The History Of Tiger Radio

WLSC (2009 -  )

On October 14, 2009 WLSC in Loris, SC became the new Tiger Radio. 

WLSC signed on at 1570kc in 1958, which was 7 years earlier than WTGR.  The station later moved to 1240 and even changed call letters to WVSL in 1984.  The station reassigned the WLSC call letters in 1986.  

(Photos courtesy of Edward Suggs)

There have been many owners through the years.  JARC Broadcasting owned the station between 1989 and 2007.  Banana Jack Murphy Productions LLC assumed control of WLSC on November 30, 2007.  Through the years, WLSC was best known for broadcasting country, bluegrass and religious programming.   We believe that is about to change!!!

Photographs of the TigerRadioOnline studios.   The WTGR/Tiger Radio record collection is owned by Banana Jack Murphy.

TigerRadioOnline and TigerRadio.com (2000 - 2005)

Banana Jack Murphy, along with Bob Scarborough of Waccamaw Media launched an internet only tribute station, TigerRadioOnline.com,  in 2000.  The station featured jingles and music from the original WTGR library.  The studio was located at the offices of Waccamaw Media on Wesley Street in Myrtle Beach, just a few blocks from Freestyle Music Park (formerly Hard Rock Park). 

In 2003, Banana Jack Murphy acquired the website, TigerRadio.com.   TigerRadioOnline.com remained on the air until 2005.  The Tiger has been silent until now....

The Original Tiger Radio in 1977.

In 1965, a group of ham radio operators brought to life a 250 watt radio station at 1520kc in a small fishing village in South Carolina.

Tiger Radio, WTGR, became the hallmark radio station of that town, breaking new music acts, helping to usher in Beach Music and booming the music of the day to vacationers who relaxed along the beaches of the blue Atlantic.

Many great radio personalities throughout the United States got their start behind the Tiger Radio microphone. A microphone, the former station owner, Tom Rogers still has today, tucked in amongst the memorabilia of a bygone era.

It was an era when radio stations played a major part in the life of the community they served, when vinyl records were played and disc jockeys talked loud - and live!    Noted personalities include Billy Smith, Bill Hennecy, Big Al Irvin, Bill Connell, Bruce Miller, Steve Mims and J. Patrick Milan.

In the early 80s, WTGR started simulcasting the programming from WKZQ (formerly WTGR-FM).  Soon, the WTGR call letters were dropped and 1520 would become WKZQ-AM.  In the early 90s, WKZQ-AM moved to 1450.  Nowadays, WTGR can now be found at 97.5 FM in Union City, Ohio.   Although the once famous call letters and frequency are history, the excitement of the original Tiger Radio has been revived.

Now,  you are able to relive a piece of history, as AM 1240 WLSC and TigerRadio.com bring back the memories of youthful summers, on the beach, holding hands, dancing, listening to the radio and dreaming of the future.

The Mighty Tiger Radio has come to life again - just a few miles from the sunny shores of Myrtle Beach, but this time with a roar that can be heard worldwide!