''Morningside'' was a nationally broadcast Canadian radio program, which aired on CBC Radio from September 20, 1976 to May 30, 1997. It was broadcast from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday to Friday. The series replaced a series of short-lived morning radio programs that aired in this slot after '' This Country in the Morning'' ended in 1974.
The show was created by Krista Mäeots who served as its executive producer until her death in 1978. She had formerly been a producer with ''This Country in the Morning''. The show debuted with Harry Brown and Maxine Crook as co-hosts. In September 1977,
Don Harron
Donald Hugh Harron, (September 19, 1924 – January 17, 2015) was a Canadian comedian, actor, director, journalist, author, playwright, and composer. Harron is best remembered by American audiences as a member of the cast of the long-running co ...
became host of the show. But the program was most associated with legendary Canadian broadcaster Peter Gzowski, who assumed the host's chair in 1982. The program was a mixture of news and human interest interviews.
Shelagh Rogers
Shelagh Rogers, OC, is a Canadian broadcast journalist based in British Columbia. She is the host and producer of CBC Radio One's '' The Next Chapter'', and former chancellor of the University of Victoria.
Background
Rogers grew up in Ottawa ...
and
Stuart McLean
Andrew Stuart McLean, (April 19, 1948 – February 15, 2017) was a Canadian radio broadcaster, humorist, monologist, and author, best known as the host of the CBC Radio program ''The Vinyl Cafe''.Prime Time'', ''Morningside'' added a prime time edition which replayed selected segments from that morning's broadcast."Prime cut". '' The Globe and Mail'', June 16, 1993.
''Morningside'' has proven to be one of the most successful radio programs in CBC history. Among the regular contributors was producer and comedian
Stuart McLean
Andrew Stuart McLean, (April 19, 1948 – February 15, 2017) was a Canadian radio broadcaster, humorist, monologist, and author, best known as the host of the CBC Radio program ''The Vinyl Cafe''.The Vinyl Cafe'', which eventually was spun-off to become a regular separate program on CBC Radio for decades.
When Gzowski retired, ''Morningside'' and the network's Sunday public affairs show '' Sunday Morning'' were replaced by '' This Morning'', which was hosted in its first year by Michael Enright and Avril Benoit.
Gzowski hosted the last episode of ''Morningside'' from the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa Resort in Moose Jaw. The resort named its café the Morningside Café in honour of the last broadcast.
Theme music
During Harron's tenure, the opening theme was "Jogging Along" by John Arpin. " Blue Skies" composed by
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin (born Israel Beilin; yi, ישראל ביילין; May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-American composer, songwriter and lyricist. His music forms a large part of the Great American Songbook.
Born in Imperial Russ ...
was used as the closing theme. The theme for Gzowski's tenure was "Morningside theme" composed by David W. Thompson. The closing theme was "Happiness" by Sandro Carlo Camerin (Reel to Reel).