Kenneth David Soble (June 12, 1911 [1] - December 16, 1966) was a Canadian broadcasting executive, who became the owner of radio station CHML and was one of the founders of CHCH-TV, both of which were in Hamilton, Ontario.
[11] From that unpaid position, Soble found paid work at several stations, selling air time, and doing some announcing of both music shows and sports programs.
[5] Ken Soble's Amateur Hour was first broadcast on CKCL in Toronto, but he was soon able to expand it to a regional network;[9] ultimately, it aired across Canada and became one of the country's most popular programs, even though, by his own admission, the show was "corny.
"[14] Around 1936, after working for CKCL and then CFRB, he became general manager of CHML in Hamilton; only seven years later, at age 31, Soble was able to buy the station from the former owner, Senator Arthur Hardy in 1942[10] after winning a bidding war against Roy Thomson and Jack Kent Cooke.
But after the war, in 1946, the Amateur Hour returned to CHML by popular demand; Soble also used the program to stage benefit performances that raised funds for worthy causes, such as several hospitals, the Red Cross, and Easter Seals.
He felt strongly that radio should help the public to "keep tabs on their elected representatives," so he began broadcasting Hamilton city council meetings on CHML in 1945.
[16] He was also able to repay the kindness that Jane Gray had shown him so many years ago: when she wanted to return to radio after some time away from broadcasting, he hired her at CHML and gave her an advice and interview program.
[1] His death was mourned by political figures, broadcasting colleagues, and many people who regarded him as a humanitarian; even Canada's Prime Minister Lester Pearson issued a statement expressing his regrets.
[27] Soble's widow Frances took over his position as president of CHCH and CHML,[26] while a former employee of his, Al Bruner, shepherded the first full application for a network in 1968.