BACK STORY: This audio comes from a 12 inch acetate that was recorded at CJCH in May of 1950. In 1949, the capital city of Halifax had been spoiling for a blowout to celebrate its Bicentennial, having been founded in 1749. And celebrate they did ... in a big way, considering the city had gotten a black eye four short years before when it was trashed by armed forces members and civilians alike ... after some jerk decided to close the city down .... after having endured six years of WW II and all the privations that went with it. No booze makes for a dull party and a large,expensive riot. A year later in 1946, the Bedford Magazine explosion came close to becoming a re-enactment of the Halifax Explosion of 1917... that leveled parts of the city and took many lives. So, Haligonians partied large and heartily in August,1949.
Until late Premier John Savage (and ex Mayor of Dartmouth, at that) of Nova Scotia, , came on the scene and ripped the guts out of what used to be Dartmouthians' pride in their City and themselves, by presiding over a "shotgun wedding" that would reduce Dartmouth to an "also ran" while playing "second banana" to Halifax, there had always been a healthy rivalry between the two cities. So it was in 1950 that Dartmouth was not about to be outdone. No way! So, in the lead up to Dartmouth's 200th Birthday, a lot of work went into planning events that would be bigger than Halifax's, if not more memorable.
My father was approached by someone from the promotions department of CJCH radio in Halifax .... who asked if he could possibly put together a jingle that could be used to promote Dartmouth's 200th Birthday party. This song was the result. Recorded at CJCH radio's studios which were, at that time, located in the Lord Nelson Hotel. My father, playing his tenor guitar, backed the vocals of himself, my mother, aunt, and uncle. That's my aunt Flora singing those crisp high parts next to my uncle Alan's tenor and dad's bass. This little song was shipped out to radio stations all over the New England states where a lot of ex -pat Nova Scotians had moved for work.
My father met many of them who had heard the song on local radio in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island .... and they did come home for the party.
Dad and the others who participated in making this, never received so much as a "Thank You" for their efforts, from anyone in authority, ever.
Негізгі бет Dartmouth, N.S. - 1950 radio promo.avi
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