Title: The Adventures of Duffy Duffield

 

CFPL TV Chronicles: The Adventures of Duffy Duffield

Ah, CFPL TV in the early days—a place where camaraderie flourished, quirks were embraced, and the air was thick with the scent of creativity. Among the colorful characters who roamed the halls, one name stood out: Dale “Duffy” Duffield, our ever-optimistic production supervisor. With his clicking heels, and larger-than-life presence, Duffy was a legend in his own right.

Duffy had this way of making sure everyone felt like part of a big, slightly dysfunctional family. In the course of TV business, some of us needed to use the company station wagon. Duffy's admonishment, “Drive carefully and treat the vehicle like it was your own,” was more than just advice—it was a way of life. And Duffy, ever the embodiment of his own wisdom, took it to heart. Literally.

You see, Duffy had a particular fondness for the company station wagon, a car emblazoned with the CFPL TV logo that might as well have been his own personal chariot. He treated it with the utmost care, ferrying all manner of items to his beloved cottage. Need some old copper pipe from the transmitter room storage? Duffy’s got it covered. Those obsolete props cluttering the prop room? Don’t worry, Duffy will find a use for them up north.

One summer’s day, crew member Tim Vogel was on vacation, cruising down the highway, when who should he see but Duffy, zipping past in the company car, no doubt on another supply run for his cottage. The sight of Duffy, always in a hurry, made Tim chuckle. It was quintessential Duffy—always on the move, always with a purpose.

Duffy’s involvement with the Optimist Club was another facet of his life that he managed to weave seamlessly into his workday. Or perhaps it was the other way around. Every morning, Duffy would make his grand entrance, his heels clicking on the cement floors, his presence unmistakable. He’d parade around the station, ensuring everyone knew he was there. And then, like a magician’s disappearing act, he’d vanish, only to reappear in the afternoon, just in time to remind us of his existence.

Rumor had it that Duffy spent his days immersed in Optimist Club business, a suspicion that was never quite confirmed but always believed. His favorite phrase, “Gotta second?” was the prelude to many a conversation, be it a casual chat or a moment of discipline. Not a minute, mind you, but a second—because with Duffy, time was always of the essence.

Despite his quirks, or perhaps because of them, there was a sense of family at CFPL TV. We all had our roles, our idiosyncrasies, but we worked as a team. And Duffy, for all his eccentricities, was at the heart of that team. Paul Estabrooks, affectionately known as “The Professor,” recalled how in the days when minimum wage was $1.50 an hour, Duffy managed to pay him $2.50 an hour. It was a testament to Duffy’s sense of fairness and his understanding of the value of his crew.

So here’s to Duffy Duffield, the man who could turn a company car into a personal moving van, who balanced Optimist Club duties with CFPL TV responsibilities, and who always had a second to spare. His legacy is one of humor, dedication, and a reminder that sometimes, it’s the quirks that make a place truly special.