Remembering CBC producer Sam Levene

A talented, gentle man has left us.

Sam Levene spent almost 30 years working in CBC television, in current affairs, documentary, and drama. After he left, he came to radio — to The Sunday Edition — and began making documentaries as a freelancer. He said (and of course we loved that he did) that it was perhaps the most satisfying work he had ever done. He cared deeply about the cultural life and history of this country, especially about theatre and music.

Sam died last week after a long illness, and we are sharing two of his wonderful documentaries in his honour. 

Play On (2002)

Eugene Kash began playing the violin when he was five. At 90, he was still playing, still teaching. He had been a conductor, a soloist. But celebrated? Not enough.

Now, at 90 — his time had finally come. In 2002, colleagues, former students and promising young musicians presented a tribute concert at Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music. The guest of honour was also the star performer, Eugene, with his 1753 Guadagnini violin.

Sam Levene's documentary was called "Play On." It was first broadcast in December 2002, and rebroadcast in March 2004, after Eugene Kash died at the age of 91. 

Moments to Remember (2004)

There was a time in pop music when the biggest stars in the firmament came in sets of four. Long before The Beatles, and alongside Elvis, there were the Four Aces and the Four Freshmen and the Hi Lo's and the Ames Brothers and literally dozens of other similar sweet-voiced, harmonizing quartets.

Two of the most successful and popular groups from that era were Canadian — and not only were they both Canadian, both were from St. Michael's Choir School in Toronto. 

Out of that early 1950's milieu came The Four Lads, and a year or so later, The Crew-Cuts — performing a very different kind of music from what they'd been taught at school.

Sam Levene's documentary, which first aired in November 2004, was called "Moments to Remember."

Sam gave us a lot of moments to remember. We'll miss him.