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The Morningside Years
From 1972 to 1997, each weekday morning, Morningside host Peter Gzowski guided what he considered the most intelligent listeners in the country through three hours of the most intelligent radio programming in the land. He took us through the briars of political and social policy debate, entertained us with the best of Canadian music and song, challenged us with the mysteries of science, tipped us to the better books of the season and introduced us to their authors, gave us tested and mouthwatering recipes, read aloud our best letters to him, and took us off the beaten path of Canada to show us who and where we are.
The program lives on in The Morningside Years. In these pages – and on the accompanying free compact disk – you’ll find a collection of the most memorable items from the program’s years on air. Here you’ll rediscover Gzowski’s interviews with the stars of Canadian literature – Margaret Laurence, Robertson Davies, W. O. Mitchell, Alice Munro, Timothy Findley, and Margaret Atwood. The heartbreaking drama by Emil Sher, Mourning Dove, is presented in its entirety, as is the exceptional panel discussion of Louis Riel’s trial. There’s a chapter of the fifteen best letters to the program, as well as a mini-Morningside Papers – “The Sixth (and Definitely Last).”
There are photographs, too: a Morningside family album and a series of candid shots taken in the studio during what may have been the most exciting day in the program’s life – the day spent preparing for the 1997 Red River Rally. There are conversations with scientists, and letters from abroad and from the North. And, on the accompanying CD, among other memorable pieces, there are excerpts from a classic political conversation among Eric Kierans, Stephen Lewis, and Dalton Camp, a hilarious conversation with Stuart McLean, a moment with Margaret Visser, a new arrangement of “O Canada,” sung a cappella by Quartette, and an unforgettable discussion among all the Canadian women who ever swam Lake Ontario.
Dalton Camp, one of the most companionable fixtures of Morningside, contributes a funny and surprisingly tender foreword, but Gzowski has the final word in the book: an essay in which he reflects on what Morningside was and what it meant to him.
His retirement as host of Morningside in May 1997 occasioned a flood of affection for the man and accolades for his journalism that was unprecedented in Canadian broadcasting. Many lamented not just the passing of Morningside, but also the loss of a daily presence who, with the tools of unfeigned curiosity and simple courtesy, tended a vast field in which Canada’s tallest poppies thrived.
A priceless keepsake, The Morningside Years is Peter Gzowski’s salute to his listeners and an enduring memento of Canadian broadcasting at its best.
The program lives on in The Morningside Years. In these pages – and on the accompanying free compact disk – you’ll find a collection of the most memorable items from the program’s years on air. Here you’ll rediscover Gzowski’s interviews with the stars of Canadian literature – Margaret Laurence, Robertson Davies, W. O. Mitchell, Alice Munro, Timothy Findley, and Margaret Atwood. The heartbreaking drama by Emil Sher, Mourning Dove, is presented in its entirety, as is the exceptional panel discussion of Louis Riel’s trial. There’s a chapter of the fifteen best letters to the program, as well as a mini-Morningside Papers – “The Sixth (and Definitely Last).”
There are photographs, too: a Morningside family album and a series of candid shots taken in the studio during what may have been the most exciting day in the program’s life – the day spent preparing for the 1997 Red River Rally. There are conversations with scientists, and letters from abroad and from the North. And, on the accompanying CD, among other memorable pieces, there are excerpts from a classic political conversation among Eric Kierans, Stephen Lewis, and Dalton Camp, a hilarious conversation with Stuart McLean, a moment with Margaret Visser, a new arrangement of “O Canada,” sung a cappella by Quartette, and an unforgettable discussion among all the Canadian women who ever swam Lake Ontario.
Dalton Camp, one of the most companionable fixtures of Morningside, contributes a funny and surprisingly tender foreword, but Gzowski has the final word in the book: an essay in which he reflects on what Morningside was and what it meant to him.
His retirement as host of Morningside in May 1997 occasioned a flood of affection for the man and accolades for his journalism that was unprecedented in Canadian broadcasting. Many lamented not just the passing of Morningside, but also the loss of a daily presence who, with the tools of unfeigned curiosity and simple courtesy, tended a vast field in which Canada’s tallest poppies thrived.
A priceless keepsake, The Morningside Years is Peter Gzowski’s salute to his listeners and an enduring memento of Canadian broadcasting at its best.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
344 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 1997
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33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 14, 2018
Peter Gzowski hosted the program “Morningside” on CBC radio for fifteen years from 1982 to 1997. It was Canada’s most popular radio program and for three hours every day, hundreds tuned in to hear the ever polite, warm and friendly host talk about everything from the latest book to the best recipe for bean soup. From the nine thousand hours of logged time, Gzowski has chosen these pieces as his favourite to present in book format, a companion piece to his many other books about the show. This one includes interviews with six writers including Alice Munroe, Margaret Laurence, and Timothy Findley; the very poignant segment on “Life with Jessie”; the drama “Mourning Dove” a recreation of the trial of Louis Riel and a varied selection of letters and recipes.
Like his other books, not all of this material translates well to the written word. A lot of what people enjoyed was his unique style, his particular friendly and meandering way of wording questions and talking to his audience as if he was sitting with them at the kitchen table enjoying a cup of coffee. There have been many who have identified him as a completely different person in private—a remote, distant and arrogant man who was often moody and grumpy. However his radio personality was easy going, funny, polite and intelligent. He never challenged those he interviewed and stayed clear of any controversy. And his was very popular. No matter what the critics said, people listened and his program was said to have helped Canadians figure out more about their own particular identity.
A quiet, enjoyable read but not nearly as entertaining as listening to the voice on radio.
Like his other books, not all of this material translates well to the written word. A lot of what people enjoyed was his unique style, his particular friendly and meandering way of wording questions and talking to his audience as if he was sitting with them at the kitchen table enjoying a cup of coffee. There have been many who have identified him as a completely different person in private—a remote, distant and arrogant man who was often moody and grumpy. However his radio personality was easy going, funny, polite and intelligent. He never challenged those he interviewed and stayed clear of any controversy. And his was very popular. No matter what the critics said, people listened and his program was said to have helped Canadians figure out more about their own particular identity.
A quiet, enjoyable read but not nearly as entertaining as listening to the voice on radio.
July 25, 2010
I found that book on the shelves of the rented Tobermory cottage and plunged in it.
The book collects the best extract of that CBC morning broadcast, between 1982 and 1997. Recipes, interviews with writers, heartfelt letters, transcripts, moving true stories... all made for a good reading, and in any order you want!
Peter Gzowski is an insteresting and cultivated host, and his radio program reminds of Indicatif present, appealing the to intelligence of the listeners. His interviews are peppered with humor, and he brings the best of his guests.
Whwn checking on Wikipedia, I found out that, alas, Mr Gzowski passed away in 2002.
A warm and belated thank you!
The book collects the best extract of that CBC morning broadcast, between 1982 and 1997. Recipes, interviews with writers, heartfelt letters, transcripts, moving true stories... all made for a good reading, and in any order you want!
Peter Gzowski is an insteresting and cultivated host, and his radio program reminds of Indicatif present, appealing the to intelligence of the listeners. His interviews are peppered with humor, and he brings the best of his guests.
Whwn checking on Wikipedia, I found out that, alas, Mr Gzowski passed away in 2002.
A warm and belated thank you!
September 14, 2012
A great collection of Gzowski's interviews, recipes and letters from listeners. I particularly enjoyed the letters from listeners especially the one from Jessie Hugett's mother. Jessie was born with Down's syndrome and their journey together is amazing and touching. I could have done without the recipes, no matter who prepared them.
A great piece of Canadiana.
A great piece of Canadiana.
August 17, 2016
This was one book I just couldn't get into and neither could my husband. Though we liked the Morningside radio show out of Toronto this book just could not hold our interest. I even tried the CD which was included but didn't have much more luck there. Perhaps I'm not cerebral enough.
March 3, 2007
i heart peter gzowski, and im very sad he's dead.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews