Foster Hewitt’s first Radio broadcast was almost his last. An employee of the Toronto Star, Hewitt was assigned to broadcast an intermediate level hockey game for CFCA Radio, a station recently purchased by his employer. Hewitt was 20 and his famous first broadcast occurred on March 22nd, 1923.

The following day, the Toronto Star was flooded with calls and letters of appreciation and encouragement asking for a continuation of the broadcast. Hewitt succumbed to his employer’s request that he provide this service to the radio station’s listeners and his broadcasting career was launched.

In 1931, when Maple Leaf Gardens was opened in Toronto, Foster Hewitt was given the exclusive broadcast rights to Maple Leaf games. By 1933, his broadcasts were carried on 20 different Canadian radio stations across the country. Saturday night became a night with Foster Hewitt from St. John’s to Victoria. On the 1st of November, 1952 Hewitt broadcast his first televised game from Maple Leaf Gardens. His broadcasting career continued on both radio and TV until his retirement in 1978. Hewitt has been called the most famous man in Canada during the 30’s receiving up to 90,000 fan letters every year. The excitement of Foster Hewitt’s voice has been carried over Canadian airwaves for six decades and is remembered as an intrical part of the mosaic of Canadian family life.