What a pleasure it is to get in my car, turn the radio on, and, once again, hear those melodious call-letters:  “W-L-A-M.”

Oldies are my preferred genre of music. Thanks to AM radio programming on “the Memories Stations” by veteran broadcaster Bob Bittner, I’m able to enjoy those blasts from the past.

That’s early rock ’n’ roll, crooners from the ’40s, and songs from later years, meaning about 40 years ago.

Bittner’s ownership of listener-supported WJTO in West Bath, and some other stations, has made the old tunes accessible in recent years. He has acquired WLAM, and tuning to 1470 on the AM dial unlocks memories of some rich broadcast history in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

WLAM began broadcasting from the top two floors of its studios at 129 Lisbon St. on Sept. 4, 1947. The new station quickly became a central Maine leader in sports coverage, and it brought several special events and celebrities to the Twin Cities in the course of its active years.

Here’s an assortment of memories from the WLAM airwaves.

The first morning man at the station was Fred Haggerty with his “Alarm Clock Club.” Each night’s broadcasts included “Sports Newsreel” with Bob Dey and commentary by sports-news reporter Cliff Gove.

WLAM had a big influence on many L-A teenagers. “The Teenage Coke Party” sponsored by Peck’s Department Store and hosted by Fred Haggerty and Cecilia Butler was a Saturday favorite with participation by hundreds of the cities’ young people, and Frank Sweeney was a favorite afternoon DJ in the late 1950s.

For many years, “Junior Town Meeting,” moderated by Edward Little High School instructor Frank Wimmer, was on the air with discussions and debates by students from Lewiston-Auburn high schools.

There was a high school quiz show called “Prep Hall Question Corner” with Hal Dutch as emcee. Broadcast live from Benoit’s clothing store, it was similar to “Jeopardy,” and I was a contestant on one show. I think Danny Sullivan of LHS was on that show, but I can’t remember who participated for St. Dom’s. I don’t recall who won, but it wasn’t me.

Dutch also hosted “Town Talk,” a telephone talk show, and the combined talents of Sonya Forgue and Denny Shute brought listeners a morning show called “Coffee Time.”

“Pepsi’s Football Game of the Week” had play-by-play coverage by Hyme Shanahan, Paul Brogran and Parker Hoy. Listeners also will recall the voice of Dick Michelsen, an ELHS math instructor, who was well-known for exclaiming, “They’re at the head of the stretch …” as he called a daily second race when Lewiston Raceway’s harness racing meet was in session.

WLAM had a brief experience with local television broadcasting in 1953-55 when its Channel 17 aired from Applesass Hill, Pleasant Street, Lewiston. It spotlighted local talent with hosts Norm Buker and George Ouelette. There was a popular music program with lip-synced performances to recordings, and there was a cooking show conducted by Helen Richan.

The first live television coverage of a western Maine basketball final took place when WLAM-TV covered Edward Little High School against South Portland from the Lewiston Armory in 1954.

The radio microphones or TV cameras also brought several national figures to L-A viewers when they made local visits. U.S. Sen. John F. Kennedy spoke at Lewiston City Park two nights before his election to the presidency in 1960 and President Lyndon B. Johnson spoke at the park in August 1966.

Among celebrities who made stops at WLAM’s studio was heavyweight boxing champ Joe Louis.

The station and local businesses sponsored popular cooking shows at Lewiston City Hall.

ABC network’s “Breakfast Club” with Don McNeill came for a week in 1964 and did broadcasts from LHS auditorium.

Auto shows, “Operation Santa Claus” with the Salvation Army, and relief efforts for fire-ravaged Rimouski, Quebec, in 1950 were other public service activities.

Today’s television stations, along with internet capabilities, are doing a good job of community coverage throughout Maine. A lot of the skills needed for news and special event coverage were learned in the early days of broadcasting by stations like WLAM. It was a rich period of local history recalled in a 25th anniversary souvenir booklet published by WLAM in 1972.

Dave Sargent is a freelance writer and a native of Auburn. He can be reached by sending email to [email protected].