WCAM Radio Station

Camden's oldest radio station dates back to September 1925 when it signed on as WFBI at 1270 AM under the ownership of Robert Galvin. The city government became involved soon afterward. The official dedication of the now municipally-owned radio station, rechristened WCAM, occurred in Convention Hall on March 29, 1926. The station moved, sometime after 1931, to the 17th floor of the new City Hall Building at South 6th and Federal Street. Eventually it was permanently assigned 1310 on the AM band as its frequency.

WCAM changed frequencies several times over the next fifteen years. On April 26, 1927, the station was located at 890 AM. Soon afterwards, on June 15, 1927, it changed again to 1340 AM. Another change occurred on November 11, 1928, when the station moved to 1280 AM and shared time with Trenton station WIMG and Asbury Park station WJLK. The final change took place on March 29, 1941, when WCAM moved to its current position of 1310 AM, where it briefly shared time with Philadelphia station WTEL.

By the early 1930s the city leased the station to private firms to operate it. Rud Priesendanz Jr. organized the Broadcast Advertising Company to run the station, beginning in 1932. The Broadcast Advertising Company operated the station through at least 1938. Priesendanz had passed away by this time, however. Elements in city government had wanted to sell the station off, and eventually this took place.

During the late 1920s and early 1930s air personalities included Jim Howell and Dan McConnell, both of whom worked in city government, not surprising as the station was then municipally owned. Frederick W. Caperoon was musical director of WCAM in the spring and summer of 1933.

At some point in time WCAM built its transmitter building and antenna tower at the northwest corner of Pyne Point Park in north Camden.

In the 1960s, WCAM called themselves “All Request Radio.” Some popular DJs who got their start during this time included Gene Hart, Kal Rudman, Jerry Blavat, Hy Lit, Pat Delsi, Jack Lamar, Bob Mara, Rick Anthony, Charlie Mills, Chuck Gagliardi, and Gene Arnold.

In 1970, for a period of about 9 months, Jerry Blavat became PD and featured Top 40 in the daytime, calling themselves “The Little Giant.” On September 4, 1980, calls were changed to WSSJ.

The station was run by Pat Delsi and included DJs Bob Pantano and Pat Delsi’s son, Dave Michaels. In the early to mid 1990s, WSSJ was mostly an automated operation featuring a wide variety of music. Barry Reisman played Jewish music on Sunday afternoons, while Fred Handy had a gospel music show Sunday mornings.

In 1998, WSSJ was acquired by Mega Communications and began a Spanish Oldies format as “Classica 1310.” On August 31, 2001, calls were changed to WEMG and 1310 began to simulcast the Spanish CHR programming from WEMG-FM, 104.9 in Egg Harbor City. When 104.9 switched to Smooth Jazz in 2003, 1310 remained as a stand-alone station as “Mega 1310.”

Camden’s Municipal station, WCAM, has added a new piece of mechanism to the usual broadcasting apparatus. A megaphone has replaced the customary microphone.

Jim Howell, announcing from the Walt Whitman Hotel studio last night, said “I will now turn the Megaphone over to Bessie I. Bossert.” Further on in the program he again turned the “megaphone” over to someone.

Dan McConnell still holds the championship at WCAM, however, for Howell’s error didn’t compare to the time, several weeks ago, when McConnell broadcast two rounds of a bout at Convention Hall before he gave the names of the fighters.

Local Theatrical Company Improving Under Direction of George A. Oberst

Slash of $702,890 Is Revealed in Totals Passed at Session of Rulers

Lease Announced of Radio Station

Commissioners Debate With Von Nieda as He Charges Gross Extravagance

By Walt Batezel

The Camden City Commission yesterday approved the 1933 city budget after hearing and rejecting economy recommendations of several civic and labor organizations.

Eight speakers representing five organizations urged budget reductions and protested the total of $3,353,124.60. Verbal clashes over opinions were frequent between Commissioner Harold W. Bennett, director of finance and revenue, and former Councilman Frederick von Nieda and Thomas B. Hall, representatives of the Congress of Civic Associations of New Jersey.

Nearly 300 persons attended the hearing, in marked contrast to the 5000 who marched on city hall last year to demand budget reductions. The hearing lasted three hours. The departmental budget appropriations of $3,353,124.60 with the local school appropriation of $1,250,000 and other appropriations, totaling $960,060.55 to be added in the tax ordinance yet to be adopted, will give the city a total expense of $5,563,185.15 for 1933.

Tax Bill About Same

The tax rate will not be known until the tax ordinance is adopted. After the hearing Commissioner Bennett declared that due to equalization of assessments, the bills of some taxpayers will be a few dollars higher than last year, and a few dollars lower in other cases. The commission, after approving the budget on a motion by Commissioner Bennett, adopted a resolution leasing WCAM to the Broadcast Advertising Company for $1000 per year and a percentage of all receipts over $24,000. All maintenance costs will be born by the company, of which Rudolph Preisendanz, Jr., is head.

After the budget was adopted Bennett declared the City Commission would take into consideration an allegation of Frank J. Hartmann, Jr., secretary of the Civic Congress, that the $125,400 appropriation for street lighting was $26,450 higher than it should be according to figures obtained by him concerning the city’s lighting equipment. “If there has been an error the budget can be amended at any time,” Commissioner Bennett said.

Commissioner Clay W. Reesman, under whose department street lighting comes, declared that figures in his office concerning street lighting were different from those quoted by Hartmann. The figures he used, Hartmann said, were obtained by him from City Comptroller Sidney P. McCord.

Von Nieda Case

Von Nieda was the first citizen to address the commission. Shifting papers in his hands, he faced the commissioners and said: “We have here $40,000 for your Recorder’s Court in 1932, and $25,000 for 1933.”

Commissioner Bennett jumped to his feet.

“Those 1932 figures,” Bennett said, “were merely an estimate of the receipts to be taken in, but that amount did not come in. This year we anticipate only $25,000, which we consider a fair estimate.”

“That’s fine” said von Nieda, “but we have never had a chance to sit in with you on these figures.”

“You can sit in with us at any time,” responded Bennett, “We’re glad to have you.”

“I see here,” said von Nieda, “that the transportation inspector is paid from fees, but you show no fees and the inspector should be paid by the Public Service. I also suggest that you turn Convention Hall over to the poor. Now in dealing with Station WCAM, I see you show a profit for the last three months of $1000, while in 1932, you show no records of receipts, and we are just wondering.’”

Worried by WCAM

“Do you want that answered now?” asked Bennett. “WCAM has given myself and the other commissioners some concern during the past year. It is our duty to see that we receive as much income as possible. Different methods have been used in the radio station to make it pay during the past three months, and during this time that station has been in the black. We figure that in 1933 there will be no deficit in this station, and we look for a profit of more than $1000.”

“Now in this matter of eliminating deputy directors,” von Nieda said.

He was interrupted by Commissioner Reesman.

“I’ll tell you,” said Reesman, “about my deputy director Carlton Harris. My deputy receives $1750 a year. He has charge of all labor in the Department of Parks and Public Property. He is on the job every morning at 7:00 AM, and often works until 10 p. m., with the labor outside.”

“In speaking of the assessors,” von Nieda continued, “we should have assessors who are not influenced by politicians or political dictators.”

“You know I won’t stand for that,” answered Bennett. “The readjustment of ratables is only a small part of the work we are doing. Each property is assessed on a basic principal. Any time you have a suggestion that will help us in our work we will be glad to hear from you but I firmly believe that real estate must be relieved of its heavy tax burden by an income and sales tax, and this tax must come sooner or later.”

Seeking Relief

“As far as the city commissioners are concerned, we are studying it from day to day, in efforts to get out of the wilderness. We are in sympathy with the man out of work. I say let the federal government put some money into the interest rate. We must pass this budget this afternoon. Do not delay longer. This is not an arbitrary stand on my part. I make a motion the budget now be passed.”

City Clerk Frank S. Albright called the roll and all five commissioners voted unanimously. No demonstration followed passage of the measure.

*Eugene Wasilewski referred to in this story was Eugene Waleskiewicz, who was later known as Eugene Wales.

10:30 a.m. – Lucky Dollar Morning Shopper

2:00 p.m. – Lucky Dollar Club

3:00 p.m. – Correct Time

4:00 p.m. – Weather Report; Lucky Dollar Encore

4:30 p.m. – Victoria Amusement Period

9:00 p.m. – Donald’s Sally, Irene & Mary

9:30 p.m. – Harry Rose and His Dance Band

10:00 p.m. – Life Tone Concert–Orchestra

10:15 p.m. – Tex program

10:30 p.m. – Globe Dance Band

11:00 p.m. – Lester’s Sport Revue

11:15 p.m. – Theatre News

11:30 p.m. – Lucky Dollar Night Club