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WCSC-AM was Charleston, South Carolina's first radio station,
signing on the air in 1930 at 1360 kHz. Around 1939 the station's
frequency was changed to 1390. (For many years the station used the
slogan "1390 since 1930" but that wasn't quite accurate.) For
decades, WCSC was an affiliate of the CBS Radio Network. WCSC's
original owner was the Liberty Life Insurance Company.
In 1937, John M. Rivers joined WCSC-AM radio as president of the
South Carolina Broadcasting Company, the licenser of WCSC. In 1938,
he became president and manager of WCSC Radio. Rivers purchased the
station in 1944.
In 1948, WCSC-FM (later WXTC-FM) went on the air; in June of 1953,
WCSC-TV, the first VHF television station in South Carolina, became
operational. Rivers became chairman of the board of WCSC, Inc., in
1973.
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| Emma Lee
Heitman writes: "I'm curious about the time the photo was
taken and mentioned it to my sister. She thinks that it was
taken between 1945-48 and remembers two names: 'Shorty Wiggins
and the Gang' and 'Dixie Playboys'. I hope that you have other
photos showing the same carpet, drapes, etc. and can date it.
My sister remembers going to the 12th floor of the Francis
Marion Hotel where the studio was located and singing on
Saturday mornings 'Juvenile Jamboree'. Uncle Russ was the
emcee.. Any help will be appreciated."
Do you have more information? |
In the 1950s and '60s, WCSC Radio's format could best be described
as MOR ("Middle Of the Road"). There was a switch to Top 40 in the
early 1970s as WCSC tried to compete head-to-head with long-time Top
40 leader WTMA.
In the early '80s WCSC's format morphed into an Adult Contemporary
presentation with a full-service approach. In 1983, it became
Charleston's only AM stereo station.
By the
time the Rivers family sold the station in 1987, the station had
switched to all-oldies supplemented by sports and the talk shows
(like Tom Snyder's ABC offering). WCSC-TV was sold to Crump
Communications at that time, and kept the WCSC call letters. WCSC-AM
and WXTC-FM were sold to New York's Ralph Guild. WCSC Radio became
WXTC-AM.
Later
call letters for 1390 in Charleston included WCSE and WZKG. 1390's
calls eventually returned to WXTC. As of 2008,
WXTC is a
gospel-formatted station owned by Apex Broadcasting. It operates
with a power of 5000 watts non-directional day, 5000 watts
directional night. |
