Toronto was where
the magic started
We created
a brand-new format
that I took to Dallas
when I departed 

Shortly after being hired as the new Program Director of CFTR, Lana and I headed to Toronto to go house hunting.
While there, Ted Rogers invited us to his home for Sunday brunch.

When the taxi had dropped us off, we found ourselves in front of a beautiful old mansion in Forest Hill.
Then, when we were greeted at the front door by a butler, I remember thinking, this is sure a long way from Transcona, Toto.

Before brunch, Ted proudly showed me the radio tube his father had invented, encased inside a beautiful glass cabinet.
Ted explained that the tube allowed radios to be plugged into an electrical outlet instead of being hooked to a battery.

As I stood there admiring the display, Ted said, “George, what you’re looking at is from the past; after brunch, I will show you something from the future.

After brunch, Ted led me to his den, where he sat me down in front of the TV and handed me a box with a bunch of buttons on it. (shown above)
Then he turned on the TV and told me to push each one of the buttons.

Damn, every time I clicked one of the buttons, a TV show would come on.
“What you’re looking at,” Ted explained, “Is Cable TV, and in the not-too-distant future, this will be how most of us will be watching Television.”

When he asked me what I thought about his brand-new toy, I said it was mind-boggling, but I couldn’t help but notice that every fourth button had the same program.
Ted said, “That’s your problem, George; you’re the programmer; I’m just an engineer.”