Bill Guest (1928-1985) was best known as quizmaster of the Winnipeg edition of ''

Reach for the Top ''Reach for the Top'' (also known simply as ''Reach'') is a Canadian academic quiz competition for high school students. In the past, it has also been a game show nationally broadcast on the CBC. Matches are currently aired online through Reach ...

'' from 1962–1985 and quizmaster of the national finals between 1969 and 1985 when the show aired on

CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French-l ...

. Bill began his broadcasting career in 1945 at

Port Arthur, Ontario Port Arthur was a city in Northern Ontario, Canada, located on Lake Superior. In January 1970, it amalgamated with Fort William and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay. Port Arthur had been the district seat of ...

radio station CKPR. In 1948 Bill moved to Winnipeg radio station CKRC, which was part of CBC Radio's secondary

Dominion Network The Dominion Network was the second English-language radio network of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from January 1, 1944 to 1962. It consisted of the CBC-owned CJBC radio station in Toronto and a series of 34 privately owned affiliates ...

. There, he hosted several programs, including ''Guest in the House'', ''Farmer Fiddlers'', ''Pick the Hits'', and the ''Eddy Arnold Show''. Bill joined

CBWT CBWT-DT (channel 6) is a CBC Television station in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It has common ownership with Ici Radio-Canada Télé station CBWFT-DT (channel 3). Both stations share studios on Portage Avenue and Young Street in Downtown Winnipeg, ...

in 1958 where he co-hosted ''The Mary Liz Show'' in 1960–61, ''Tandem'' with Mary Liz Bayer in 1961, and the Winnipeg segment of summer program ''Vacation Time'' on CBC Television in 1964. He also co-hosted '' Prairie Profile'' with Marilyn Phillips. He also co-hosted the late 1970s panel show '' Beyond Reason'' with

Allen Spraggett Allen Spraggett (26 March 1932 – 19 July 2022) was a Canadian writer and broadcaster, known for his works concerning the paranormal. Biography During the 1950s, Spraggett was a minister of the Open Door Evangelical Church. He transferred to ...

. From 1962 to 1985, Guest hosted the Winnipeg version of high school quiz show ''

'' and the national finals from 1969 and 1985 when the show aired on

. In late August, 1984, Bill announced his retirement. He played the part of the station announcer in

Richard Condie Richard Condie, (born 1942) is a Canadian animator, filmmaker, musician and voice actor. Condie is best known for his 1985 animated short ''The Big Snit'' at the National Film Board of Canada and has won six international awards for ''Getting ...

's 1985 animated short film, ''

The Big Snit ''The Big Snit'' is a 1985 animated short film written and directed by Richard Condie and produced by the National Film Board of Canada. Plot A married couple plays a game of Scrabble that has stalemated as the husband is unable to come up with ...

''. Guest died of a heart attack on June 25, 1985.

Trivia

Bill Guest's grandson, Will Guest, was a contestant on ''Reach for the Top''.

References

* "CKRC Radio Album 5000 Watts 630 kc" (unknown publ. date)

External links

CBC Archives
��There are a couple of video clips from ''Beyond Reason'' that you can view.
Reach for the Top website
* Canadian game show hosts People from Sioux Lookout 1928 births 1985 deaths {{Canada-tv-bio-stub