A television program about people living on a remote refuge in Alaska caught my attention. People live off the grid and off the land as hunters and trappers. The remote cabin dwellers receive news from their families in more populated areas of Alaska as personal messages via radio. A family member can phone the radio station and leave a recorded message which is played on air, or the message can be read by the announcer. This type of communication goes on today in Alaska and is very important to the people involved.
This story reminded me of a similar time in Newfoundland. A radio program sponsored by Gerald S. Doyle, a Newfoundland businessman, gave the news, followed by a bulletin. It aired from 1932-66. The weekday program helped Newfoundland families stay in touch.
The Bulletin often reported on people away at hospital in St. John's, telling families of their medical progress and plans for their return home. It was common to hear things like, "To Sally Jones in Jones Cove, Bert is doing well after the surgery and will be home on the train on Friday." Or, "To John Smith in Smithville, Mary had the baby on Sunday. Mother and daughter are doing well."
All around the province, people tuned in to the latest news, weather and word of their compatriots. My family on the east coast of Newfoundland and my husband's family on the west coast, listened as well. The program was on supper time province-wide, making the island one big community, sharing personal information the quickest way possible.
On a lighter note, the bulletin often contained some humorous commentary as well. One story goes that the announcer read this message immediately before the weather forecast, saying "There is a bean supper tonight in Lark Harbour...And now for the gale warning."
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