Fred Davis (broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
Fred Davis was a Canadian
broadcaster, best known as host of the CBC Television
programme Front Page Challenge
for nearly all of its 38-year run.
Born in Toronto, he would become a trumpet player in his youth who performed at various concerts, particularly with the bands of Art Hallman and Howard Cable. At one point he was conductor of the Teentime Orchestra at CFRB radio. After serving in World War II, including performing in an army orchestra under the direction of Robert Farnon
, he would return to Toronto to study broadcasting at Lorne Greene
's School of Broadcasting.
His early radio career included Ottawa
station CFRA
since late 1946.
In the early 1950s, Davis would move to television, as one of the hosts of the 1953-1954 documentary series On the Spot
.
He began hosting the news-themed television quiz show Front Page Challenge in 1957, replacing host Alex Barris
with whom the series began that summer. He would remain host until the series was cancelled in 1995. He would host commercials and other series during his career, although his primary work remained with Front Page Challenge.
following multiple stroke
s, leaving his third wife Joy Carroll Davis and five children (two sons and three daughters) from his earlier marriages.
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...
broadcaster, best known as host of the CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC 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...
programme Front Page Challenge
Front Page Challenge
Front Page Challenge was a long-running Canadian panel game about current events and history. Created by comedy writer/performer John Aylesworth and produced and aired by CBC Television, the series ran from 1957 to 1995.-Synopsis:The series featured notable journalists attempting to guess the...
for nearly all of its 38-year run.
Born in Toronto, he would become a trumpet player in his youth who performed at various concerts, particularly with the bands of Art Hallman and Howard Cable. At one point he was conductor of the Teentime Orchestra at CFRB radio. After serving in World War II, including performing in an army orchestra under the direction of Robert Farnon
Robert Farnon
Robert Joseph Farnon was a Canadian-born composer, conductor, musical arranger and trumpet player. As well as being a famous composer of original works , he was recognised as one of the finest arrangers of his generation...
, he would return to Toronto to study broadcasting at Lorne Greene
Lorne Greene
Lorne Greene , was the stage name of Lyon Himan Green, OC, a Canadian actor.His television roles include Ben Cartwright on the western Bonanza, and Commander Adama in the science fiction movie and subsequent TV Series Battlestar Galactica...
's School of Broadcasting.
His early radio career included Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
station CFRA
CFRA (AM)
CFRA is a Conservative talk radio station in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, owned by Bell Media. The station broadcasts at 580 kHz on the AM band.-History:...
since late 1946.
In the early 1950s, Davis would move to television, as one of the hosts of the 1953-1954 documentary series On the Spot
On the Spot (Canadian TV series)
On the Spot was the first television series made specifically for TV by the National Film Board of Canada, which aired on CBC Television for two seasons from 1953 to 1954. Each episode reported on a different aspect of life in Canada...
.
He began hosting the news-themed television quiz show Front Page Challenge in 1957, replacing host Alex Barris
Alex Barris
Alex Paul Barris, CM was an American-born Canadian television actor and writer. He was a writer and panelist for the game show Front Page Challenge. He was born in New York City. He was 81 when he died due to complications from a stroke he suffered a year earlier.Alex Barris left behind a wife and...
with whom the series began that summer. He would remain host until the series was cancelled in 1995. He would host commercials and other series during his career, although his primary work remained with Front Page Challenge.
Death
Davis died age 74 at St. Michael's Hospital in TorontoSt. Michael's Hospital (Toronto)
St. Michael's Hospital is a teaching hospital and medical centre in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was established by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1892, with the founding goal of taking care of the sick and poor of Toronto's inner city. The hospital provides tertiary and quaternary services...
following multiple stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
s, leaving his third wife Joy Carroll Davis and five children (two sons and three daughters) from his earlier marriages.