The 4th ACTRA Awards were presented on April 23, 1975.Blaik Kirby, "Flaws, yes, but ACTRA awards good viewing". The Globe and Mail, April 24, 1975. The ceremony was hosted by Pierre Berton.Joan Irwin, "ACTRA set to give its national awards". Montreal Star, April 22, 1975.
Due to the cancellation of the Canadian Film Awards in 1974, ACTRA opted to present selected film awards for the first time, with a dedicated award for best film actor and the awards for dramatic and documentary writing opened to both television and theatrical film productions;Blaik Kirby, "Can ACTRA awards end Canada's inferiority complex?". The Globe and Mail, April 22, 1975. however, with the Canadian Film Awards returning in 1975, this was not maintained in future years.
The 1975 ceremony also marked the first time that ACTRA presented an award for Best Program rather than solely honouring individuals;"William Hutt wins ACTRA best acting award". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, April 24, 1975. a single award was presented inclusive of both television and radio programs this year, with separate categories for television and radio programming introduced at the 5th ACTRA Awards in 1976. Additionally, the 1975 awards marked the introduction of the Foster Hewitt Award for television sportscasting; this year it was presented as a lifetime achievement award, separately from the existing award for television sportscasting within the previous broadcast year, but they were merged into a single award in future years.
In 1978, The Globe and Mail revealed for the first time an unconfirmed but longstanding industry rumour that if Lloyd Robertson had won the award for Best News Broadcaster, elements in the audience were planning to pie him in the face just to see if they could cause the normally unflappable Robertson to lose his composure.Don Hammersmith, "Lights, Camera, ACTRA". The Globe and Mail, March 18, 1978.
Winners and nominees Best Television or Radio Program Best Television Actor Next Year in Jerusalem — Harry Rasky Back to Beulah Jack | valign="top" | William Hutt, The National Dream Michael Kane, The Collaborators Patrick Watson, Witness to Yesterday Best Film Actor Best Radio Actor Stuart Gillard, Why Rock the Boat? Ken James, Why Rock the Boat? Henry Ramer, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz Ron Hartmann, Othello Colin Fox, Lingard Sean Mulcahy, The Art of Liam O'Flaherty Best Television Public Affairs Broadcaster Best Radio Public Affairs Broadcaster Helen Hutchinson, Canada AM Adrienne Clarkson, Adrienne at Large Carole Taylor, W5 Barbara Frum, As It Happens Harry Brown, Metro Morning Betty Kennedy, The Betty Kennedy Show Best News Broadcaster Best Sportscaster Michael Maclear Lloyd Robertson Joe Schlesinger Don Chevrier Pat Marsden Fred Sgambati Best Writing, Television or Film Drama Best Writing, Radio Drama Mordecai Richler and Lionel Chetwynd, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz Len Peterson, The Executioners W. O. Mitchell, Back to Beulah W. O. Mitchell, Back to Beulah Peter Haworth, The Seas Between Us George Salverson, The Expropriated: A Matter of Irrelevance Best Writing, Television or Film Documentary Best Writing, Radio Documentary Timothy Findley and William Whitehead, The National Dream Harry Rasky, Next Year in Jerusalem Martin Bronstein, Michael Magee, John Morgan, Paul Robin and Hugh Webster, True North: "The Myth" Leo Dufault, Two Oranges and a Handful of Nuts William Fulton, Of Dorys and Dorymen Warren Wilson, The Road to War Best Television or Radio Variety Performance Gordon Sinclair Award The Irish Rovers, The Irish Rovers in Cork Dave Broadfoot, Royal Canadian Air Farce Patrick Rose, Inside Canada Jack Webster Gordon Atkinson Ben Metcalfe John Drainie Award Foster Hewitt Award Robert Weaver Bill Good Sr.
References