Next on News and more a major attack on the Reagan administration at the convention of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees and a giant in the broadcast industry calls it quits and the sun will shine over most of Atlantic City tomorrow. Stay tuned for details coming up on news and more. Good evening. I'm Jim Knight in the news. The New Jersey legislature considers the death penalty and higher taxes. Senator Edward Kennedy blasts the Reagan administration's economic policy and calls for a nuclear freeze. New Jersey state
troopers may get bullet proof vests after all and a Miss America theme song may never be heard again. Also ahead on NEWS AND MORE we'll talk with the executive director of the Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce as he prepares to leave Atlantic City and take a look at some of the things we've done here on channel 53 over the past year. Our top story tonight concerns us channel 53 Frank Syracuse president of Atlantic City television Corporation announced today that WWE TV will go off the air following tonight's edition of news and more. Syracuse is cited financial problems and the inability to attract new investors to channel 53. Next Tuesday would have marked 11 months since channel 53 went on the air. We're proud of what we've been able to bring you these past 10 and a half months and we appreciate the support that we've received for you. Yesterday we received word that our ratings were extremely good especially for an
independent station on the fringe of two major markets. Now here's a statement that was recorded earlier today by Frank president of the Atlantic City television corporation. My purpose in visiting with you today is to report some sad news for the loyal viewers of a CTV and for its staff and management. The end of programming today will mark the germination of broadcast activities of channel 53. The station will no longer remain in operation after tonight sign off. Perhaps you may wonder why it didn't work out in the station's owners feel that their obligation to tell you the answers are rather simple when actually there was a financial commitment of some five million dollars made by the owners to this venture to create what by most everyone's measure was a quality type of television that we could all be proud us. It's unfortunately the unforseen startup costs coupled with extremely heavy operating expenses were never balanced by
the station's revenues through advertising sales for more than 10 months. These losses were absorbed by the owners. But there is a limit to how far this could continue. And so as we close out this small chapter in Atlantic county's dramatic and dynamic history our thanks go out to many people first to the loyal viewers who's been a fan whose favorable comments are so greatly encouraged us. And second to those advertisers who did their part to financially support us. And third most of all to our staff of some 50 great great people a staff that has matured intention months to become the finest gang of media professionals that has ever been my privilege to know. The owners of channel 53 have never wavered in their faith in a dynamic future of Atlantic County. Unfortunately commercial television of the quality in which we insisted is an idea whose time is yet to come. We thank you all for being with us and we hope to see you again.
We'll be right back with more news. On. One. Next on NEWS AND MORE we'll talk with Bill Ames who is leaving his post with the Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce. We'll be right back. Off it. In recent years Atlantic City has gone through a great deal of change and one man who's been there to see it and been involved in it is our guest tonight.
Bill Ames executive director of the Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce will be leaving Atlantic City at the end of next week to take a position with the New York Chamber of Commerce. Bill it's an appropriate time I think in more ways than one to talk about leaving Atlantic City. What kind of thoughts do you have about the state of the city right now. Well Mike I think Atlantic City is poised at a significant turning point. There are transitions happening across the board in almost every area that we look. I don't know whether that's fate or what but we have very significant change. Rand I think the intent is for the organization to stay there while it's changing with the executive director ship. We have leadership which is stable and staying with the Chamber of Commerce over the course of the next year and has brought it to the strength and strong position that it has today and will
stick with it in the future. So representing business at least there is some stability and a strong organization. What particular problems do you think have to be addressed right now by the Chamber by the city. I think the most important element is to smooth the transition from a commission form of government to a mere Council form. The Chamber of Commerce was invited by both commission candidates. The council may or all candidates I should say. John nodded take a look at the weather it was a dandy day you can see from my face like a little town. What about tomorrow. Let's check. It's a dandy day because you want to hear today. We've got a lot of unemployed folks here. We didn't see the sunshine too much. We got a weather map here it is and it's a cold front going across the country it's going to be crossing our area in fact it is crossing our area just as we
go off the air here. But it's not going to bring us any rain tonight doesn't look like it looks like that's a dry front nothing really to worry about. So far most of the precipitation is centered in the southeast. That front coming down is going to keep that from riding up in our area. Now there's something that's not on the map that should be and that's a little weak cold front across the Great Lakes extending from a low up in Canada that will be crossing our area sometime late tomorrow afternoon or evening. And that has a pretty good chance well maybe about a 30 percent chance we'll say kicking off some showers when it comes through late tomorrow. Now this high pressure out in Kansas is really nothing to get excited about it's very weak. It's not going to do us much good at all. However there's another high pressure up in Canada that will be moving in and could give us a couple of really nice days long about Thursday or Friday. Highs for today 83 in Philadelphia 85 the Lakers 82 in Millville 86 of the tech center 72 is the high in Atlantic City in the marine forecast the winds from the west tonight 10 to 15 knots tomorrow from the southwest 10 to 15 knots.
Average wave heights one to three feet on the ocean to theater last on the bay. The ocean temperature is 66 degrees. The visibility five miles or more except lowering possibly tomorrow during showers. Now I'm going to tell you something I memorize all that every night. We don't have teleprompter so I memorize all of that every night except this stuff down here see that. This is the forecast and the marine forecast. Now sometimes you might notice that when I'm doing the forecast or the marine forecast or I sometimes you see me like this now and then you come back and I go like that. Well that's because we don't have a teleprompter and they said it was coming tomorrow. But now it's too late. OK let's take a look at our 53 forecast for tonight. The last forecast. Partly cloudy tonight low about 60 degrees tomorrow partly sunny 30 percent chance of a late afternoon or evening shower. High 75 at the shore 80 on the mainland Wednesday will all be at the beach it'll be sunny high in the mid 70s Thursday and Friday look at this mostly sunny going to have a lot of tan people on the unemployment line
and Saturday partly sunny with a chance of showers early in the morning or maybe late Friday night. On a serious note there is something I want to say and that is thank you. Thank you very much to all the great people at the National Weather Service starting with Mr. Martin Ross who is the head of me. Never did learn that word had weather person at the National Weather Service Martin Ross along with Ross Gardner Jim Mabry wine and a lot of terrific people who really did teach me a lot about meteorology. They just never taught me how to say it. That's it for our last weather here on channel 53 but now I'm going to join Cal over on the set and we're going to be looking at some terrific things that have happened in the past year. Thanks Glenn. Thank you. We're going to look at some of the things you know on your last newscast you get a chance to do some of the things that you want to do and right now we're going to take a look at. Probably one of the the most fun things that I had to do and that was drive that crazy card I'd go and I guess that's one of the neat
things about this kind of work when is that. Well I know you've got you've got a fascination. I thought they were going to show when the animal bit my fingernail began if you remember we first went on the air it seemed every night every problem they were showing this. But was that not a lot it hit my fingernail off you could actually hear it crunch. That was the first thing I ever did on the air here. And ever since then look you know figuring out the Ocelot taught me that in this business no fingernails go well that's what happened to me we went to add go to sort of. Test drive a car and we're going to do a straight but then we decided well let's have some fun with this thing so we call this thing crashes or strikes again I think is what it was called. OK. Right. And then there's that we did literally hundreds hundreds of pieces like that and I think the the
most fun of a piece like that is when you're out on the on the beach and people come up and say hey you're with channel 53. That's right and that's what we did it for. Right now here's some messages for you but don't go away we have a lot of news and more left. Yeah yeah yeah. What an example of an example that's for sure. Roses champagne love Valentine's Day and Resorts International with great programming panache has scheduled our guest Mr. love Mr. lovable Mr. Rickles thank you for being with us on this. How do you feel about that. You try
acting. I was going to leave for good. I just cannot watch what's collaged means anything good. I've never had that just drop and some heavy ones I cannot. What was your question. How do you feel about that one time that you know Valentine's Day is marvelous you give the wife a cheap card and she goes to bed early that's about Valentine's Day is free every day should be a Valentine's Day I love these guys about something. I'm no no romanticist but it my way I am but I don't you know some guys going to the lonely in the lights of the end of the bed the beach and they're in the little boat little island Venice you know. I will do that. I get up take the belt out save the ethical to do the adagio that keep weapon her till she feels happy Valentine's Day. That's against the banks. I didn't want the jungle you know so I can I'm like a mentally great sentences to make the Broadway yet you know I mean. What do you think about resorts getting in here on a Valentine's Day I want to say I think it's great resorts I think
Atlantic City as a whole is terrific because I was very fortunate when with the open resorts I was about the last active third third act it was Stephenie I think Bill Cosby and when you and I did you know I was studying for the year I believe and I'm just delighted when I think this city has a great deal of wealth and there's lot of problems with the economy today and I think the more hotels are the more entertainment. Certainly it helps my end of the business and certainly it helps the public because yeah I think that a resort centers. Right. Channel 53 is on the air.
And now live ladies and gentleman from Atlantic and Connecticut Avenue in downtown Atlanta sitting. W W TV in the wonderful world of the city. Is on the air. Stand by to make history. City officials are reportedly now looking for ways to strictly regulate the vendors I guess not. Let me go let me get this straight you know. It's real for Rachel I'm not quite sure what I'm doing but then we have new departments that one forum you amuse you and you information. I'd like to point out and that this will not be shot television's second. Excuse me this is the answer media given the first day.
We don't care if the inlet. It's our home. So far this year there have been over 400 fires some abandoned or vacant buildings in Atlantic City. So far there have been over 400 fires in vacant or abandoned buildings in Atlantic. Just now I say that if you ever need anyone to carry lights or camera I know where you can find a fat balding little 50 year old anchor who would love it. And we'll be right back. Right now this will not be shot Alison. When a man is waiting in the stands a special surprise guest. Coming right here hello surprises my name is only not in its window right now.
I put my life here so I'd better pay and your money is well to we don't want to forget that there's general sales manager Let's go right in the good times our wonderful time long time we're doing pretty good. Fantastic. Scuse me but this is ridiculous. We've been good we haven't put not enough put up. Thank you very much Jim. I must admit I think I had several heart attacks during that last film because that wasn't supposed to be on. You know only years that I've been in the television business I can honestly say that there has never been assembled a group of people as we have here a channel 53 that been very very proud and Jim you're going to get this back very quickly. They've been very very proud to serve you. We think we have not brought SLOC television to Atlantic City in all of South Jersey. We just hope that you are as proud of us
as we were proud to serve you. Thank you very much Jim. And if I may.
