Year Born: 1909
Year Died: 1997
Year of Induction: 1990
Pioneer – Member of CAB Hall of Fame
Baulu, Roger (1909-1997)
Roger Baulu began his broadcasting career in 1930 at radio stations CKAC and CFCF in Montreal. During the same year, he started working as a newspaper reporter for “Le Canada”. A few years later, he joined CBC Radio as Newsroom Director, where in this capacity, he recommended the hiring by the paper of a young newcomer – Rene Levesque. Returning to CKAC in 1936, Roger hosted the first Canadian radio quiz show called “Radio-Encyclopedie”.
In the early 50s, Roger Baulu made his television debut on the most popular program in Quebec – “La poule aux oeufs d’or”. He also hosted the first quiz show televised in Quebec which remained number 1 in the ratings for 7 years.
For many years, Roger and his colleague Jacques Normand co-hosted a late-night talk show “Couche Tard” which is considered to have been the “grand-dad” of all talk shows. His long career included interviews with such world figures as Francois Mauriac, Jules Romains, Antoine de St-Exupery, Jacques Brel, Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Charles de Gaulle.
Roger Baulu was also a star announcer on Radio Station CKVL, and for several years, the President of station CKLM. A performer who remained one of the most-respected members of the Montreal broadcasting community thoughout his remarkable career, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.
In 1990, Roger Baulu was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame.
Written by J. Lyman Potts – May, 1997