34 - Sunday, February 18, 1990 - North Shore News AFFLUENCE@@ INFLUENCE Giving the goods Veteran broddcaster Bill Good Jr. puts life into live radio ~F 6'5"" and 225 pounds, Bill Good Jr. can appear to be intimidating on a first meeting. But when the veteran Vancouver broadcaster stretches out his hand and flashes his smile, it does not take you long to figure out that Good is truly a good guy. Until 1988 the 44-year old North Vancouver resident was a fixture on most television screens in B.C., anchoring the CBC-TV_ nightly newscast from Vancouver. These days Good is behind a microphone at CKNW, the top- rated radio station in B.C., hosting a 2%-hour open-line show Mon- day to Friday. “That (moving to ‘NW) turned out to be a major turning point in my career,” Good says. ‘‘t had always admired CKNW_ while growing up and it was the radio station of choice in our house- hold.” Born in Winnipeg in 1945, Good moved to West Vancouver with his parents when he was 2%. After graduation from West Vancouver Secondary School, Good landed his first broadcasting job at a Prince Rupert radio station, where he worked for one year before moving to Victoria’s CFAX radio. In 1967 Good was hired by CBC Radio in Varcouver and did their morning program for two years before turning to television. He worked for CBC-TV sports for the next 10 years, on such programs as Hockey Night In Canada, covering some of the nation’s ma- jor sporting events, including the memorable 1972 Canada-Soviet hockey series. In 1979 he made his move into news and worked the next 10 years anchoring the CBC Evening News. During his stint behind the 1320 Lonsdale at [3th Street, No ather decounes apply + No retunds at exchanges + AM sales final + Personal shopping only anchor desk, Good interviewed three prime ministers, several premiers and covered the provin- cial political beat, including three B.C. elections. Asked what the one memorable moment was during his CBC ca- reer, Good quickly points to the 1986 Social Credit leadership convention held in Whistler, where he stayed on the air for almost nine hours straight. “it was a challenge. Those are the days you live for. We received a lot of compliments for our coverage,"’ says Good. “This job (radio) is more like that every day. It gets your adrenalin going and keeps it going. | guess that’s why | like it so much.” Good's day begins with reading the Province newspaper at home and listening to the CKINW newscasts. At 8:15 he makes a call to his producer, Gladys Johnson, at the CKNW studios located in- side the B.C, Enterprise Centre. By that time she will have read the news wires and the Globe and Mail. The two of them, along with his production assistant Susan Callow, will then discuss which news items he'll discuss on his show that day, which runs from 12:35 to 3 p.m. Good arrives at the studios at about 9:30 a.m. and starts work on his editorial. He also prepares each segment of his show. At noon he goes into the studio to record promos for his next show, before going on the air. His desk is cluttered with an assortment of items: a book about comedian Jay Leno, several news- papers and magazines, and a video tape cassette titled “Dog Obedience Training: The Easy Way.” While it is his show, Good is BQ WESTERN BILL GOOD interviews Transportation and Highways Minister Rita Johnston. quick to point out that its success is also due in part to Johnson and Callow. “They are invaluable, they te- ally make the show work.” Although he is now working in radio, Good still does some televi- sion work. He is a regular com- mentator on the CTV piogram Sunday Edition and has also been called upon to offer his views on Canada A.M. and the Jousnal. Good thrives on being on live every day and does nat like to do taped interviews, although on the day of this interview he was forced North Vaneouter _ to do two taped _ interviews because the guests were not able to come to the studio. Actually, he had to do three taped interviews, the first one had to be taped again because someone had left a switch ona rape machine turned the wron' wv WP be be "really ticked off if this doesn’t work,” Good says as he rewinds the tape machine and doesn’t hear any interview. “As long as it works by 12:35, it really doesn’t matter,’ he adds larer. Good says he wouid be hard pressed to name his favorite radio NEWS photo Neil Lucente interviewee, but three people do stand out. “Peter Ustinov is one and Richard Simmons (TV excercise personality), who is an absolute goof but has so much energy. They stand out as the most enter- taining,’ says Good. “I always enjoy Bill Vander Zalm because he’s always at the centre of the storm.” Veteran CKNW reporter George Garrett Good ‘a real professional.” investigative calls — Surj Rattan Prepare Now tor a Safe and Happy New. Year Complete 4 Wheel Brake Job * Replace Brake Shoes ¢ Resurface Drums Replace Disc Pads * Top Up Brake Fluid e Machine Rotors e Repack Bearings e Adjust Brakes ° Road Test *8 72. CONO Brake, Minute MurrLer & TRANSMISSIONS ~¥” 984-9581 OPEN MON. to SAT. 8:30am-5:00pm "860 W. 15TH ST, NORTH VAN. ALSO SEE QUR 2ND LOCATION AT: 2639 KINGSWAY, VANCOUVER, 436-1633