CBS-TV broadcast journalist Mike Wallace (60 Minutes) just passed away at 93. There is a Vancouver connection:  His 1955 NYC television show Night Beat was produced by Rai Purdy.  The New York show launched Mike’s career.

Rai was hired by the government of Scotland and was responsible for launching Scottish TV. He went on to a fabulous career producing shows for CBC-TV and for independent Toronto TV stations.

Rai moved back to Vancouver in the Sixties and created Magistrates Court, starring radio journalist Roy Jacques. He put together the 1960 presentation for Art Jones and Ray Peters‘ CHAN-TV (Now Global TV), the first independent Canadian TV outlet in this market.  Rai also produced Timmy’s Telethon for CBC Vancouver. Over the 24 years of that annual feature $100 million was raised for youngsters in B.C.

Little is written about this remarkable man. Rai Purdy should be in the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame.