WGSW
Station Information
Call Letters: WGSW
Frequency: 1350 AM
Location: Greenwood, SC
WGSW banned The Beatles!
Evidence of the Ban:
The Index-Journal in Greenwood, SC, on August 4, 1966 reported, "Greenwood radio station WGSW joins other stations around the state and nation today in a 'Ban The Beatles' movement designed to show contempt for a public statement released by a member of the mop-haired singing group. Mel Riley, program director at the station, says Beatle music has been banned since yesterday and will not be played. In addition, the station has prepared an editorial explaining its stand on the matter which will be aired later today. Excerpts of the editorial read as follows: '...John Lennon is not a typical teenager. Rather he is the idol of millions of other young people and this statement is a slap at teen-agers who do not share the religious views of Lennon.' "
The article was accompanied by a photo with the caption: "Mel Riley, Jim Warren, and disc jockey John Kerr, left to right, of WGSW radio at Greenwood fan the 'Ban the Beatles' movement as they break records waxed by the British vocal group." Warren, the station's news director and chief engineer, is seen in the picture with a pipe in his mouth trying to tear in half the sleeve for the Beatles VI album with apparently limited success. Kerr appears to be urging him to tear harder. Riley is standing to the side awkwardly holding the Beatles vinyl LP and smiling at the camera.
Current Info:
now defunct