Those three magic words: Remember that Summer?
School’s out, and we leave the city to spend the summer in Wildwood. It was the most wonderful time of my youth.
Step into the sun-soaked world of Wildwood, as the swinging seventies set the stage for a wild ride of nostalgia, freedom, and unforgettable moments. Embark on a journey to a time when the neon lights glowed, the music was great, and the spirit of adventure was palpable.
Wildwood in the 1970s was a mecca for thrill-seekers, beach bums, and tourists from everywhere. Join me on my journey of discovery as I navigate the incredible boardwalk, bustling amusement rides, and vibrant nightlife that defined this iconic seaside community. From the rollercoasters that dared me to let go of my fears, to days spent on the beach, every day brought a new opportunity for excitement and romance.
Feel the energy pulsating through the pages as the rhythm of disco, and rock ‘n roll become the soundtrack of an era. Experience the allure of the seashore, where tan lines told stories of carefree days spent soaking up the sun, to nights on the boardwalk and in the clubs on the strip. Every day held the promise of endless possibilities. Within the vibrant tapestry of Wildwood’s colorful characters, discover the magic of young love, friendship, and self-discovery.
You’ll be transported to a bygone era that captures the essence of Wildwood in the 70s, immersing you in the sights, sounds, and emotions of a time when life was lived with unbridled passion. Whether you experienced it firsthand or simply wish you had, prepare to be swept away on a nostalgic journey that will make you long for the days when the spirit of Wildwood was at its peak.
Get your copy here:
.
.
Top reviews from the United States for
DOWN THE SHORE
.
.
5.0 out of 5 stars Sun-Kissed Memories of Wildwood Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024
As a lover of nostalgia and a connoisseur of captivating storytelling, I was drawn to “Down The Shore” like a moth to a flame. Authored by Charles Wiedenmann, this memoir transports readers back to the sun-drenched sands and lively boardwalks of Wildwood, New Jersey, in the vibrant era of the 1970s.
From the moment I cracked open the cover, I was swept away by the author’s vivid prose and heartfelt recollections. Each page brims with warmth, humor, and a deep sense of longing for a bygone era. Through a series of charming anecdotes and vivid vignettes, the author paints a rich tapestry of life in Wildwood during the summers of their youth.
One of the most striking aspects of “Down The Shore” is its ability to evoke a palpable sense of time and place. From the sizzle of hotdogs on the grill to the echo of carnival games on the breeze, every detail is rendered with exquisite clarity. It’s as if the reader is transported back in time, experiencing the sights, sounds, and sensations of a bygone era firsthand.
But “Down The Shore” is more than just a nostalgic trip down memory lane; it’s a deeply personal journey of self-discovery and growth. As the author navigates the trials and tribulations of adolescence, he grapples with themes of identity, belonging, and the bittersweet passage of time. Through his eyes, we witness the joys and challenges of coming of age in a place where every summer holds the promise of adventure and possibility.
What truly sets “Down The Shore” apart, however, is its universal appeal. While rooted in the specific time and place of Wildwood in the 1970s, the themes explored in this memoir resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you spent your own summers chasing waves and building sandcastles or simply long for a glimpse into a bygone era, there is something in these pages for everyone.
In conclusion, “Down The Shore” is a poignant and beautifully crafted memoir that captures the essence of a bygone era with warmth, humor, and heartfelt nostalgia. It’s a love letter to summers spent in the sun, to friendships forged on the boardwalk, and to the timeless magic of Wildwood, New Jersey. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking an escape to simpler times and a reminder of the enduring power of memory.
.
5.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK IS A TREASURE TROVE OF MEMORIES!
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2023
Spending his time Down the Shore for the entirety of his summers, and later living full time in that same summer town, the author paints his picture of surviving the winter in the Wildwood that most of us only know as a summer town. But it also does justice to the Wildwood that many of us experienced. If you have ever walked the Wildwood Boardwalk, this book captures the excitement, anticipation, and unfettered freedom that summer brings to a city kid as he has to navigate an entire summer and later a full year in a resort town. This story is enlightening, autobiographical, and an uncharted journey. The author begins with his own family’s ties to the town and moves you through his childhood and teen years in the 70’s. It’s quirky, interesting, and heartwarming.
Everyone who knows about Wildwood has a story about how they ended up there for a week, or two. With Down the Shore, you can feel the sun on your face and the music in your ears. Just like his prior book Lawndale, this book was so much fun to read and reminded me of things I hadn’t thought about in decades! This is your summer beach read, but also the book that pulls you out of the dead of winter to warm you with memories from a time of your youth. In so many ways it is a love letter to the Wildwoods that we can no longer see but only feel. Down the Shore is your ticket to ride.
5.0 out of 5 stars Love the Jersey Shore in the 70s? This is the beach read for you!
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2023
Part history, part memoir, part love letter to the Jersey Shore, this is a fun trip back in time with plenty of photos and authentic stories that bring the sense of wonder and summer possibilities to life. I read the author’s previous book, Below the Wheel, which was a good page-turner mystery set in Philadelphia and New Jersey. Down the Shore is much more light and autobiographical, but still has that same flow and conversational tone that makes his writing so approachable. If you came of age in the 70s, you’ll love reliving the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of youth. But if you just want to get into vacation mode with some fun snippets of the stories one beach town holds, this book will also fill the bill.
5.0 out of 5 stars Don’t Miss This One
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2023
Down the Shore is a unique collection of short tales about one man’s life in the 1970s. The author works to pin down the essence of his summers in Wildwood, New Jersey, where the freedom from school, new friends, and the magic spun by sun, surf, and sand helped to transform him from a reticent and awkward teen to a charming and confident young man. It’s a multi-layered coming-of-age story that includes his first romantic relationships with women, his battle with anxiety and depression, and the growth of a life-long friendship. It’s candid, relatable, humorous and poignant.
5.0 out of 5 stars Down The Shore is a fun and easy read
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2023
Down The Shore is a fun and easy read, especially for those who experienced summers in the Wildwoods or, no doubt, similar seashore towns during their pre-teen and teen years. Although my own pre-teen and teen years occurred a generation before the author’s, the sights, the sounds, and the smells of the beaches and boardwalk were much the same, as were the new feelings experienced during that wonderful period of my life. Reading Wiedenmann’s memoir brought back fond memories of those magical times.
5.0 out of 5 stars a striking, intimate memoir
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2023
What starts as a reminiscence of growing up in a resort on the Jersey shore, ends up revealing much more. It’s a moving, coming-of-age reflection on what it’s like to be an anxiety-filled misfit teen who is struggling to navigate adolescence. Sometimes comic, sometimes heart-wrenching It’s told in an informal voice that perfectly conjures a young teen who finds relief in care-free summers spent at the shore, where he finds solace in the sea, the sand, the boardwalk, and young love.
5.0 out of 5 stars Almost as good as being there
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2023
Charles’ new book is a feast for the senses via his vivid descriptions of summertime in the Jersey shore resort of Wildwood. He brings the excitement and charm of being a city kid going to the shore to life with an easygoing narrative and photos from his personal collection. You might not be able to go to Wildwood in person but this is the next best thing. You can almost smell the freshly cut french fries.
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun read and trip down memory lane.Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2023
This book is not just a fun memoir, it is a great coming-of-age story. We all do our best growing over the summer months in the sun and air. There is no better place than down the shore. If you grew up near any beach town, this book will take you right back to that time. If you didn’t, this book is going to make you want to check out Wildwood, NJ for sure!
.
Here are a few words from people who read the book and reached out to me on social media:
This message brought me to tears.
“Charles, I just finished Down The Shore and I couldn’t put it down, you lived my life, just a year or so before me! Please give me a moment to explain. I was bullied in grade school (Levittown, PA), Wildwood was my saving grace as we vacationed there every year since long before I was born in 1963, we moved here permanently in 1975, and I currently live in Rio Grande with my wife of 30 years.
My two fondest memories with my dad were being at both premiers of Jaws and Star Wars. Sam’s Pizza was our go-to because it was next to Nirvana, aka Hunt’s Pier, I lived on that pier as a child, and worked on it in 1985, the final year of Hunt’s ownership. My shift was the mini bumper cars, noon-midnight, 7 days a week, I didn’t need a day off because I was living the dream already.
Every so often I’d look out on the massive crowd and realize how awesome it was! I remember Louie, Vince was my manager and Sunday night movie screenings were awesome. You mentioned a Bruce in your book, it’s gotta be Bruce Calabrese, we spent our final summer up there he’d go get the beer as long as we tipped him!! I wasn’t allowed to leave until I grabbed a chunk of picket fence!
I worked on the Log Flume cleaning it in the fall months! I graduated from Wildwood High in 1981, Mark Piro was in my English class, and Jesse Dean was in my study Hall. I remember Mark telling all who would listen to his desire to become a rockstar!
I also worked as an usher in 1980 at the Blaker Theatre and I still can recite “Coal Miner’s Daughter” from memory. We ate at the Dolphin every summer.
In closing you are right, summers in Wildwood needed to be experienced to do them justice. Oh yeah, my wife and I froze our butts off on the boards saying goodbye to the Golden Nugget that day. Your book brought tears to my eyes that my wife couldn’t understand, she was born here, but I wasn’t, Wildwood was magic for me, and if I close my eyes, it’s not hard to relive it, this book hit me closer to home than any!! Thank you, I’d love to hear back from you!” – Jerry L.
.
“Hi Charles, Congrats on your new book about Wildwood in the 70s. We have a few things in common: my mother’s family is from NE Philly, my paternal grandfather built his shore house at 404 E 7th in 1951 and I spent summers in the early 70s in Wildwood working to put myself through state college. I wrote about some of those experiences in the chapbook “The Island of Decades Before.” It’s available through the Wildwood Historical Society. Wish you all the best in promoting and selling your book.” –Michele P
.
“Just finished Down the Shore. It was my biography too. I’m a few years older than you – 66. But I spent every summer in Wildwood from 1957 to 1983. Actually year-round from 1977 to 1983 (The last couple of years were split between Wildwood and Ocean City. You hung out at Bottos. Mine was Lou’s on the Boardwalk at Maple. Lived at 109 W Maple which has since been torn down. We didn’t run in the same crowd but I’m sure we passed each other on the street. In the winter of 79 to 80, I had just quit graduate school. Was living with my parents. Collecting unemployment and drinking a lot. Used to go over to the Sundance at the bowling alley. Must have seen you there. Anyway, your book was my childhood too. Wildwood was a special place, especially in the 70’s. Went back a few years ago. The boardwalk is still the boardwalk but the rest is only fond memories. When I leave this world I want my ashes spread on Diamond Beach. They can find my brain cells from the days at Noah’s Barefoot Bar. Thank you for your book. It brought back wonderful memories.” – Michael H.
.
You know… It doesn’t matter how many copies of this book I sell. I’m happy I created something that brought people joy. – Chaz
.
Get your copy here.
.
.
On a final note, If you’re in Wildwood this summer, you can pick up a copy of Down the Shore in the gift shop at The Wildwood Historical Museum and Hooked on Books!
.
Thanks to everyone who bought my book! It’s been an incredible journey!
.
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly.
You can check out my books here: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=charles+wiedenmann&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
Phicklephilly 