The 'New Coliseum'

I always thought it was a handsome building and an impressive sight as you flew into Charlotte-Douglas.

   If you're 50+ and have lived in Charlotte a long time you probably refer to the building below as the 'new Coliseum'. 'New' because the original Coliseum was on Independence Boulevard. 

   I saw Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, the Ringling Brothers Circus and the Charlotte Hornets here before it was imploded in 2007 to make way for mixed-use development. 

   Who did you see perform? Any graduations? Were you at the first Hornets game?

1988.

The Grateful Dead, June, 1991.

Frank Sinatra at the 'new Coliseum'. Undated, but probably from his August 19, 1988 concert.

The cheapest seats in the house were $17.50.

August, 1988 aerial view on day of opening celebration.

Planting trees for the controversial Maya Lin 'Topo' environmental sculpture. 

Originally known as 'The Playing Field' - 1991.

Ringling Bros. Circus elephants make their way to the Coliseum. 2001.

June 3, 2007 implosion. 

'Girl Watching Season'

Photos from the '60s & '70s when guys didn't have to hide it

   A colleague of mine loves this time of year  -- he says it's the start of Girl Watching Season. 

See below -- the first cutline is hysterical!

Every day around lunch time many Charlotte businessmen take time to participate in the international sport of girl watching. The scenery is great, they agree, whether blonde, brunette or redhead. Here Mrs. Kay Jackson turns heads as she walks past the local girl watchers' roost on Tryon St. - 1969

Observer photographer Bill McCallister caught these construction workers' expressions as
they caught sight of a shapely female passing. The boys were breaking for lunch
while working on the new Northwestern Bank building. 1971.

"I think Charlotte has the best looking women in the United States." - 1969

Bobby Green of Blythe Bros. Co. does his own brand of girl-watching in 

the 100 block of E. Fifth St. - 1972

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These two probably ran with a story about "decorated knees." 

Charlotte News reporter Pam Hawkins is featured.

At the Charlottetown Mall, Pam sat down as if waiting for someone and immediately drew 

a crowd of knee inspectors. People may not notice anyone on the streets of New York, 

but they certainly do in Charlotte. - 1966

(Charlotte) News reporter Pam Hawkins strolls up Tryon Street in short skirt and decorated knees. The newest fashion fad brings titters from the two gentlemen she's just passed.

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Bonus!

Standing guard at Bethesda Naval Hospital where President Nixon is recovering from pneumonia isn't entirely a matter of turning back undesirables. Here Marine Pfc. R. R. Cluster of Grants Pass, Ore, is distracted enough by passing scenery to interrupt a guardlike stance.  July, '73, Clt News. 

Bee-lieve it!

Front page - Hornets advanced to Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs, 

May 6, 1993.

(excerpt)

On a sweet spring night the Charlotte Hornets and their fans will never forget, Alonzo Mourning fired the shot of his life - and beat the Boston Celtics.

Hornets advance to Round 2

By Charles Chandler, Staff Writer

   Alonzo Mourning said nothing like it has ever happened to him.

   And nothing like it has ever happened to Charlotte.

   Mourning hit a 19-foot jump shot with 0.4 seconds left Wednesday to put the Charlotte Hornets into Round 2 of the NBA playoffs with a 104-103 victory over the Boston Celtics.

   "I'd just call it a lucky shot, to tell you the truth," Mourning said.

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Were you there? What do you remember?  What was the vibe in Charlotte? 

Independence Blvd Flashback!

Independence Boulevard through the years 

 Photos from four decades of the road we love to hate...

Independence as it crossed old Thompson Orphanage Farm, about 1955, 

prior to building of Charlottetown complex.

Heavy Rain Flooded Intersection of Eastway & Independence. July 20, 1966.

LIGHTS OUT: The Krispy Kreme at Independence Boulevard and Hawthorne Lane 

closed to make way for the widening of U.S. 74.  (1994)

Traffic on Independence inbound at sunset. 1998.

Feb. 2000 - Independence Blvd. traffic passes Lebo's turning onto Albemarle Road.  

Kemper Open fashions - 1978

Golf, sun and loud prints.

A glimpse of spectators and players at the Kemper Open, held at Quail Hollow Country Club.

Jesse Owens, Olympic medalist and part of Arnie's Army

Chi Chi Rodriguez

Alan Pate

Arnold Palmer

Barry Frank (l) and Tom Weiskopf
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Spectators

National Picnic Day is April 23

Mecklenburg Daughters of the American Revolution picnic at the "Rock House"  - 1929

 - Photo courtesy of Mecklenburg DAR

The Mecklenburg DAR gather for a picnic at the Hezekiah Alexander Home. It was the first chapter in North Carolina, organized on September 27, 1898. The state Founding Regent and Organizing Secretary was Harriet Nesbit Latta (Mrs. Edward Dilworth Latta.) First Regent of Mecklenburg Chapter was Anna Morrison Jackson (Mrs. T. J. "Stonewall" Jackson) A marker erected by the Mecklenburg Chapter in 1901 commemorated the Oct. 3, 1780 McIntyre Skirmish and was the first site marked in North Carolina by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The chapter has over 15 monuments and markers today.

Spectacle at Latta Park, 1892

- Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, undated

Latta Park opened in 1891 and quickly became a popular recreation spot with its lake, pavilion, greenhouse and picnic areas. Here's a story from 1892.

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From the Charlotte Observer, published as Daily Charlotte Observer; Date: 05-20-1892 (excerpt)

The Fireworks at Latta

The Grand Stand Well Filled - A Great Crowd on the Grounds - The Exhibition Fine.

   The exhibition of fireworks was faithful to the programme in the excellence, variety and number of the prominent pieces, together with rockets, candles, etc.  Part first of the gorgeous spectacle was ushered in by the explosion of a bomb, and immediately with marvelous celerity a skirmish line of soft and variegated lights flashed across the grounds from side to side - in front of which "Jumbo," the elephant, waving his giant orange-colored trunk, and flashing his carmine eye at the grand stand, while his starry tail wagged sympathetically, moved in astronomical majesty and twinkling feet across the campus.

  Every moment or two the grounds and stand were irradiated by the ignition of inflammable matter arranged at different points, which poured forth waves of light which one can best term as of velvety softness and and exquisite color.

  An agile trapezist, who turned over the bar, swung himself back and forth, and finally prematurely lost his hold and fell to the ground, greatly delighting the spectators. 

  The crowd was notably decorous - merry, good-humored and very orderly.

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Edward Dilworth Latta, who spearheaded the creation of the park. Undated photo. 

The Ford Mustang turns 50.

If you've landed here via my Twitter account (@ObserverArchive) thanks for your enthusiastic following! If you're new here, welcome. I hope you'll visit often for glimpses of Charlotte's past, much of which is long gone. I'll mix it up: people, restaurants, NASCAR, street scenes, buildings, stores and the occasional just-plain-weird picture. Some photos do not have captions or dates ... maybe we can connect the dots together. And let me know what you'd like to see!

(Check out the Retro Charlotte Twitter page, too)


The Ford Mustang was introduced 50 years ago on April 17, 1964, and was dubbed a "1964½" model by fans due to the early rollout.

 Check out this slideshow for more:  Mustang pix and ads slideshow.

Want to buy photos? Stay tuned!

Welcome to the Retro Charlotte blog!

If you've landed here via my Twitter account (@ObserverArchive) thanks for your enthusiastic following! If you're new here, welcome. I hope you'll visit often for glimpses of Charlotte's past, much of which is long gone. I'll mix it up: people, restaurants, NASCAR, street scenes, buildings, stores and the occasional just-plain-weird picture. Some photos do not have captions or dates ... maybe we can connect the dots together.
And let me know what you'd like to see!

Retro Charlotte Twitter page

1960, Park Lanes Bowling Alley on Montford Dr. "Here's the $750,000 Air-Conditioned Park Lanes".

Want to buy a photo? Stay tuned!