Where Colorful Myths Meet Microphones and Legends Groove

A twisted fairytale and a radio legend remind us why storytelling is the truest spirit of Conovision.

What makes a story come alive? In this episode, we wander through the soul of storytelling itself — how tales give shape to the invisible, clothe metaphors in color, and connect us in ways nothing else can.
First, a fractured fairytale: Hansel and Grendel (yes, with a d), where roast pigs, candy zoning laws, and Beowulf lawsuits collide in a twisted Grimm-meets-satire tale.
Then, the mic opens to a master of story and sound: actor, writer, and radio legend Bill Reiter. From East Van record shops and black music pilgrimages to Seattle, to the rise of Groovin’ Blue — Canada’s first Black music radio show — Bill shares his path through radio drama, commercials, comedy, and stage. Along the way, there are lessons in improv, luck, and the kind of love only a life in sound can hold.
By the end, you’ll see why Conovision insists: we are all stories waiting to be told.

Episode References:

Hansel and Grendel | Francis HeaneyBill Reiter: IMDB / BC Entertainment Hall of Fame

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction

(02:36) - A Fractured Fairytale: Hansel and Grendel

(08:14) - Enter Bill Reiter

(09:36) - Radio Roots and Comedy Commercials

(12:58) - First Encounters with Black Music

(15:26) - Trips to Seattle and Musical Awakening

(18:30) - East Van Stories and Collecting Records

(23:53) - Owning Bill and Bob’s Record Store

(26:07) - From Record Shop to Radio Host

(28:01) - Groovin’ Blue: Canada’s First Black Music Show

(30:19) - Acting, Commercials, and Improv on the Fly

(34:18) - Television, Stage, and Radio Plays

(35:53) - Dr. Bundolo and the Spark of Chance

(38:07) - Luck, Calendars, and Serendipity in Showbiz

(42:46) - Remembering Miles Ramsay and Brian Griffiths

(46:56) - Conclusion