Clyde Gilmour
Encyclopedia
Clyde Gilmour, was a Canadian broadcaster and print journalist, mostly known for his half-century career with CBC Radio
.
, where he attended Alexandra High School until graduation in 1929. The conditions of the Great Depression
prevented Gilmour from continuing to university, and in 1930 he joined the Medicine Hat News
staff.
Following journalistic and public relations service in World War II
, Gilmour lived in Vancouver contributing film and music reviews for the Vancouver Province and Vancouver Sun newspapers while beginning his long association with CBC Radio by broadcasting film reviews on station CBU
. One noteworthy record review for the Sun was a 1950 evaluation of some early Oscar Peterson
works. In 1954, he moved to Toronto and wrote similar columns for the Toronto Telegram
until that newspaper's demise in 1971. He then wrote for the Toronto Star
for the remainder of the 1970s.
On 5 October 1956, the first episode of Gilmour's Albums
was broadcast on CBC Radio, a weekly music programme which continued until 14 June 1997. Selections on the program were generally drawn from his personal collection which eventually included 10 000 vinyl records
and 4000 Compact Disc
s. These items were bequeathed to the CBC and today forms the Clyde Gilmour Collection. Gilmour's Albums established a record longevity for single-host CBC Radio shows.
Gilmour was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada
in 1975. He died at St. Joseph's Health Centre at Toronto in November 1997, aged 85. The Toronto Film Critics Association
occasionally presents the Clyde Gilmour Award in his honour.
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
.
Biography
Gilmour was raised in Medicine Hat, AlbertaMedicine Hat, Alberta
Medicine Hat, known to locals as "The Hat", is a city of 61,097 people located in the southeastern part of the province of Alberta, Canada. It is enclaved within Cypress County along with the nearby Town of Redcliff, although neither is part of the county....
, where he attended Alexandra High School until graduation in 1929. The conditions of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
prevented Gilmour from continuing to university, and in 1930 he joined the Medicine Hat News
Medicine Hat News
The Medicine Hat News is a daily newspaper published in Medicine Hat, Alberta. It features a city news section, a national news section, a world news section, a sports section, a comics section, and a classifieds section. The paper is owned by Southern Alberta Newspapers and has been published...
staff.
Following journalistic and public relations service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Gilmour lived in Vancouver contributing film and music reviews for the Vancouver Province and Vancouver Sun newspapers while beginning his long association with CBC Radio by broadcasting film reviews on station CBU
CBU (AM)
CBU is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts the programming of the CBC Radio One network in Vancouver, British Columbia. The station broadcasts from Steveston on 690 AM and from Mount Seymour on 88.1 FM....
. One noteworthy record review for the Sun was a 1950 evaluation of some early Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
works. In 1954, he moved to Toronto and wrote similar columns for the Toronto Telegram
Toronto Telegram
The Toronto Evening Telegram was a conservative, broadsheet afternoon newspaper published in Toronto from 1876 to 1971. It had a reputation for supporting the Conservative Party at both the federal and provincial level. The paper competed with the liberal Toronto Star...
until that newspaper's demise in 1971. He then wrote for the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
for the remainder of the 1970s.
On 5 October 1956, the first episode of Gilmour's Albums
Gilmour's Albums
Gilmour's Albums was one of the longest-running radio shows on CBC Radio, and was hosted by former newspaper reporter Clyde Gilmour.The show started in 1957, and its format consisted of selections of music, hand-picked by Gilmour, many from his own vast personal record collection...
was broadcast on CBC Radio, a weekly music programme which continued until 14 June 1997. Selections on the program were generally drawn from his personal collection which eventually included 10 000 vinyl records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
and 4000 Compact Disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
s. These items were bequeathed to the CBC and today forms the Clyde Gilmour Collection. Gilmour's Albums established a record longevity for single-host CBC Radio shows.
Gilmour was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1975. He died at St. Joseph's Health Centre at Toronto in November 1997, aged 85. The Toronto Film Critics Association
Toronto Film Critics Association
The Toronto Film Critics Association is an organization of film reviewers from Toronto-based publications. As of 1999, the TFCA is member of FIPRESCI.-History:...
occasionally presents the Clyde Gilmour Award in his honour.
Career timeline
- 1930-1936: Medicine Hat News, newspaper columnist and reporter
- 1936-1942: Edmonton JournalEdmonton JournalThe Edmonton Journal is a daily newspaper in Edmonton, Alberta. It is part of the Postmedia Network.-History:The Journal was founded in 1903 by three local businessmen — John Macpherson, Arthur Moore and J.W. Cunningham — as a rival to Alberta's first newspaper, the 23-year-old...
1939-1945 World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
: Navy News writer, wartime public relations - 1945-1949: Vancouver Province
- 1947-1964: CBC RadioCBC RadioCBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
, film reviewer - 1949-1952: MayfairMayfairMayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, music columnist - 1949-1954: Vancouver Sun, film reviewer
- 1950-1964: Maclean'sMaclean'sMaclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
, film reviewer - 1953-1955: Window On Canada, CBC TelevisionCBC TelevisionCBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
, host - 1954-1971: Toronto TelegramToronto TelegramThe Toronto Evening Telegram was a conservative, broadsheet afternoon newspaper published in Toronto from 1876 to 1971. It had a reputation for supporting the Conservative Party at both the federal and provincial level. The paper competed with the liberal Toronto Star...
, film reviewer - 1956-1997: Gilmour's AlbumsGilmour's AlbumsGilmour's Albums was one of the longest-running radio shows on CBC Radio, and was hosted by former newspaper reporter Clyde Gilmour.The show started in 1957, and its format consisted of selections of music, hand-picked by Gilmour, many from his own vast personal record collection...
, CBC Radio - 1958-1959: Folio, CBC TelevisionCBC TelevisionCBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
- 1971-1980: Toronto StarToronto StarThe Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
, film reviewer - 1977-1983: Audio Canada, magazine writer
- 1980-1983: Toronto StarToronto StarThe Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
, features - 1983-1985: Leisure Ways
Awards and recognition
- 1975: Member, Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
- 1976: Honorary Doctor of Laws from McMaster UniversityMcMaster UniversityMcMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
- 1990: Canadian News Hall of Fame
External links
- Order of Canada citation
- The Canadian Encyclopedia: Clyde Gilmour
- CBC Archives: Virtual Tour - Other Libraries (information on Clyde Gilmour Collection)