Toronto Mike also posted a blog about the old 1050 Chum morning show from 1987, If you have a look at the guy in the back it's Brian Henderson. I shared an office with Henny for more than 20 years and it turned out to be the adventure of a life time.
Henderson is one of those larger than life characters you run into now and again. I had the good fortune, although some would say misfortune of spending as much time with him as I did with my family. He's the only person I've met who you could have a drinking with after work at 5 pm and then get a phone call for him at 3 am the next morning saying "Hodgie, can you cover for me this morning, I'm in Florida. Don't think I'll make it back".
Henny's strongest asset was his story telling ability. He didn't always get the details correct but it always sounded good. If you've ever listended to Tony Kornhieser do radio you know what I mean. Kornhieser has that ability to paint pictures. Henderson could do it too.
It was sad to see the erosion of 1050. Henny stuck it out almost to the end. Sports caster, newsman, commentator, morning show host and he even took a spin at sports talk when 1050 morphed into The Team.
He fought a lot of personal demons and surived some serious illness. I could never figure out why no one, especially talk radio, picked him up after he recovered. He was a natural. One of the best broadcasters I have ever met and certainly of the most unique people I have ever come across.
Ah, the memories of 1050 Chum. I can still remember listening to Dick Smythe, Henny and Tom Rivers in the mornings when I was in high school. They always sounded like they were having a lot of fun. Henny always sounded like he was 10 feet away from the mike and booming out his voice. If I re-call, Smythe was a Rum and Coke drinker.
Disn't socialize much with Dick but Henny was voted man of the year at Captain Morgans 5 years running.
I remember 1050 of course but those late 70's days at CHUM-FM were pretty good too, a harder rock sound, wasn't Mark Dailey your news guy back then? Or maybe Larry Silver come to think of it.
Larry never worked at Chum he was a CFTR guy. Mark might have filled once in a while but it seems to me that Larry Wilson and Tim Lainge were the news guys.
Hodgy, this would be a good occasional musing to get your background take on what it was like working around the Chum Empire for so many years, nothing too degrading to the still out there celebs, but just the usual humourous tidbits etc.
I believe you spoke at my senior public school(Bliss Carmen in Scarborough) in 1977 or there abouts. Chum use to run the school dances and some of the Chum celebs use to come also. There isn't a single person in Toronto who didn't have some connection with Chum and it's people.
Hi Rick. I just came across your blog. How are you? Stay tuned........
Gayle, I'm doing okay although I'm trying to write this with a cat draped over my right arm. You have me intrigued. Stay tuned for what?.........
Hodgie..Henny here..I have no idea how Gayle found this site (I'm still basically computer illiterate) but she showed me your blog. Thank you for your kind words. I'm basically living fat and lazy in the great retirement void & soon the house will be almost empty. Erin just moved downtown (she's working for Corus) while Kyle is completing teachers college and getting married this summer..so he'll be gone too. I hope that you & yours & the cats are doing ok up there in potato country..Stay well my friend.
Henny, it's been way too long. Great to hear everything is good with you. Keep in touch.
Henny, See if you can get your email address.
I think u meant that you want his email address?.... briandouglashenderson@hotmail.com..he checks it occasionally...Nancy emails him regularly. I got him a laptop and set up a blog about 4 years ago but he wasn't ready, I guess. Perfect for you guys and your commentaries. Best of luck..gayle
Hi Rick...I already forget my signin! Anyway..I think u were asking for Brian's email address.. he checks it periodically unlike me...briandouglashenderson@hotmail.com...I got him a laptop and set up a blog about 4 years ago and..I guess he just wasn't ready for the technology! It is good that you started this..good luck...gayle