Keywords: CHOO Radio, CHOO Radio Ajax, CHOO Radio 1390 AM, CHOO Radio 14, CHOO Country Radio, CHOO Radio Station.

CHOO Radio Recollections

An on line scrapbook of images & text for former staff and listeners alike

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There once was a mighty fine little radio station in Ajax, Ontario, Canada with the call letters CHOO. Founded in 1967, it eventually left the AM band and evolved into another station by the end of 1994.

In between those years, a lot of talented folk came and went through the doors of 97 McMaster Avenue - its ramshackle home until late 1990 - and a lot of happy listeners enjoyed the entertaining results.

This site is an attempt to recapture some of those now rapidly fading memories. If you have anything to share, please get in touch. Meanwhile... enjoy!

Version 6.1 - Modified July 17/10

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(LEFT) Here is the CHOO train from Christmas 1980, lovingly made in ceramics by a dedicated CHOO listener. The train was the visual logo used by CHOO throughout its "Radio 14" CHOO Country era. This kind of gift to the staff was typical of the generosity of CHOO listeners in the Durham region.

(BELOW) Here's an original CHOO News microphone "flag" from the mid-1980s. Flags were an important way of promoting any station during interviews made on location. CHOO had an excellent news operation at the time which provided unparalleled local coverage.

(BELOW) Who is that scrawny young pisher? Why, that's ME! On air in the CHOO control room in 1979 as "John Richards" working holidays, weekends, sick days etc. as a "swing" announcer - my first paid radio gig ever. Note the 45 rpm records, the reel to reel tape machine, the old dial phone, the Western Electric board, and the carts and cart machine to run commercials. Just above my head you can see the window to the news booth. What you can't see is that unforgetable yellow shag rug that covered all the walls, providing both some sort of sound proofing and a lot of laughs even to this day.

Hey! If I can share such embarrassing photos, so can you! Don't send any files yet, just send me an e mail to get in touch. E mail at the bottom of this page. All the best from "John Richards".