Newfoundland Confederation and CODCO (feat. Greg Malone)

Part One: Newfoundland Adopts Right-Hand Drive

On January 2, 1947, Newfoundland made a switch that had everyone—drivers, pedestrians, and even horses—feeling a bit jittery.

Just past midnight, the colony's roads transformed as Newfoundlanders were suddenly required to drive on the right side of the road, leaving behind decades of left-side driving.

The change symbolized a shift away from British ties and toward a North American alignment. In retrospect, it was the harbinger of a bigger changes to come.

Read more: ⁠The Day Newfoundland Started Driving on the Right

Part Two: Don't Tell the Newfoundlanders

Greg Malone is a Newfoundland legend.

As a member of the Wonderful Grand Band and CODCO, Malone became a fixture in living rooms not only across Newfoundland and Labrador, but across the country. He served-up wickedly funny satire and his celebrity impersonations (ranging from Queen Elizabeth II to Jean Chrétien to Barbara Frum) remain legendary.

Malone’s talents go well beyond television; he’s appeared in films (including The Adventure of Faustus Bidgood, HeyDay! Rare Birds,) directed a docudrama on suffragists in Newfoundland and championed important political causes.

Malone has written two books — a memoir titled You Better Watch Out and piece of historical non-fiction titled Don't Tell the Newfoundlanders.

Don't Tell the Newfoundlanders shares the untold story of Newfoundland and Labrador's entry into Confederation with Canada. Based on official documents and supported with personal interviews, Malone paints a dramatic scene of per-confederation Newfoundland filled with intriguing characters vying for control of the islands resources. Malone’s fresh perspective casts new light on an often misunderstood chapter of Newfoundland and Labrador’s history.

The book forms the basis of a new six-part docu-series set to premiere on Bell’s FibeTV.

On this episode of the podcast Malone discusses his work and the journey from CODCO to Don’t Tell The Newfoundlanders

Watch CODCO's Pleasant Priests in Conversation.

Part Three: Monstrous Things

As per usual, the episode ends with Monstrous Things — a short segment that recounts sea monster sightings that were reported in the mainstream media.

This edition takes us off Cape Freels where, in 1953 an enormous sea monster was seen by fisherman near Cabot Islands.

Platforms

You can listen to the episode here or on your favourite platform.

• Apple Podcasts

• Spotify

• Amazon
• Google Podcasts

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  Audio Credits

• • Tower Bridge Traffic, vinjatovix, freesound.org, creative commons 0
  • Ocean and Fog Horn, Shepardr, freesound.org, creative commons 0
  • 1957 Ford With Horn, craigsmith, freesound.org, creative commons 0
  • Horse With Old Cart, bruno.auzet, freesound.org, creative commons 0
  • Gavel, flubberjam, freesound.org, creative commons 0
  • New Year’s Eve party crowd; much laughter, craigsmith, freesound.org, creative commons 0
  • Cork Pop, dr19, freesound.org, creative commons 0
  • Car Start Drive Away, kbnevel, freesound.org, creative commons 0
  • Suspenseful Gloomy Crime, Nancy_Sinclair, freesounds.org, creative commons 0
  • Biplane Warplane WW1, TRP, freesound.org, creative commons 0
  • Ocean Waves 02, Lucas_Schacht, freesound.org, creative commons 0

  
  

  Sources & Further Reading

  1. Greg Malone, IMDb

  2. Don’t Tell the Newfoundlanders, The True Story of Newfoundland’s Confederation With Canada, Greg Malone, Penguin Random House

  3. You Better Watch Out, Greg Malone, Penguin Random House

  4. Codco, HeritageNL

  5. The Wonderful Grand Band, Museum of Canadian Music

  6. The Day Newfoundland Started Driving On The Right, Product of Newfoundland

  7. Sea Monster Seen Near Bonavista, Daily News, August 20, 1953