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Expodition: Diana Ross at Expo 67

In Canada's centennial year, the city of Montreal played host to the world with Expo 67. "Man and His World" was the theme of the 1967 world's fair, a six-month celebration that drew 50 million ~ visitors to a site on three artificial islands in the St. Lawrence River. Broadcast from Expo's International Broadcasting Centre, Expodition was CBC Radio's daily guide to the pavilions, the people, the pleasures and the problems of Expo 67.

From a humble start as three girls from a Detroit housing project, the Supremes have come a long way, playing to capacity crowds at Expo 67. And it won't end there, according to the group's supremely self-confident lead singer, Diana Ross. Ross speaks with Expodition about her past and future, and later in the show reporter Martin Bronstein watches the grand pageant of horses in La gendarmerie française. 

• The Supremes began their career as a quartet called The Primettes. In their 1960s heyday the Motown group was the trio of Florence Ballard, Diana Ross, and Mary Wilson, and together they had a run of hits including Baby Love and Stop! In the Name of Love.

• In this interview, Diana Ross says that founding Supremes member Florence Ballard willingly left the group. However, music historians describe Ballard's departure as an ejection. Just before this event, Ross gained more prominence when the trio's record company changed the group's name to Diana Ross and the Supremes.

• In this clip, the interviewer refers to Miss Ross as "Diane." She was born with the name Diane but eventually changed it to Diana.

• Expo organizers came up with a novel, cost-free solution to deal with manure from the horses of La gendarmerie française: they arranged for a mushroom farmer to haul it away.
Medium: Radio
Guest(s): Diana Ross
Announcer: Jim Robertson
Host: Bob MacGregor
Reporter: Lynn Jackson, Martin Bronstein
Duration: 11:21
Photo: Library and Archives Canada

Last updated: March 6, 2012

Page consulted on November 9, 2012

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