Jane Gray (1896-1984) was a Canadian radio and television pioneer, active between 1924 and 1978. She was one of the first women to pursue a career in radio broadcasting in Canada, and was inducted into the Canadian Association of the Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1988.
Video Jane Gray (broadcaster)
Initial years
He was born in Croydon, England in 1896 and grew up there. He was interested in theater from an early age, but his parents were a religious Baptist and did not want him to be an entertainer. However, they allowed him to sing for church groups, and he also performed several performances during World War I to entertain troops. After marrying a British military officer named Earl Gray, he came with him to Canada as a war bride in 1919; they settled in London, Ontario, where they raised their three children, Earl Jr. (nicknamed "Buddy"), Kenneth, and Dorothy. But when the marriage failed and she separated from her husband in 1924, she had to support her children; jobs in London were not paid well, so he decided to move his family to Toronto, where he believed he could find more lucrative opportunities for the job.
Maps Jane Gray (broadcaster)
Radio career
Gray's radio career began in October 1924. Some sources state, incorrectly, that he was Canada's first broadcaster; but researcher Peggy Stewart, in her 2012 Ladies Radio: Canadian Women at Air 1922-1975, tells the story of women airing as early as 1922, including Mary Conquest of CFAC in Calgary and Elizabeth MacAdam from CKMC at Cobalt. But it is undeniable that Gray was one of Canada's early female broadcasters, and he later had one of the longest career of any female broadcaster, a career that lasted for more than five decades. His radio career began when he joined the CJGC station in London, Ontario; he organized a program in which he read poetry. He also advises listeners; by some accounts, this is the first advice program on Canadian radio. At the time, he did not use the name "Jane Gray" - he used his real name, Elsie Gray. But he meets a numerologist who tells him that the combination of letters in his name is unlucky; he decided to choose a different and shorter name, and chose "Jane Gray."
In 1927, Gray lived in Toronto, where he was employed by CFRB and later CFCA. He also continued his advice on radio stations in Toronto. He developed a strategy for making money, even in the early years of radio when some stations were financially successful: going to pay for airtime on radio stations, and then selling ads on the events he organized; his program was very popular, and he quickly began to make a profit. In 1928, he also established a group of acting, Players Jane Gray, who performed short and long radio dramas. The first few presentations he produced were a half-hour mystery game, above the Toronto station CFCA, which was owned at that time by the Toronto Star . He was later employed by CKNC in Toronto. One day, he needed a ride to work and could not find a taxi. A young man was driving and he fired him and asked if he would take him to the radio station. He did so, and to show his gratitude, he offered him the chance to take part in his radio show as one of Jane Gray's Players. The young man is Ken Soble, who will be a major force in Canadian broadcasting.
Success
At this moment, Gray starts making a name for himself. He not only wrote, produced and acted in radio dramas, but he also held a school drama class on Saturday morning. In addition to being popular among female radio listeners, Gray also began writing columns for housewives at Toronto Globe & amp; Mail . During the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s, his column, called the Home Forum , provided suggestions. She also shares recipes sent by readers, or offers housekeeping tips. And he lets his readers know what his own children are doing. On the radio and in the print media, he became famous for trying to solve his listeners problem: people would write to him about family tragedies, illnesses, financial problems, and if he could not solve his own problems he would use his program or his column to tell people and try to find a solution that way. In fact, his newspaper promotes problem-solving skills in plain advertising: readers and radio listeners are encouraged to write to him for guidance, as he "has shown the way to happiness... to thousands of men and women."
She is also known as a pitch lady, making appearances and doing testimonials for various products, some of which are claimed as "magic potions." She takes on the role of "Princess Mus-Kee-Kee," promoting a drug tonic, called Mus-Kee-Kee, which promises to cure various health problems; the sponsor expects him to wear a faux-Indian costume, and he makes an appearance in Canada, selling bottles of products. He also developed a successful sideline business as an astrologer and numerologist. The ads are placed in newspapers in every city where he appears referring to him as "The Wise Small Woman of the Air," speaking of "common sense suggestions and sound philosophy."
Next year
In the early 1940s, he took a little spare time from broadcast to take care of his son Buddy, who lives in Calgary and became seriously ill; he died of cancer at the age of 20, in 1942. He remained in Calgary for a while, before returning to Toronto and returning to broadcasting work, once again giving advice and inspiration to his listeners. As a way of dealing with his grief, he becomes involved with making other toys and crafts. His specialty is stuffed animals for children. He performed his craft and toys at hobby events, and his work became popular, especially with fans who loved to listen to him on the radio.
In addition to his radio work, starting in 1953, he became a television host at CHCH-TV in Hamilton. The station was founded by Ken Soble, who never forgot it. She dubbed him "Duchess," and hired him for his radio station, CHML, as well as for his TV station. At CHCH-TV, he is the old host of a Saturday morning program called Hobby Time, which is devoted to crafts. In the 1960s, when the style of broadcasting had become more fluent and more sophisticated, Gray was considered timeless by his fans: the critics might call it a cliche and ancient style, but in a typical week, he would receive as many as 800 letters. She is known for interviewing famous celebrities, including Liberace, Bob Hope, and Sophie Tucker, and she also interviews local people.
Gray retired from the full-time broadcast in 1979, but continued to work as an occasional freelancer, filling in every CHCH he needed, until his death in 1984 at the age of 87. He died after a brief illness, at St. Hospital. Joseph, Toronto.
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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