Nobody Calls Me Mr. Kirck

John Marston was a federal civil servant in Ottawa.

Harvey Kirck, who, with Wade Rowland, has written this thoroughly interesting and entertaining book, has been a visitor in the homes of Canadians for many years. He has experienced the pioneering aspects of both radio and television, and, before his retirement, he and Lloyd Robertson anchored the CTV evening newscasts.

Kirck calls a spade a bloody shovel! He is a plain-speaking Ontario farm boy who came up the hard way to a peak of career as news head for the CTV network. He never pulls his punches, whether he is discussing his unhappy marriages (the final one is a huge success) or, in later times, a drinking problem (which he has successfully beaten).

During his career he has met and worked with Bill Hewitt, Jack Kent Cooke, and John Bassett at major stations such as CKEY and CHUM. Murray Chercover, Bruce Phillips, Larry Henderson, and Al Boliska are some of the many people whose names conjure up the radio and television world that seems so glamorous but is, in reality, backbreaking work. The book provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the world of broadcasting.

To be perfectly frank, your reviewer could not put this book down. It is more than a story. It is like two good friends, reader and Harvey Kirck, chatting like next-door neighbors. A warm and witty book.