If you look straight ahead, you’ll spot the legendary CHUM-City Building at 299 Queen Street West. Look for the big, bold “ChumCity” sign above the entrance, framed by grand archways and intricate stonework. The windows next to it shout “Citytv” in huge, blocky letters. It’s a lively spot-especially with the steady parade of people outside, maybe someone coming out with a coffee in hand, sunlight flickering off the glass.
Picture it: Toronto, 1945-pop tunes on crackling radio, city news echoing through speakers, and a new station, CHUM-AM 1050, just starting out. This wasn't always a media giant. Imagine a time when four businessmen, including a sportscaster and a patent medicine entrepreneur, huddled over paperwork and coffee, dreaming this all up in a tiny studio at the Mutual Street Arena. In the beginning, CHUM was a dawn-to-dusk kind of station-so if you wanted music after dark, you’d need to sing to yourself.
Then, along came Allan Waters, a local salesman with a never-say-die spirit. He took the reins in 1954, asked for permission to broadcast 24 hours a day, and dialed up the signal so more people could hear CHUM’s mix of the latest records, sports, and local stories. Pretty soon, CHUM signs were lighting up the city, and the radio never slept.
Now, imagine this building buzzing with creativity. Over the years, CHUM exploded into TV-Citytv, A-Channel, and MuchMusic, where teenagers across Canada watched the next big thing in music. The halls here have seen just about everything: dance parties, news announcements, rock bands lugging their gear through these doors, and hosts preparing to go live. Behind those windows, a whirlwind of shows, songs, and stories shaped the pop culture of Toronto-and far beyond.
In 2006, after decades of innovation (and maybe the occasional coffee spill on the control board), CHUM merged with CTV, and eventually, Bell Media took over. But you’ll notice-if you listen closely-the spirit of “CHUM” still hums here, just like the neon sign did on those late-night broadcasts. So next time you pass by, imagine the jingle playing and picture the whole city tuning in at once.
Ready for the next stop?
