Remember QM's Fred Diehl??

Stories and info about those no longer involved in the industry

Remember QM's Fred Diehl??

Postby Jack Bennest » Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:15 pm

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Fred Diehl passed away on November 15, 2008 in Calgary, Alberta. Bob Service, who knew Fred from the time he worked at CHQM-AM/FM Radio in Vancouver as an Announcer and subsequently through their mutual years with CBC, remembers Fred as "a great personality and a 'broadcasting character' in the truly best application of those words". Mary DePoe recalls that "Fred was a wonderful person. He started as an actor in the early days of CBC TV - and was my boss in Toronto's Contract Services in the late '70's and early '80's. He was a wonderful guy and a great boss." Among his many credits, Fred was the writer on Holiday Ranch, one of the most popular shows in Canadian television of the 1950's, which set a pattern for musical variety shows from CBC Television including Country Hoedown, Don Messer's Jubilee and Singalong Jubilee. He was one of the Producers of the CBC Radio drama series Nightfall which aired from July 1980 to June 1983 and in 1982 Fred became Executive Producer of CBC Radio's Sunday Matinee which offered adventure, comedy, romance, mystery and history plays. In 1985 he was the recipient of ACTRA's John Drainie Award for Distinguished Contribution to Broadcasting.
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Postby jon » Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:33 pm

Anyone know if he was related to Alden Diehl? Alden started at CJCA Edmonton in 1951. And Fred worked for CKUA Edmonton twice, the first time may well have been his first broadcasting job. Fred was about 10 years older than Alden.

ref. http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/pers ... php?id=207

Diehl, Alden (1931-2000)

Blessed with an angelic voice and on the threshold of a life-long career as a tenor soloist in church choirs, it was just natural that Alden would find a way into radio broadcasting through his interest in music. In 1951, he secured a job with CJCA Edmonton as Assistant Librarian, which developed into writing an on-air comedy show and some free-lance acting.

His next radio job was in Prince Albert as Copy Chief for CKBI. From the early 60s onward, Alden's career in the industry criss-crossed the country - Program Director, CFRA Ottawa, Vice-President Programming. CKLW Windsor, General Manager CKY and CITI-FM Winnipeg. and (in 1962) Vice-President and General Manager of CKLG and CFOX-FM, Vancouver, where he continued working until his retirement in 1995.

Aside from broadcasting, Alden was involved with musical groups and live performances. His name is linked with Three Dog Night, Steppenwolf, Alice Cooper, Lighthouse. and Five Man Electrical Band. While in Winnipeg, he wrote and performed a comedic piece entitled Fight on Manitoba, for which he received a Juno Award. Alden also was renowned in several churches across Canada as a tenor soloist.

Alden passed away at 69 on October 26, 2000. Posthumously, in 2001, he was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame.
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Re: Remember QM's Fred Diehl??

Postby sarlums » Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:05 pm

Alden Diehl was my grandfather. And yes, he and Fred are brothers. Fred is my great uncle.
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Re: Remember QM's Fred Diehl??

Postby Blabbermouth » Thu Oct 04, 2012 10:30 pm

Great to hear Alden Diehl's name again. He was one of the great radio guys.
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Re: Remember QM's Fred Diehl??

Postby Jack Bennest » Sun Oct 07, 2012 10:18 am

This thread heading " Remember QM's Fried Diehl?? " intriqued me this morning.

Then the surprise - I posted it 4 years ago.
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