The Barrelman
Encyclopedia
The Barrelman was a name adopted by Joseph Smallwood for his fifteen minute radio program on the Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland
to promote pride in Newfoundland
's history and culture. The show began as a column in the Daily News newspaper, and later appeared as a radio show on St. John's radio station VONF in 1937 and became part of BCN's schedule when the network was established two years later. Within a week of its 1937 premiere, it had gathered an appreciative audience that it caught the attention of F.M. O'Leary Limited who began sponsoring it. The program was aired six nights a week and remained on the air for seven years.
The opening introduction was always;
s and tales
illustrating the culture and likeable attributes of the Newfoundland people in a historical context.
The program made Smallwood a household name throughout Newfoundland. In November 1943 Smallwood left the program to operate a pig farm in Gander
, and was succeeded as the Barrelman by journalist Michael Harrington
. Harrington continued the show until 1955. Subsequently, Smallwood became a leading figure in Newfoundland politics.
A barrelman
is an individual who was stationed in the crow's nest
of a ship and was the first to spot any sign of danger and the one who first sighed land. It was an approriated term to distinguish Smallwood's relay to his message of making Newfoundland better known to Newfoundlanders.
Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland
The Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland was the government-owned public radio service of the dominion of Newfoundland. Following Newfoundland's admission as a Canadian province in 1949, the BCN was absorbed into the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and its three main AM radio transmitters...
to promote pride in Newfoundland
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
's history and culture. The show began as a column in the Daily News newspaper, and later appeared as a radio show on St. John's radio station VONF in 1937 and became part of BCN's schedule when the network was established two years later. Within a week of its 1937 premiere, it had gathered an appreciative audience that it caught the attention of F.M. O'Leary Limited who began sponsoring it. The program was aired six nights a week and remained on the air for seven years.
The opening introduction was always;
F.M. O'Leary Limited presenting The Barrelman in a program of making NewfoundlandThe show consisted of The Barrelman (Smallwood) telling anecdoteNewfoundland and LabradorNewfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
better known to Newfoundlanders.
Anecdote
An anecdote is a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person. It may be as brief as the setting and provocation of a bon mot. An anecdote is always presented as based on a real incident involving actual persons, whether famous or not, usually in an identifiable place...
s and tales
Tales
Tales can refer to:*the plural of tale*Tales , a series of role-playing games*Tales , an album by Marcus Miller*Tales of Silversleeve, an album by Cathy Davey*Tales of the Unexpected , an Anglia television series...
illustrating the culture and likeable attributes of the Newfoundland people in a historical context.
The program made Smallwood a household name throughout Newfoundland. In November 1943 Smallwood left the program to operate a pig farm in Gander
Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
Gander is a Canadian town located in the northeastern part of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, approximately south of Gander Bay, south of Twillingate and east of Grand Falls-Windsor...
, and was succeeded as the Barrelman by journalist Michael Harrington
Michael Harrington
Edward Michael "Mike" Harrington was an American democratic socialist, writer, political activist, professor of political science, radio commentator and founder of the Democratic Socialists of America.-Personal life:...
. Harrington continued the show until 1955. Subsequently, Smallwood became a leading figure in Newfoundland politics.
A barrelman
Barrelman
Barrelman is in reference to a person who would be stationed in the barrel of the foremast or crow's nest of an ocean going vessel as a navigational aid. In early ships the crow's nest was simply a barrel or a basket lashed to the tallest mast...
is an individual who was stationed in the crow's nest
Crow's nest
A crow's nest is a structure in the upper part of the mainmast of a ship or structure, that is used as a lookout point.This position ensured the best view of the approaching hazards, other ships or land. It was the best device for this purpose until the invention of radar.In early ships it was...
of a ship and was the first to spot any sign of danger and the one who first sighed land. It was an approriated term to distinguish Smallwood's relay to his message of making Newfoundland better known to Newfoundlanders.