WILDWOOD – As a young teen in the 1970s spending summers in the Wildwoods, Charles Wiedenmann loved every aspect of it: Flying kites, fishing, falling madly in love, time on the beach, and even working at any of the local businesses.
He loved that time, which he calls the period he “transformed from a kid to a young adult,” so much that he authored a recently released book called, “Down The Shore: Stories from my summers in Wildwood, NJ, in the 70s.”
“I did a lot of research on Wildwood, so I had accurate information and facts in the story,” said Wiedenmann, now of Central City, Philadelphia. “Here’s my story of what it felt like to be in Wildwood during the summers in the 70s. It was just a great time.”
Wiedenmann grew up in Lawndale, a neighborhood in northeast Philadelphia, which he memorialized in another “highly personal” book called “Lawndale.”
“That was the most personal book I’ve done because it tells my story as a kid struggling in the 60s,” he said. “But when summer came, it was all fun. My three sisters and I, along with our parents, spent the 60s in Wildwood Crest. Then, in 1971, my parents bought a home in North Wildwood, and we would spend the whole summer there.
“What I’ve found is that people my age love nostalgia,” Wiedenmann, 61, added. “They remember playing outside until dark, no bike helmets, etc. I start the book sharing some stories from my dad from the 1930s and 40s, and then go from there.”
Wiedenmann, who has authored eight books, shares stories of “flying kites on the beach, fishing, and playing monopoly when it rains.” As he ages, he tells about his first job and his first time falling “madly” in love “for maybe about three days.”
Chuckling, he remembers being 14 and seeing his favorite movie at the time, “Star Wars.”
“I had already seen it three times, and I asked a girl to go with me, and she did. I couldn’t believe I was on a date, watching my favorite movie.”
His first job was at 14, when he was hired as a pool boy.
“I made $40 a week in 1977,” he recalled, “and to a 14-year-old, that was a ton of money. I didn’t care what I had to do as the pool boy.”
His parents, he said, would refer to him as a “prisoner of love,” meaning they “loved me, but kept me on a short leash. It was a great time. I think I fell in love once a week during those summers.”
His “best job ever,” he said, was working on Hunt’s Pier, an amusement pier along the Wildwood Boardwalk, from 1957-1985. Over its nearly 30 years in operation, Hunt’s was home to many dark rides, roller coasters, and other attractions.
“It was just a wonderful time in my life,” he added. “Even if you weren’t there, I think you will get the feel for the time reading the book.”
Wiedenmann has always enjoyed creative activities and, over the years, has tried art, drawing, sculpting, and music. In 2016, he began a blog about his adventures in Philadelphia that he would put on Facebook and “get a great, positive response to.” During the pandemic, he began writing about his past experiences.
“In 1979, our family moved full time to Wildwood, and I was a senior in high school at the time,” he said. “I remember people were surprised that there was a high school there. The winters in Wildwood could be very difficult because there aren’t a lot of people around, it’s dark and cold. I met a guy at the arcade and we ended up forming a band. My experience was quite a departure from what I was used to.”
Now, one of his sisters is a teacher in Egg Harbor Township and spends summers in what was once the family home in North Wildwood. Wiedenmann said he visits the area now, just not as often.
“I love creating a character in my books, and if I can get a reader to identify with it in a few spots, that’s a hit I love creating,” he said. “I have a great memory for details, and try to write in an easy, conversational voice. When you write, you get immediate reaction and satisfaction. Within the vibrant tapestry of Wildwood’s colorful characters, you will discover the magic of young love, friendship, and self-discovery that defined my time there.”
Contact the author, Karen Knight, at kknight@cmcherald.com.
