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 From almost the day CKCO signed on,
until illness forced her retirement in 1971, Elaine Cole
was a major attraction in CKCO’s daily local programming
line-up.
Elaine
was well known locally through her roles in various
organizations when CKCO recruited her to host their
public service/’women’s interest’ programming. First
with a half hour, then expanded to one hour, live, daily
Elaine mixed interviews with local groups promoting
current activities, visiting celebrities and
dignitaries, show headliners, authors, new product
demonstrators, discussions of timely issues, and
showcasing local talent in a variety show format, so
popular guest spots on her show required three and four
weeks advance booking. On air, Elaine was backed by
studio musicians Joe Carlo, then George Kadwell, finally
Pat Ludwig, and, in her last two years on air, with
myself as co-host/co-producer.
For program management, Elaine’s
show was a ratings booster, moving from mid-afternoon to
late morning as CKCO’s programming schedules expanded,
positioned as a good run-up for shows that followed her.
When CKKW radio was added to the Central Ontario roster,
Elaine did an initial daily hour on radio as well as her
television show.
In 1971, Elaine was stricken with
rheumatoid arthritis, its onset so sudden and its
progress so relentless that Elaine’s on-air career
disappeared virtually overnight. While still able she
took on a role as a spokesman locally for the Rheumatoid
Arthritis Foundation, eventually that becoming too
onerous, her last years confined to a wheel chair.
Elaine’s home-life revolved around
her mother, son – actor Bill Cole, - daughter Helen,
grandchildren Trevor – as a novelist, twice shortlisted
for the Governor General’s Award, and Valerie, formerly
CHYM radio personality, now on air in Vancouver.
Larry McIntyre
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