Alan Maitland
Encyclopedia
Alan Maitland was a Canadian
radio broadcaster and author. He was a longtime host for CBC Radio
, starting as an announcer in 1947 and was later cohost of As It Happens
from 1974 to 1993. He was also part of the administration of CBC Radio for a brief period after he was through with being an announcer in 1958.
In his "Fireside Al" segments on As It Happens and other CBC programs ("Frontporch Al" in summer time), Maitland frequently read short stories, some of which he also published in book form. Some "Fireside Al" segments continue to air on the program to this day, particularly his Christmas Eve readings of stories by Frederick Forsyth
, notably The Shepherd
, and O. Henry
's The Gift of the Magi
.
He died of heart failure due to congestive heart disease in Vancouver, British Columbia at the age of 78. He is survived by his second wife, Marilyn Maitland, his first wife Constance Maitland and their two children.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
radio broadcaster and author. He was a longtime host for CBC Radio
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
, starting as an announcer in 1947 and was later cohost of As It Happens
As It Happens
As It Happens is a long-running interview show on CBC Radio One in Canada. Its 40th anniversary was celebrated on-air on 18 November 2008. It has been one of the most popular and acclaimed shows on CBC Radio; it is also distributed in the United States by Public Radio International.The bulk of the...
from 1974 to 1993. He was also part of the administration of CBC Radio for a brief period after he was through with being an announcer in 1958.
In his "Fireside Al" segments on As It Happens and other CBC programs ("Frontporch Al" in summer time), Maitland frequently read short stories, some of which he also published in book form. Some "Fireside Al" segments continue to air on the program to this day, particularly his Christmas Eve readings of stories by Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth, CBE is an English author and occasional political commentator. He is best known for thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan and The Cobra.-...
, notably The Shepherd
The Shepherd
The Shepherd is a 1976 novella by Frederick Forsyth.The Shepherd relates the story of a De Havilland Vampire pilot, going home on Christmas Eve 1957, whose aircraft suffers a complete electrical failure en route from RAF Celle in northern Germany to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk...
, and O. Henry
O. Henry
O. Henry was the pen name of the American writer William Sydney Porter . O. Henry's short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings.-Early life:...
's The Gift of the Magi
The Gift of the Magi
"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story written by O. Henry , about a young married couple and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money...
.
He died of heart failure due to congestive heart disease in Vancouver, British Columbia at the age of 78. He is survived by his second wife, Marilyn Maitland, his first wife Constance Maitland and their two children.