Elwood Glover
Encyclopedia
William Elwood Glover was a Canadian radio and television broadcaster who was best known as the host of Elwood Glover's Luncheon Date
.
Born in Carmel, Saskatchewan
, Glover began his 46 year broadcasting career in the city near his home town, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
at a 250 watt radio station (CHAB) for $5 a week. From there he moved onto Toronto in 1938 to be one of the six staff announcer at CBC. He would remain at the CBC for the next 35 years. 1939 saw him covering the Royal tour. He then went on to be CBC's chief announcer during World War II.
Following the war, Glover was the host of At Ease with Elwood Glover, an afternoon drive show on CBC radio in the 1950s and 1960s. Elwood Glover's Luncheon Date, debuted on the radio in 1956, and was moved to television in 1963. Glover interviewed thousands of guests on Luncheon Date over the next twelve years, including Eartha Kitt
, Ella Fitzgerald
, and Mel Tormé
. A clarinetist and one time bandleader, Glover used his show to highlight Canadian talent. One Canadian guest, Stompin' Tom Connors
, was married on Glover's show in 1973.
Fans and critics called Glover "Mr. Bland," "Mr. Cool," "Mr. Nice Guy," or "Mr. Molasses." Glover took it in stride and said, "I'd like to be a more colourful person, but I haven't the makeup for it. I've got this label of a nice guy and it bores the hell out of me. But I hold myself back a little and let my guest shine out."
Glover moved back to radio in 1975, working at radio stations CKEY
(where for four years he was their most popular host), CKO
and FM-108 in Burlington.
A quadruple bypass in 1982 and poor health would ultimately force Glover to retire in 1983. Glover died on November 14, 1990, leaving his wife, two daughters and five grandchildren.
Elwood Glover's Luncheon Date
Elwood Glover's Luncheon Date was a Canadian television talk show series which aired on CBC Television from 1963 to 1975.Host Elwood Glover previously hosted noon-time programming on CBC Radio from 1956. A new studio was set up at the Four Seasons Hotel, near the CBC broadcast headquarters on...
.
Born in Carmel, Saskatchewan
Carmel, Saskatchewan
Carmel is a small community in rural Saskatchewan, west of Humboldt and northeast of the City of Saskatoon. Carmel is within the Rural Municipality of Humboldt.The Carmel area is home to the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel...
, Glover began his 46 year broadcasting career in the city near his home town, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Moose Jaw is a city in south-central Saskatchewan, Canada on the Moose Jaw River. It is situated on the Trans-Canada Highway, west of Regina. Residents of Moose Jaw are known as Moose Javians. It is best known as a retirement and tourist city that serves as a hub to the hundreds of small towns...
at a 250 watt radio station (CHAB) for $5 a week. From there he moved onto Toronto in 1938 to be one of the six staff announcer at CBC. He would remain at the CBC for the next 35 years. 1939 saw him covering the Royal tour. He then went on to be CBC's chief announcer during World War II.
Following the war, Glover was the host of At Ease with Elwood Glover, an afternoon drive show on CBC radio in the 1950s and 1960s. Elwood Glover's Luncheon Date, debuted on the radio in 1956, and was moved to television in 1963. Glover interviewed thousands of guests on Luncheon Date over the next twelve years, including Eartha Kitt
Eartha Kitt
Eartha Mae Kitt was an American singer, actress, and cabaret star. She was perhaps best known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 hit recordings of "C'est Si Bon" and the enduring Christmas novelty smash "Santa Baby." Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the...
, Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, and Mel Tormé
Mel Tormé
Melvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
. A clarinetist and one time bandleader, Glover used his show to highlight Canadian talent. One Canadian guest, Stompin' Tom Connors
Stompin' Tom Connors
Charles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors, OC is one of Canada's most prolific and well-known country and folk singers.He lives in Wellington County, Ontario.- Early life :...
, was married on Glover's show in 1973.
Fans and critics called Glover "Mr. Bland," "Mr. Cool," "Mr. Nice Guy," or "Mr. Molasses." Glover took it in stride and said, "I'd like to be a more colourful person, but I haven't the makeup for it. I've got this label of a nice guy and it bores the hell out of me. But I hold myself back a little and let my guest shine out."
Glover moved back to radio in 1975, working at radio stations CKEY
CHKT (AM)
CHKT is a Canadian radio station, airing at 1430 AM in Toronto, Ontario. The station, owned by the Fairchild Radio service, airs Chinese language programming.-History:The station first aired in 1925 as AM 840 CKCL, owned by the Dominion Battery company...
(where for four years he was their most popular host), CKO
CKO
CKO was a Canadian radio news network which operated from 1977 to 1989. The CKO call sign was shared by twelve network-owned stations, as listed below....
and FM-108 in Burlington.
A quadruple bypass in 1982 and poor health would ultimately force Glover to retire in 1983. Glover died on November 14, 1990, leaving his wife, two daughters and five grandchildren.