In the mid-to-late 80s, should I tune into any newscast, it would be CityPulse on Citytv. It seemed so much cooler to me than the news on CFTO, which seemed stuffy and self-important. As a result, I never watched World Beat News, but I sure caught the promos.
Gail Smith is the anchor I remember best, because she was so much cuter than Tom Gibney. Gail joined CFTO in 1982 and became the station's first female late-night news anchor on Night Beat News in 1983. In 1984, Gail joined Tom as co-host of World Beat News, a position she held until quitting in 1988.
What strikes me is that Gail Smith was only 31 when she left CFTO and Night Beat News had "hit its highest ratings with Smith as the anchor". Her Toronto news career seems so very brief but incredibly memorable.
Part of what made it memorable was the controversy and subsequent schoolyard rumours. Gail Smith was remanded on an assault charge for allegedly injuring an Agincourt studio cleaning person, but was acquitted. I won't repeat the rumours, but if you're of a certain age, you've heard the story.
I would absolutely love to chat with Gail Smith on Toronto Mike'd, and dig into why she left CFTO and what she's been up to since. Other than a brief return to broadcasting at CKVR in 1993, that was it for Gail in the public light. I find that fascinating.
I can imagine the local media had a field day with young Gail in the 1980s. Here's a Gary Dunford piece in the Sun that teases a dinner date between Gail Smith and Citytv anchor Gord Martineau. A tete-a-tete of anchors!
Gail did speak with Christopher Hume for Starweek a couple of years after quitting CFTO, and she plainly said she quit "to try something new". She, like me at the time, was attracted to the news at Citytv. In retrospect, I'm surprised Moses Znaimer didn't take the bait back then. Although he would have played a role in her brief stint at CKVR, and perhaps that was an audition for something at Citytv.
So Gail Smith, if you're reading this, my email address is mike@torontomike.com and you're invited to a south Etobicoke studio for a friendly and respectful chat about everything. You'll even leave with Palma Pasta lasagna and fresh craft beer from Great Lakes Brewery.
