Fred Davis

Who was Fred Davis?

Fred Davis was a Canadian broadcaster, best known as host of the CBC Television programme Front Page Challenge for nearly all of its 38-year run.

Born in Toronto, he would become a trumpet player in his youth who performed at various concerts, particularly with the bands of Art Hallman and Howard Cable. At one point he was conductor of the Teentime Orchestra at CFRB radio. After serving in World War II, including performing in an army orchestra under the direction of Robert Farnon, he would return to Toronto to study broadcasting at Lorne Greene's School of Broadcasting. His early radio career included Ottawa station CFRA since late 1946.

In the early 1950s, Davis would move to television, as one of the hosts of the 1953-1954 documentary series On the Spot.

He began hosting the news-themed television quiz show Front Page Challenge in 1957, replacing host Alex Barris with whom the series began that summer. He would remain host until the series was cancelled in 1995. He would host commercials and other series during his career, although his primary work remained with Front Page Challenge.