Rai Purdy
Encyclopedia
Rai Purdy was a Canadian television director and producer. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
Hall of Fame.
in 1911. After dropping out of high school in the 1920s, Purdy became a bicycle messenger
, while performing at banquets and church shows to earn extra money. In 1929, Purdy was accepted into the Hart House Theatre Company at the University of Toronto
, studying with personalities such as Maud Hope and Dora Mavor Moore
. During his time at Hart House, Purdy performed in various Ontario Drama Festivals and worked with director Edgar Stone. Both Purdy and Stone were interested in radio
, which was in its early stages at the time, and Stone got Purdy an audition with radio broadcaster Harry Sedgewick at CFRB Radio in Toronto
. At Sedgewick's request, the name Horatio was dropped from his name.
department and established the Canadian Theatre of the Air, the first national radio playhouse. Purdy also directed weekly serials, notably Penny's Diary and the thriller Out of the Night. At CFRB Purdy also established contacts with a network that would serve him well in later life. This network included comedian Alan Savage, along with future television personalities Lorne Greene
, Monty Hall
and Andrew Allan
. In 1939 Purdy left CFRB to produce broadcasts for radio stations independently.
In 1941, Purdy joined the Canadian Army as a member of the army broadcast unit, and was promoted to lieutenant in 1942. He produced weekly CBC
radio shows and directed the Canadian army stage shows, which in 1943 entertained troops in England. After the war, Purdy produced shows in Toronto for a time, then moved to New York
in 1950 to pursue a career in television with CBS Television
. During his time at CBS Purdy produced and directed shows such as The Morning Show with Dick Van Dyke and Merv Griffin and Celebrity Time
.
invited Purdy to help establish Scottish Television
in Glasgow
as head of the programming department. At the time, Scottish Television was an ITV
contractor and followed the trend of making cutbacks to funding, and by 1959 Purdy decided to return to Canada to work on the CFTO television license application, where he remained as director of programs until 1961, when he resigned to set up his own programming company, Rai Purdy Productions, where he directed People in Conflict
and Magistrate's Court
for CTV
.
Purdy also hosted Telethon shows for twenty years, raising over $250,000,000 (CAD
) for various Lions Clubs, Variety Clubs and hospitals until his death in Vancouver
in May 1990. In November 2007 Purdy was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
' Hall of Fame.
Canadian Association of Broadcasters
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters was the national voice of Canada's private broadcasters, representing the vast majority of Canadian programming services, including private radio and television stations, specialty, pay and pay-per-view services....
Hall of Fame.
Early life
Rai Purdy was born Horatio John Purdy in England during November 1910 and moved to TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1911. After dropping out of high school in the 1920s, Purdy became a bicycle messenger
Bicycle messenger
Bicycle messengers are people who work for courier companies carrying and delivering items by bicycle. Bicycle messengers are most often found in the central business districts of metropolitan areas...
, while performing at banquets and church shows to earn extra money. In 1929, Purdy was accepted into the Hart House Theatre Company at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, studying with personalities such as Maud Hope and Dora Mavor Moore
Dora Mavor Moore
Dora Mavor Moore, OC was a Canadian actor, teacher and director who was a pioneer of Canadian theater.- Life :...
. During his time at Hart House, Purdy performed in various Ontario Drama Festivals and worked with director Edgar Stone. Both Purdy and Stone were interested in radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, which was in its early stages at the time, and Stone got Purdy an audition with radio broadcaster Harry Sedgewick at CFRB Radio in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. At Sedgewick's request, the name Horatio was dropped from his name.
Radio career
At CFRB Purdy was eventually promoted to the position of head of the dramaDrama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
department and established the Canadian Theatre of the Air, the first national radio playhouse. Purdy also directed weekly serials, notably Penny's Diary and the thriller Out of the Night. At CFRB Purdy also established contacts with a network that would serve him well in later life. This network included comedian Alan Savage, along with future television personalities 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...
, Monty Hall
Monty Hall
Monte Halperin, OC, OM , better known by the stage name Monty Hall, is a Canadian-born MC, producer, actor, singer and sportscaster, best known as host of the television game show Let's Make a Deal.-Early life:...
and Andrew Allan
Andrew Allan
Andrew Allan , born in Scotland, was the national head of CBC Radio Drama from 1943 to 1955. He oversaw the work of some of the finest talents of the day – writers and actors such as Lister Sinclair, Mavor Moore, W.O...
. In 1939 Purdy left CFRB to produce broadcasts for radio stations independently.
In 1941, Purdy joined the Canadian Army as a member of the army broadcast unit, and was promoted to lieutenant in 1942. He produced weekly CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
radio shows and directed the Canadian army stage shows, which in 1943 entertained troops in England. After the war, Purdy produced shows in Toronto for a time, then moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1950 to pursue a career in television with CBS Television
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. During his time at CBS Purdy produced and directed shows such as The Morning Show with Dick Van Dyke and Merv Griffin and Celebrity Time
Celebrity Time
Celebrity Time was an American game and audience participation television series which aired originally aired on CBS and ABC from November 1948 to September 1952...
.
Television career
In 1957 Roy ThomsonRoy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet
Roy Herbert Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet GBE was a Canadian newspaper proprietor and media entrepreneur.-Career:...
invited Purdy to help establish Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
as head of the programming department. At the time, Scottish Television was an ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
contractor and followed the trend of making cutbacks to funding, and by 1959 Purdy decided to return to Canada to work on the CFTO television license application, where he remained as director of programs until 1961, when he resigned to set up his own programming company, Rai Purdy Productions, where he directed People in Conflict
People in Conflict
People in Conflict was an afternoon program that appeared on CTV Television Network every weekday from October 1, 1962 through September 11, 1970. It ran for half an hour and covered two different stories of real people suffering from emotional crises...
and Magistrate's Court
Magistrate's Court (television show)
Magistrate's Court is a Canadian television series airing weekdays in syndication from 1963—1969. The show is a dramatization of the day-to-day life of a police magistrate, portrayed by Roy Jacques. The series was produced by Rai Purdy.- External links :...
for CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
.
Purdy also hosted Telethon shows for twenty years, raising over $250,000,000 (CAD
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
) for various Lions Clubs, Variety Clubs and hospitals until his death in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
in May 1990. In November 2007 Purdy was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
Canadian Association of Broadcasters
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters was the national voice of Canada's private broadcasters, representing the vast majority of Canadian programming services, including private radio and television stations, specialty, pay and pay-per-view services....
' Hall of Fame.