My radio career began 50 years ago after an audition conducted by the late Philip J. Spencer Sr., who then managed Amsterdam’s WCSS.
Amsterdam did not get a radio station until 1948 when businessmen headed by former mayor Arthur Carter formed Community Service Broadcasting and started WCSS.
The station was housed in a building on Midline Road adjacent to its radio tower. Carter operated the station until 1953.
Walter T. Gaines took the helm then and much entertainment and controversy ensued. Longtime morning host Lloyd Smith recalled that Gaines started calling the WCSS building, which was red at the time, the “little red mansion on the hill.”
Today the building is home to an accounting firm, Spagnola & Spagnola.
The structure is no longer red but has a white stone front and gray sides. WCSS today is located at the city’s Riverfront Center.
Smith added, “The 1950s disc jockeys would leave the control room windows open in summer — no air conditioning yet — and invite cars to toot the horn when they went by.”
Gaines left the Amsterdam station and Phil Spencer came in to manage WCSS in 1956. Spencer ultimately bought the station.
In 1962 Spencer wanted a local high school student to work Sundays.
Auditions took place at the “little red mansion” in what was then Studio A, today the office of Larry Spagnola.
The 1962 audition winner was senior Steve Ferris. A junior, I came in second.
A few days later WCSS program director Carl Bahn called. Ferris had turned down this opportunity for fame and fortune, and did I want the job?
Working at WCSS introduced me to colorful individuals. In my nasal voice I introduced country music performer Dusty Miller. I was announcer and board operator as Dean Dale and Cuzzy Barone provided live music. The talented Bill Pope came to WCSS after a brief stint starting Amsterdam’s other radio station WAFS in 1961. WAFS has morphed into WVTL AM and FM, and it’s where I work today.
Bill Pope was a cut above the rest of us and I copied everything he did.
In the summer of 1962 I was reading English announcements on the nightly “Polka Party” hosted by former Polish freedom fighter and then beer distributor Richard Bartyzel.
Previously, I had been the announcer doing English commercials on Leonard Hartvigas’s “Lithuanian Hour.”
While Leonard was popular, Richard was a star. My family lived on Peter Lane, and I sometimes walked to work along Clizbe Avenue.
If Richard was on the air, I heard polka music wafting from houses along the way.
My days at WCSS ended after the summer of 1963, when I headed off to Boston University. Although Phil Spencer never fired me, he also didn’t hire me during future summer vacations and I don’t blame him.
WCSS was not a rock station but I insisted on slipping in rock music.
It made me popular with my peers.
The Angels came out with “My Boyfriend’s Back” in 1963. I was playing their record on my show when Phil came into the studio. “Do you like that song?” Phil asked. When I told him I liked it very much, he replied, “Then take it home. I don’t ever want to hear it again.”
MOHAWK VALLEY STORIES
In conjunction with my book “Stories from the Mohawk Valley,” I am conducting a contest looking for history stories. Deadline for entries is Feb. 15, and winners will receive modest cash prizes. More information is at www.bobcudmore.com. I will have copies of the contest rules available from noon to 2 p.m. today, Jan. 14, at a book signing at Barnes & Noble at Mohawk Commons in Niskayuna.
Anyone with a suggestion for a Focus on History topic may contact Bob Cudmore at 346-6657 or bobcudmore@yahoo.com.
