Let's See Who's A REAL Charlottean!

T Boone Pickens wrote:

<quoted text>
There was a racial incident that happened on a LIVE Saturday broadcast of Kilgo's Kanteen on Channel 9 WSOC that led to Kilgo being dismissed from both WSOC and Big Ways. If you remember, Jimmy would go around to the tables of teen dancers and ask them questions between records. Jimmy asked one boy what was the name of the dance he had been doinbg and the kid said it was the N___ Jive. Kilgo jerked the mic away but it came thru loud and clear. After a record or two Kilgo asked a girl what schooll she went to and she said she quit school because there were too many N___ at her school. From that point on the kids used every opportunity to use the N word. There had been similar complaints about the show and the conduct of the kids on it all year but this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
WSOC yanked the show even though it was their second most watched local show and brought in huge sponsorship money. One of the biggest sponsors was a Jewish downtown clothier (Family Dollar's Levine family) who worked hard to get Kilgo forgiven and back on the air.
Jimmy had been working a choice night time slot on WAYS for Stan and Sis Kaplan for 2 or 3 years when this incident occurred. His show was very popular. Ratings were high and sponsorship ads brought in lots of money. Stan and Sis were very active in the Jewish community in Charlotte. They did not however get along well with the Levines. Stan Kaplan saw this as an opportunity to one up the Levines and gain credibility with black listeners so he fired Jimmy Kilgo ON THE AIR.
The white kids in Charlotte were enraged. Jimmy unwillingly became a hero and symbol of segregationists in the Charlotte market.
Jimmy moved away and had a successful radio career. I believe he passed away of Lung Cancer in the 1990's here in Charlotte but I may have him confused with his brother.

T Boone Pickens wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes! I had some great times back then.
How about COUNTRY UNDERGROUND? After the John Travolta movie Urban Cowboy came out the place was packed with people dressed in "cowboy chic" doing the 2 step.

Ethel wrote:

Remember the Driftwood Steakhouse? And of course Shakey's Pizza on Independence.

Tarheelbill wrote:

<quoted text>. Well, this probably won't get read by anyone, since it's two+ years old but, I'm a native Charlotean who left in 1977. I was on Kilgo's Kanteen many times in the late 60's (went a couple of times with Lynn S., my crush at Spaugh Jr. High). For those who are continuing to perpertrate this baloney about racial remarks made on the show, IT WAS TAPED ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS FOR AIRING THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY! There were no live shows. The incident with Bill Curry did have some truth to it, and I do not remember Jimmy Kilgo ever being on Big Ways radio. But it is a fact "The Kanteen" was taped, and no such comments would have ever made it out. It's amazing the crap people make up and can pass off as the truth on the net...John Kilog was Jimmy's older brother, for the record. C'mon boomers...back me up on this!

Marinana wrote:

Morgana was the well endowed stripper!
I used to love the Oriental restauant. It was downtown but then moved out on Independence.
AND Park Center! I spent major time at Park Center seeing the Four Tops, The Tams, Dionne Warwick, etc.