Email Print Increase Decrease Reset Comments

Quick on the Draw - Alan Cruise

So, how’s retirement?
I’ll know in two weeks. The end of the month.
What do you watch on TV at 6 o’clock now?
Two and a Half Men.
What’s the nicest thing anyone said to you about the demise of CKX-TV?
Not any one person, but so many people have said how much they really miss us. More and more every day, I’m getting emails. The Provincial Ex emailed me today and they’ve got a concern, you know? I know I’d often say I’m not going to go to the fair this year and then I’d see something on the Noon or the Six and end up going. I think it’s going to affect a lot of people.
Did anyone have anything unkind to say?
Not to me. I read some things on posting boards and stuff like that, but there’s always people who take joy in others’ agony. Doesn’t bother me.
What would you say to someone who suggested they would like to start up a new TV station in Brandon?
Huge project. I think starting from scratch, the economics wouldn’t make sense.
In hindsight, is there anything that you could have done to prevent what eventually happened on Oct. 2?
I guess I could have lied to the buyers (laughs) . . . about what was going to happen, but . . . no. It was inevitable. There was no way around it.
What’s been the hardest part about the cleanup at the station?
I guess as our employees come through and they don’t necessarily have a direction yet. It seems some people are having a really hard time leaving. It’s been two weeks, and some haven’t cleaned out everything from their office. They just don’t want to.
Tell me again about the significance of Oct. 2 in your life.
Well, that was the same day I sold my business, Barkley’s Men’s Wear, when I was 30. So that was quite significant. And then of course it was the same date we closed CKX.
Where will you go for a nice long vacation this winter?
That’s a good question. I had somebody ask me yesterday . . . you must have a dream trip you always wanted to take. I don’t. So I have to think about that. Our tennis guys are looking to go different places, so I’ll probably do that. Probably the desert.
What do you really think about satellite TV?
I guess I personally don’t like it. I had it at the lake and there are way too many channels to go through. I find cable much easier and I wish they’d simplify that. I wish somebody would come and pick my favourite stations and let me watch them.
If there’s a CKX Hall of Fame, who’s in the anchor chair, who’s doing the weather, who’s doing sports, who are the top people in your sales department and the top two technicians?
The weather guy is easy — Ron Thompson. Top anchor, eh? Man, those are tough. Really tough. Sports guy is Dan Oman. Just the most talented person. I can’t believe he didn’t get picked up somewhere. It astounds me to this day. He’s better than many people I see on national TV. He just got frustrated and left.
What’s he doing now?
He’s in Edmonton building cabinets.
Top anchor?
Certainly Brent Fitzpatrick was the longest running anchor and he was great but I must say that Llewellyn Laycock had a great way of appearing as if she was talking just to you (and she was a great writer as well).
And Monica (Truffyn), because she was a really warm person. She was really good.
Sales?
I’ve had the same four salespeople since I came back to CKX in 2000 and they all bring something great and unique to the job.  Bryan Klein is so innovative, Russell Maloney the consummate professional and no cares more about their clients than Shawn Berry.  But if you’re going to “force me” to give you one name, certainly, I haven’t come across anyone with the drive and natural ability of Rick Thomson. As for radio sales — Dean Maginel.
A couple of technicians?
I didn’t work much with him, but everybody I talked to said Lawrence Dubois was just brilliant. And I’d have to go with Norm Dowd, too.
Aren’t you getting sick and tired about talking about the closure of CKX?
I’ve nothing new to give. But I think it’s really just starting to hit people. You asked me what I do at six o’clock. I went to the hockey game that weekend and Del Cowan scored just a great goal and Monday at noon I’m here, clicking my TV, because I wanted to see it. Every night at 6 o’clock, I want to see what’s on. CTV News in Winnipeg is so far ahead of anybody else, but there’s nothing that interests me there. It’s like the Free Press. Fabulous paper, but I can’t spend a minute with it.

Email Print Increase Decrease Reset Comments

Comments

Be the first to comment!