City Radio Broadcaster Succumbs

Reed Chapman, 1914 West Forty-first, who was credited with “putting sport on the air” in Vancouver, died at his home at 2:30 a.m. today. He was 54.
His death was caused by a heart attack which dated from a two-year-old condition.
In the spring of 1947 he was on the stage of the Vogue Theatre as master of ceremonies of his radio show “Public Opinion,” when he asked to be relieved and collapsed off stage.
Mr. Chapman was born in Winnipeg where his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Chapman, still live. He leaves two sons, Reed, Jr., 18, better known as Bucky, and Clifford, 16, nicknamed Skippy. His wife predeceased him in 1945.
He served overseas in the First World War.
On demobilization he returned to Winnipeg, but shortly went to the U.S. where he appeared in several stage productions. Later he went to Hollywood as an actor and director.
He came to Vancouver in 1933 with his family and started his radio career. He teamed with the late Leo Nicholson in sports broadcasts.
In August 1947, he became “the voice of the Vancouver Sun” on news broadcasts at 12 noon and 10 p.m.
Simmons & McBride are in charge of the funeral arrangements.
- Vancouver Province, Jan. 4, 1949

R. Chapman Newscaster, Dies Here

Reed Chapman, newscaster, heard nightly for The Vancouver Sun over Station CKWX, died early today.
Mr. Chapman who suffered from arthritis and a weak heart, made his regular 10 o’clock broadcast as usual Monday night. Six hours later he was dead.
He had been in radio in Vancouver since 1933.
Until 1947 he was widely known as a hockey, boxing, and football announcer, and “sidekick” of the late Leo Nicholson.
Mr. Chapman was also master of ceremonies on the “Public Opinion” radio show. During a broadcast of this program in 1947 he suffered a heart attack which forced him to give up all announcing other than news broadcasts.
He was born in Winnipeg in 1894, and served overseas in the First World War, returning to the United States after the armistice.
He was active in the motion picture industry in Hollywood during the silent film days and was assistant director for several productions.
He leaves behind two sons, Reed Jr. (“Bucky”), 18, and Clifford (“Skippy”), 16. His wife, Leta, died in Vancouver in 1945.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
- Vancouver Sun, Jan. 4, 1949

Chapman was employed as a salesman at CJOR 1933-36, then at CKWX (Western Broadcasting) in 1937. In 1940, he was a salesman for the Vancouver News Herald, becoming ad manager. In 1943, he returned to CKWX.