FLASHBACK: MOBILE TECHNICIAN CELEBRATION 1978 FROM JOE CRANSWICK

FLASHBACK
CBC Vancouver Mobile Technicians’ Celebration 1978 from Joe Cranswick

This Flashback comes courtesy of Joe Cranswick who was with the CBC Vancouver Maintenance Department from 1972 until his retirement in 2011.  Joe tells us that the picture was taken in May 1978 in the old parking lot which was located at the south end of the CBC building at 700 Hamilton Street.  Joe elaborated that, “It was a group of TV mobile technicians raising a glass and wishing Barb and me all the best on our recent wedding. They are standing beside an econoline van which was the first EFP van in Vancouver.  In those days, we called it the ‘mini mobile’. It was put into service in 1973 with one of the first hand-held cameras in Canada, the Bosch Fernseh, and a two-inch portable reel-to-reel VTR.  At the time the picture was taken, the ‘real’ mini mobile had just been taken out of service.  It was being replaced with a new van with a built-in generator and a full-size AVR-2 Quad tape machine.  There are a few props…Rick Beal is leaning against the portable Kolher generator that was mounted on the van’s front bumper for powering all the equipment.  Between Greg and Jerry, there is a partially disassembled camera head and backpack held together with gaffer tape.  I am not sure why the goat’s head is in the picture - I am sure there is some deep meaning behind this.  My red tool box front and centre was used by all and went everywhere the truck went.  There is a small story about that toolbox but you will have to ask retired maintenance technician, Bill Reimer, about that.  As you can see from the picture, they were a great group of guys to work with.”

Front Row L-R:  Bruce Johnston (System Technologist), Larry Watson (Audio Technician), Randy ? or is this Doug Chatwin? , Rick Beal (TV Mtce. Supervisor), Marv Coulthard (Audio Technician).

Back Row L-R:  Ray Waines (Supervising Technician), George Jones (Lighting Technician), Neil Trainer (ENG/EFP Cameraman), Doug MacCormack (ENG Cameraman), Carl Pedersen (Video Technician), Greg Schofield (Mobile Maintenance), Jerry Williamson (Technical Producer), Bob Glumac (Sr. Maintenance Technician), Les Erskine (Lighting Technician).

NEXT PHOTO FLASHBACKS:
July 15:          TBA
August 1:       TBA

Do you have group photos of five or more people from your time with CBC Vancouver?  We’d love to post them as future Flashbacks.  Whether you can identify everyone or not, please send them in (we might resolve some of the mysteries!).  Contact us at https://goo.gl/QNvaxu  to arrange for loan of photos.