Mitch Miller songs at the end of the 6 o'clock news. I still have my CFCF-TV rings and several other memoralia. A very interesting part of my youth. Jim Akazawa

Bill Wihbey
My parents Charles & Madeleine) who will be in their 90's this year, had owned the Dairy Queen ( Charlie's Dairy Queen) that used to be on Jean Talon and Outremont, we have many photos of CFCF 12 personalities and we had one day the CFCF Helicopter with Ted Ziegler at our location giving free rides to children. My Father also had made Birthday cakes for the likes of Andrew marquis, Don McGowan Mr. McGowan knew my father)etc. We used to go to the studio on Ogilvy Ave many times and would visit.
How we miss those days but we are all still loyal watchers of CFCF 12, even to this day we refer to CTV as CFCF 12

My dad is looking for the photos

Thank you for the fifty years and for another 50 and more years

Bill Wihbey

Peter Roy
Congratulations to you all at CTV Montreal on your 50th anniversary. You’ve been like part of the family for as long as I can recall – keep up the great work…! How about getting Haugland, McGowan and Irving to do an evening news broadcast on your ‘birthday’ – it would be a pleasant surprise and déjà vu shocker for many…

Peter Roy

Anne Ducharme
Congratulations on your 50th, CTV Montreal!

Comments: Wishing you all a very Happy 50th Anniversary at CTV - or CFCF Channel 12, which is the name that still comes to mind for me. Many years ago, back in the late '80s, I once worked as a courtroom illustrator for both Télé-Métropole and for CTV News (Pulse). I had the opportunity to work with both Herb Luft and Robert Vairo, covering a few newsworthy trials at the Palais de Justice in Montreal. It was a great experience for me - I got to see first-hand what goes on behind the scenes to put together the evening news, and can attest to the great work that can be accomplished under very tight timelines, which has served me well as a graphic artist over the years. So thank you CTV, and warm congratulations to you all on your 50th!
p.s. It just so happens that this Thursday will be my own 50th bithday too - I was born on January 20, 1961.

Cheers!

Anne Ducharme

carol lesser
hi, fifty years takes us back, iwhen i came come for lunch the flintstones, is where i would watch as i ate lunch, so many memorys as i watch you can on the internet, as live ano in bolton,ontario, i do was on the magic tom show and later went to see beat the clock, and a contest that you won a booklet worth i believe $500 and you doubled it.wish we were there in person .

Amanda Lee
Hi, I grew up watching Travel Travel with my Mom. I remember watching Don McGowan talking about the places he was visiting, their culture, the people living there, the history of the land and even information about the food & restaurants there. I loved the show so much and have been upset to not see a show on TV since then. It was educational to learn about. I have looked online to see if there was a possibility of purchasing the TV series through HMV, Best Buy, Walmart or any other way but have had no luck. I wanted to purchase the TV series on DVD so that my children could learn what I learned many years back. My questions is; Could you please tell me where I might be able to purchase the Series on DVD? My request is that you add a TV show not as a "special" but a regular, on CTV, a show like Travel Travel. With Don McGowan and Suzanne Desautels, watching them was so interesting. I recently saw online that Travel Travel is back, in Calgary?? Here is where I found it at: http://blog.fagstein.com/2009/09/22/travel-travel-is-back-in-calgary/
I do hope CTV brings it back to Montreal!! I do hope that this request gets to the people responsible for what is aired on CTV Montreal. I know that after many years of it not being on, there are new cultures around us here and all over the world! I hope to hear back from someone as it means so much to me that I do.

Sincerely, your CTV viewer,
Amanda Lee

Denis Lafontaine
I appeared twice on Magic Tom in the very early years of the station. I was around 8-9 years old, so it must have been around 1963-1964. On the first occasion, I appeared on Magic Tom's Surprise Party which featured children whose birthday was upcoming or just passed. I remember I was slated to appear later in the show but at the last minute, I was moved onto the first group to appear and I was completely THRILLED that I was the one who got to "make" the Magic Candy, a feature of every beginning of Surprise Party.

On a second occasion, I wrote down some traffic rules that I found on the back of a comic book and sent them in to Magic Tom at CFCF, and was called to appear on the regular show to recite them on camera. I clearly remember going over and over those rules on the bus ride down to the Ogilvy Avenue studios with my father.

One last time I appeared (along with my brother Bernie, who also was on Magic Tom) in the "Peanut Gallery" of Johnny Jellybean's Clubhouse. This show was broadcast in the afternoon. It may have been after the final broadcast of his much-beloved original series, Lunchtime Little Theatre, of which I never missed a single episode. People to this day (of my generation) are astounded how much detail of this show I remember and I even wrote a rather lengthy research paper on Ted Ziegler and his days in Montreal as Johnny Jellybean. Back to my Clubhouse appearance. We in the Peanut Gallery didn't get any one-on-one time with Johnny Jellybean, but we appeared on camera as a group, singing songs and wearing the trademark jelly-beanies which we all got to keep!

I sure wish our parents had VCRs in those days!

Denis Lafontaine

Stu Schwartz
As a former Montrealer, like many I grew up watching CFCF. In '94 I moved to Ottawa to study at Algonquin College. The first couple of months I was feeling homesick and one night while working at the student pub, I was flipping through the channels and stopped on Pulse News. Everyone asked, "why are we watching this?" I told them it reminded me of home and if they changed the channel, I would stop serving them.

Congrats CTV Montreal and here's to 50 more!

Stu Schwartz

Lorens minicucci
I would watch CFCF 12 as a child watching THE FLINSTONES at Noon and the annual Telethon for research into Children's diseases. I want to wish CFCF 12 a very Happy 50tildren's hospitalh anniversary Congratulations for five decades of wonderful work.

From a loyal viewer and former patient of Saint-Justine's children's hospital.

Geoff Greer
Gee, seems like only yesterday I climbed those wooden stairs to the newsroom at the old Laurier St. studios (of course everything seems like yesterday to me!). But it was January 2nd, 1961 and we were in the last weeks of "dry runs". Fifty years and many splices later and we are both still going strong. I am proud to have shared your history for thirty years. Great times, great people, great memories. Good luck for the future.

Geoff Greer
Film Editor (remember them??)

Gail Larman Bowes
Happy 50th Birthday CTV and many many more...you're # 1

Roy Corbin
Hello,



My name is Roy and I grew up with CFCF starting from the time I immigrated to Canada in the late sixties. I left Montreal for a while and when I returned I automatically tuned in to CFCF for the national and the local news. I remember the old shows and radio personalities.



The other important point to make is I am also celebrating my 50th birthday on Jan 20.



Happy Birthday CFCF.



Regards,

Roy

Isa Lane (Walewska)
I am getting a good laugh at photos of the game shows from the early 70’s for I worked as a researcher on It’s Your Move, Pay Cards, Know Your Sports, And a few more. Great flashbacks and Memories!

Happy Birthday,

Isa Lane (Walewska)

Andre Cornut
Very Happy Annivesary wishes to all past and present staff of CFCF TV.

I live in Ottawa and my mother reminded me of your 50th!

She oftens tells me about when I was born on January 18th, 1961 at 4 pm that at 5 pm while she was in the recovery room, they wheeled in a TV set so she could watch the news broadcast from this brand new TV station CFCF.

From that day on she, and millions more were hooked!

Our family grew up watching everything from Magic Tom, Johnny Jellybean, Like Young, Beat the Clock and a whole lot more.

Best Wishes fore your continued success and keep up the great work.

john cedilotte
HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY CTV.in my heart you are still channel 12 CFCF TV.i have been watching PULSE aka CTV NEWS since i can remember and rushing home from school at lunch time to catch the FLINSTONES at noon.im a huge fan of CTV.hopefully soon you will be in HD on BELL TV.here's to 50 more great years.a huge player in our community.

Sylvia Pillot
Happy 50th Anniversary CTV!

In my heart you are still CFCF-TV.

I started working at CFCF-TV on October 12, 1960, 3 months before it went on-air. I was the Operations Secretary on Laurier Avenue, the temporary studios until the station went to 405 Ogilvy Avenue. I was there when the first images were presented on air on January 20, 1961 at 6:00 p.m.

I had the pleasure of working with Jimmy Tapp, Jack Curran and all the original on-air personalities. I was only 19 years old and was so thrilled to be part of this exciting new adventure. I was lucky enough to work at CF at different times from 1960 to 1997 (I stayed home to have children in between my stints) and it was always like going home. The people who worked there were the best you could ever wish to have the pleasure of working with. Kind, generous, hard-working, imaginative, etc.

We should remember all the great owners that CFCF had over the years: The Bronfmans and especialy the Pouliot family, who were the best people anyone could work for!

Congratulations! Another 50 years to you, CTV.

With my very best wishes,

Sylvia Pillot

Domenic Di Pardo
Hi,
My name is Domenic Di Pardo,I am 58 years old.I appeared 2 times on Magic Toms Show at the time I must have been between 7 &9 years old I believe ? I was there to dance the twist,it had just hit the charts.I appeared with my brother Luciano Di Pardo.I was actually re-called to the show from viewers request,that is why I went on for a second time,can you belive that!!Today, I now have 3 grandchildren and would love to be able to get a copy of those shows to be able to share them with my children and grand-children.What great memories of these shows from back then,I also remember coming to 405 Ogilvy ave,and participated on the dance show "Like Young" many times!!Of course back then I had a head full of hair and today that is not the case,I can just see my grandchildren's faces if they were to see these clips.I can remember those cold Saturday nights waiting outside of CFCF 12 on Ogilvy hoping to get on the show and being paired up with the opposite sex at the front door!! What fond memories CFCF has given me in my life,all I can say is keep up the Great work you guys do !!!!!And Thanks so much !! for 50 years of real entertainment !!
Yours Truly,
Domenic Di Pardo

Bram Shegelski
I'm 55 years old now and when i was 6 or 7, I sang on the Magic Tom show. I remember being in awe of being on the set and right next to Magic Tom's set was my childhood hero's set. Johnny Jellybean. I still remember walking over to the squak box and picking up one of many mallets that he used to demolish that box.If it weren't for a stage hand nearby, I would have smashed it to smithereenies.
I loved Don McGowan's weather reports too.
Happy 50th. CFCF TV-12. and rest in peace Ted Ziegler.

Angelina De Paola
I would like to share the following with you as a happy memory.

In November 1968 I wrote to CFCF TV as my daughter Karen Lee Napasney who was 5 years old at the time,wanted to be on "Magic Tom's Show".
I remember the excitement when we received the call that she had been chosen to participate, she had just started kindergarten, so I mentioned it to her teacher
Mrs. Kenney.

Wel when the day arrived for us to go, I remember how happy we were when my late brother Joe drove us all the way to 405 Ogilvy venue. I remember being ushered into a
viewing room and was thrilled when Karen came on the tv monitor wearing cowboy hat and Magic Tom had them making some arts and crafts with pasta!
Unfortunately I do not have any photos from this ,technology not being what it is today ( I wish I had).

Needless to say many grandparents,relatives from near and far and neighbors were watching,Mrs Kenney even had the class watch Magic Tom that day.

Thank you for letting me share this.

Kamila Hinkson
While attending the RTDNA conference in Edmonton this past summer, I was trying to network and get my name out there. I’m a journalism student and I can’t count how many times I’ve heard that networking with the right people can land you an ever-so-scarce job somewhere down the line. I was chatting with Karen Macdonald, the news director at Global, when we both spotted Bill Haugland in the crowd. I was starstruck; it goes without saying that at 21 years old, I grew up watching Bill Haugland and Mutsumi Takahashi on CFCF and then CTV News every night. But to my surprise, Karen was probably just as excited as I was. She asked me if I wanted her to introduce me to him, and I just nodded, terrified that I would do something to embarrass myself. We went over, she introduced me as a journalism student from Montreal and then asked him to take a picture with me. And to top it all off, he put him arm around me! It was a great start to my last night in Edmonton, a picture with a man well worth idolizing.



Kamila Hinkson

Norma Robitaille Di Giglio
It is absolutely incredible to me that 50 years has already passed for cfcf news. I feel ancient now, and thank you very much.



My father was a security guard for cfcf (Norman Robitaille) in the 60’s, my sister was a rep for the “beat the clock” show (Denise Robitaille), [known mostly for her “does anyone need to go potty before the show starts]…and I was a “try-out” (trying all the challenges for the beat the clock show) before they were actually put on air and challenged with contestents.



I do believe our whole family at some point was a contestant on “It’s your move”…some on “beat the clock”. Funny enough I actually remember being on the Johnny Jelly Bean Show.



CFCF has brought/seen my family through many trials and tribulations. I thank you for this. The theme song was a notice that my dad was either GOING to work (night shift) or COMING home (evening shift)..I will never ever forget that theme song and when I hear it, even today, it is naustalgic and brings a tear to my eye.



Congratulations on such a marvellous milestone CFCF and hopefully many many more to come.



Norma Robitaille Di Giglio

Lidia Wolchov
Hi, I just wanted to say,

Congratulations to you all
keep up the Great job!

I grew up with CFCF and CTV
and still enjoy it!

Lets keep the next generations updated and entertained.

Thank You!

with love,
Lidia Wolchov

Lise Thériault
Dear friends of CFCF 12,

Congratulations, you are part of my life.

As a little french girl, of 9 years old, living in St-Henri, my best time in front of the TV set, was to watch, Johnny jelly bean, my parents couldn't understand a word, but they were laughing, that was very important for me, to see that happiness in their face.

Johnny was the funniest english teacher that a child could have.

You deserve a lot of respect for that. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

God bless you all!

Merci beaucoup!


Lise Thériault (59 years old)

Jim Kinney
The year was if I remember right, 1960, maybe 1959. I was working as a plumber and one of the jobs I did was the plumbing in Channel 12's station on the Mount Royal. I was installing the toilets in the building when we felt the whole building shake with a loud noise. We all left the building when it happened to see that the TV antenna which was just erected fell to the ground. Can remember thinking that we were very lucky that it didn't fall on the building. My first experience with Channel 12. ........ Happy Anniversary

Lynn Poliseno
Happy 50th Anniversary I remember when I was a teenager my girlfriend and myself went to CFCF TV on a Saturday to see Like Young and Jim McKenna. There I met a guy named Gino and he had asked me to dance with him and we had won the dance contest. It is a great memory. Thank you for all the good memories

Jean Jacques Morisset
I remember the excitement,the anticipation and sheer delight when CFCF took the air on channel twelve. It's hard to believe that fifty years have come and gone. Thank you so much, I never thought that after all that time a TV Station would have occupied such an important part of a person's life.

Helen Moufrage
Thank for bringing Like Young in the 1960s. I was a regular on the show. Second to my best girlfriend with a a twist contest & the judge was the man himself, Chubby checker. Happy Anniversary CTV.

June Jacobs
I am also turning 50 in January, you did a story on Caughnawaga (Kahnawake) regarding the first graduation for a Kindergarten Grad Class circa 1965 or 66 & I was the one you put on air receiving a certificate. I Always tried to find it but no such luck!! Happy 50th. to you!!!

Bob Dubois
From Art to Dean to Andrew to Gord, to Bill to Brian, to Todd and Mits in news...from Brian To Dick to Ron to Randy in sports, from Marge to Don to Ron and Nick to Frank and Lori at the weather Board....it's been quite a 50 -year ride..

We've enjoyed going to the studio for Excuse my French for Beat the Clock and for It's your Move with Geurge B. and we can't forget Johnny J and some magic with Tom and dancing with Jim and June..

thanks for the entertainment and bringing us the news of the world all these five decades...

Happy 50th birthday to all at CFCF/CTV

Ron Woffenden
Happy 50th and many more. I remember when CFCF first aired in 1961. It was three months after my parents got our first tv. Loved Huckelberry Hound and all the other shows a 10 year old kid could watch. My fondest memory was being on Challenge in 1968. As Dave Boxer used to say, "Cuff Cuff has soul"

Ivan Cohene
Hometown: Laval QC Back in 1961 I was living in St. Laurent 9, Quebec. It is amazing how the station was born and as a young child of 5, I can still remember the great shows, great hosts, and all the magic that the station brought to Montreal! An amazing evolution of time and technology. Way to go Channel 12!

Cheryl Bradshaw
CTV Montreal and I share a birthday, but I'm just a bit older. On my 5th birthday on Jan 20 1961 I remember watching "channel 12" for the first time. what a thrill !! How excited we were to get a new station on our black & white TV. It just boggles the mind how much technology has leaped ahead in 50 years.....may you celebrate many more "birthdays" and maintain the very high quality that we, your viewers, have come to appreciate and expect.

Suzanne Beauregard
Happy Birthday CTV. I remember growing up & Bert Cannings daughter Cathy was in my high school class, also I was on Like Young show back in February 1968 and won the spotlight dance,many
good memories CTV. Keep it up.

Kathy LaCroix Parisien
Happy Annivery (50)...many many more...love u guys...:)

Asif Khan
Happy 50th Anniversary CFCF 12 / CTV. We love you.

Keith Bussey
When ctv was CFCF I visited a magazine show called Carte Blanc., with studios on Ogilvy Ave
I was part of a youth group and appeared on camera with the host Jimmy Tapp, apparently I did an impression of Jimmy Tapp and the paper said he fell off his chair, God bless live TV & God bless CTV

Stephanie Asselin
Happy 50th anniversary CTV Montreal!I had the chance to meet almost everyone last August and I can say that this cast is truly incredible!

All the best in 2011.

Stephanie
14 years old

Andrea Poole
I am a returning Quebecor (born and raised in MOntreal). I moved to BC in 1969.

I remember shows like Johnny Jellybean and Magic Tom. My brother and I appeared on Magic Tom back in 1960 or 1961.

It is nice to be back in Montreal (Rawdon) after 41 years absence. This is where I will spend my retirement years.

Thanks and congratulations.

Andrea Poole

Georgie (Georgette Zacard Brown)
Helen Moufrage-Totino and I appeared on the Like Young Show every Saturday. We were young teens and still talk about the great time we had on this show. We were forever on camera and became stars amongs our friends at school. Can you imagine, our friends would ask for our autographs because they had seen us on this show. I had also won the Twist Contest with Chubby Checker as a guest & met many stars, Rudy Vallee & the Four Seasons, Bobby Darrin, Billy Stuart, Andy Kim, Paul Anka, etc.. Thanks to June Mack & Jim McKenna for being there weekly for us kids. What a thrill to be part of the 50 years at CTV Montreal, in the old days, it was Marconi/CFCF TV Montreal..I then appeared on a show called, It's your Move & then was on a show about Agoraphobia on "AS It Is" with Bill Haugland in the 80's (produced by Anastasia Risacher)...

I'll be 62 in January and still remember so many great times at CFCF TV on Ogilvy Ave...

Thank you CTV and Happy 50th..

Cheers,
Georgie (Georgette Zacard Brown)

Stephen Pickford
Hopefully you will play once more or make available via the website the 30th anniversary clip that ran just after midnight as Jan.01/1991 came in..."10...20....30 years....it seems like yesterday".

Jack Curran's "Travel '72" was the inspiration for my cable tv series, "Travel World 95", which was a thrill to tape in the same studio at 405 Ogilvy, CF Cable 9 taking over that part of the building...

Watching the Joyce Davidson Show in 1978 (originating from Glen-Warren Productions at CFTO Agincourt)...being dared by a classmate to sell her raffle tickets for our school draw at Presentation High School in Montebello...being able to track her down, at home, in New York City, and she DID buy $50 of tickets...she did send her cheque as promised...and then having to write the 100 raffle slips for the draw bin, being helped by my friend in writing countless times "PO Box 9, Station O, Toronto..." --- and then he ends up working there as Audio Director years later...

I don't see too many former CFCFers on Facebook, (although I have several current staffers as FB Friends), but I think I must have re-created the entire CFTO Newsroom of 1987 on FB -- Jim Junkin, Tim Weber (ex CFCF AM 600), Tom Clark, Lin Eleoff, Rosemary Parrett....

Regards,


Stephen Pickford

Peter Schleicher
Dear Friends,
Sending you most cordial congratulations on your 50th anniversary. You have always been my favorite channel with very interesting and informative programs.......and you are getting better with age. I have some great memories of working with CFCF on many occasions while working for SWISSAIR. We sponsored several Travel Travel programs with Jack Curran and Don McGowan. Your staff was outstanding in producing great programs. It would be nice to have a reception to bring together some of the folks which helped build CFCF and later CTV. I admired and enjoyed your coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. You did exactly what was the objective of the IOC: CELEBRATE HUMANITY. You let us share the pride of our tremendous success in staging the Games and the excellent results of our Canadian team while respecting and paying tribute to all competitors.

With great pride I attach a photo of myself with one of your team members (sorry I forgot her name) and a great friend and Olympic Champion: Gaetan Boucher. This photo was taken while I represented SWISSAIR as a sponsor at one of your fund-raising event for Juvenile Diabetes Association - sorry the year I forgot.

Wishing you all lots of success for your special anniversary year and I am looking forward to some great coverage of news and events.

Best regards,
Peter

Taylor Yankowski
Dear CTV,


I was job shadowing Lori Graham on March 15, 2010 on St. Patrick's Day the whole day and was very grateful to her for it, because I was able to see the whole studio and watch the show live. This experience allowed me to understand and appreciate the process of CTV News and this also showed me that this would be a great career to get into. Thank you so much Lori Graham for this amazing experience and the incredible hospitality you demonstrated.



I would also like you to tell Todd that when I have the time from my hectic schedule I will have to send him my autograph like me gave me his.



Taylor Yankowski

Tania Mukherjee
Happy 50th anniversary from


Tania Mukherjee

Bob Aubertin
Hello,

I'm Bob Aubertin a former crew member from the 1963-66 era. I started out as a Stage-Hand & ended my stay in Telecine/Filmshading. It was a blast working at the station back then at 405. I have a lot of funny stories to tell, enough for a chapter. The reason that I mention this is; why have you not invited former support crews back to celebrate such a milestone in the history of Montreal. It would be special, just a passing thought.

Happy Birthday & Best of Broadcasting for many more!!!

Kind Regards,


Bob Aubertin

Cheryl Nye
Hi CTV,

I had the honour of singing on The CFCF telethon of Stars a few times, when I was first starting out, so CFCF/CTV has a very special place in my heart. I watch your news every day.
I'm now just releasing a new CD in February.
Thanks! I wish you all continued success with such a wonderful TV station!
Sincerely,
Cheryl Nye

Chris H
All the best for 2011 and another 50 Years. Love watching you guys.

Chris