OUT OF THIN AIR

Ironically, the dissolution of the Gesner-Burke association left the two arch enemies, Rogers and Gesner, CFCY and CHCK, in dubious partnership—strange bedfellows, indeed.

Ottawa, before granting a new licence to Gesner, wished to know the details of his partnership with Mr. Burke. There is no record of Mr. Gesner’s reply, but there does exist a letter from Mr. Burke denying that anything like a formal partnership ever existed between himself and Mr. Gesner, other than a working association. Eventually Jim Gesner was placed in a position of operating CHCK illegally. Dad had bought Walter Burke’s interests in the licence and in the studio and transmission equipment. When it came time to re—licence CHCK Dad refused to have anything to do with Gesner. It was a fait accompli. Gesner was faced with the prospect of starting fresh with an entirely new station and making application for yet another licence. In the interim, CFCY had become part of the new Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission network. James Gesner left the Island soon after this and Dad purchased his shares and the shares of the board of directors of the Gesner station. CHCK had played an important part in the history of broadcasting in Prince Edward Island.

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