Talent Caravan

Locally Produced Episode Aired on Friday, April 24, 1959 At 8:00 p.m.

Talent Caravan is telecast Friday evenings with host George Murray from various centres across the country. Local TV stations announce two or three weeks in advance how viewers can get on the show, and invite those who are interested to write into the station for application forms. The applications are passed on to producer Drew Crossan who acknowledges all letters and applicants. From these auditions he chooses five contestants for each show. Viewers vote by mail for their favourite among the performers on each show.

April 23, 1959 – Toronto Star  ~  Mutual Life Auditorium, Waterloo  ~  April 25, 1959 – Waterloo Region Record

Local Losing Contestants

June 3, 1959 – Waterloo Region Record  ~  Carol  Wharton – George Murray – Gary Wharton

For the finale in Toronto on June 26, 1959, musical director Ricky Hyslop conducted the orchestra. Performers were Sandra MacDonald (Sydney, Nova Scotia); Donna Wilhelm (Swift Current, Saskatchewan); Gloria Richard (Moncton, New Brunswick); Carol Wharton and her brother Gary Wharton (Guelph, Ontario); step dancers Jo Ann Jamison and Donnie Gilchrist (Ottawa, Ontario).

The winner of the 1959 CBC Trans-Canada Talent Caravan was Gloria Richard, a soprano. She won first prize of $1000 in the competition, and went on to further success in music competitions and performing with symphony orchestras.