Charleston, SC – 1960’s – 1980’s – Photo Gallery (Remember the Times)
The 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s were a tremendous time of change in the United States. It was a time defined by equality, civil rights, reaching for the stars, global turmoil, liberalism and conservatism, musical exploration and religious freedom. It was a time my when voices were heard and change was in the air. Here in Charleston, we maintained a family friendly coastal home. For many, it was our time of childhood when innocence, hopes and dreams engulfed our lives. Summers on the beach and rich history on the peninsula was the life we knew.
It was a wonderful time to be in Charleston, SC. We found some great images captured during this period of our Charleston home.
Take a step back with us. If you were raised during this time, enjoy these moments of reflection. If you were not, this is an opportunity to learn more about the evolution of this beautiful area.
Photographic Journey of the Charleston, SC Area – 1960’s – 1980’s
Charleston Holiday Inn – Circa 1960’s
Playing in a fort on Kiawah Island 1974
All smiles on Kiawah Island – 1974
Ultravision Cinemas on Sam Rittenberg – Circa 1970’s
Old Cigar Factory – Circa 1980’s
Folly Beach Amusement Park – Circa 1960’s
Daffy Duck Charleston Postcard – Circa 1970’s
Old Cooper River Bridge – Circa 1980’s
Tradd Street – 1980
Harborview Holiday Inn – 1975
Folly Beach – Circa 1960’s
Folly Beach Streets – 1962
Cypress Gardens 1988
Heart of Charleston Hotel – Meeting Street – Circa 1980’s
Wild Dunes after Hurricane Hugo – 1989
Loran Station – Folly Beach 1962
Hurricane Hugo – A Look Back in Pictures
Thank you for taking the time to be part of this journey. Thank you for being a part of our community and part of our home.
Charleston Daily
Charleston Daily is a concept in community. Its mission is to promote, assist, and celebrate in everything Charleston, South Carolina. By partnering with businesses, community leaders, volunteers and events, we are spreading the love that is Charleston. As this city continues to grow and prosper, we want to help spread the message to all about how wonderful this community is. Charleston is about the people, community, water, land, history, heritage and the true southern warmth it brings with each and every day.
Looking for photos of places I grew up with in the 60s.Found some photos oh the Folly beach pier where we used to hang out. Was looking for some photos of the old Seaside Bar. On the Isle of palms where I hung out as 18 plus teen. Any suggestions?
i remember the place well,we would load up the car and drive from west Ashley,just to party there.it was alot of fun and they had live bands.i wish i had some pictures.there must be some around though.
Hello
Do you remember a popular Bar in Charlestown where Teamsters and Longshoremen hung out. It was a tough place?
Thanks
DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE PIRATE THAT WALKED THE BEACHES IN THE NIGHT? THIS WAY MORE THAN A MYTH…
I ALSO REMEMBER EDWARDS 5 AND DIME STORE, BECAUSE IT WAS WHERE MOM TOOK US TOPURCHASE NEW SCHOOL CLOTHES FOR SCHOOLIN CHARLESTON PROPER.
Are there any photographs of the Catalina Lodge on Artic, Folly Beach 1960? I grew up here and my Mom and Dad owened this motel/lodge.
I grew up on folly and I miss the old days when you could go to the amusement park, the pavilion ,play the arcade games and go carts especially the music like the tams ,temptations and many others. in my personal opinion folly went downhill after the rides and pavilion closed and the rides went to Blacks campground to be rust away.We never locked our doors and the young kids knew when the street lights came on it was time to go home . Hell the cops would give you a ride home if you lived on folly and you had to much to drink lol well it’s all just memories now .I don’t go to folly anymore because I don’t like the changes.
Im with you Edward. Those were the days.
WHOREMEMBERS RUNNING BEHING THE MOSQUITO FOGGING TRUCKS? IF WE HAD ONLY KNOWN THE DANGERS…..
Adgers wharf restaraunt on Folly Rd. Circa 1970s and 80s…burned down. NOBODY HAS PHOTOS!!!
Leslie, I found this Adgers Wharf pic via Google images. Is this the one you mean?
https://igx.4sqi.net/img/general/600×600/6866149_iwApjqIVxncoTJf-gHTtqSU-4CzCszbIa3Udb412DMY.jpg
I believe this photo was taken downtown. Adger’s Wharf was on Folly Rd.
I once worked at Adger’s Warf on Folly Road with Mel, and Chef Arthur. Does anyone have picture of this restaurant?
Where was it located in Folly Road?
THAT WAS A HARD FIRE TO EXTINGUISH. MY MOTHER MADE PLATER OF SANDWICHES FOR THE FIREMEN,,,
Anyone remember the holly house hwy 17 Charleston
Hi Donna have you found any info on the Holly House?
Hi Brenda. My name is Milton. My
Grandfather Bill Gresham ran the place.
Hi Milton! Probably a few years before your time, but from 1955 to 1961, we’d stop at Holly House for breakfast on our annual car trips from PA to FL. We often enjoyed lunch there on return trips. The owner was always happy to see us, and he would chat with us at length. We lived in Mt. Pleasant for about 1 year (1972-73) and purchased a new car from West Ashley Toyota, which, at the time, was located right next to Holly House, where we’d stop for a meal each time our new car was being routinely serviced. It appeared as though the owner had changed by that time. As I do not recall the name “Bill Gresham,” when did your grandfather run the restaurant? We always enjoyed wonderful meals there.
Yes i do, I was very young but i rember the soda foumtain cokes and good breakfast.Almost as good as the Goodie House.
From 1955 – 1961 on our 2nd day of vacation travel by car from PA to FL, we’d stop at the Holly House for breakfast and sometimes for lunch when heading back home. The food was terrific, and the owner always greeted us warmly, chatting at length with my parents. We truly looked forward to that meal stop. My wife and I moved to Mt. Pleasant, SC in 1972 and lived there for one year. We bought a new Toyota from West Ashley Toyota (which was located at that time right next to the Holly House ~ just a bit west of the Ashley River). We’d stop for a meal at the Holly House anytime we took our new car in for scheduled maintenance service. By that time the Holly House was under different ownership. Great memories of that restaurant!
I WAS THE DISH WASHER AS A BOY.GREAT PEOPLE TO WORK FOR.
Yep
Use to go there with my Dad for hot fudge sundays.
Does anyone remember the Ice House restaurant bar. I think it was in city market in the mid 70’s.
Yep, best she crab soup anywhere. Greg Tatum
Do you remember it’s exact location? Was it in the old city market? I loved their shrimp salad served on pewter platters with remoulade sauce. Everything actually!
Does anyone remember a Restaurant called the Sands on Savannah Hwy. in the 60’s, you could shag there,
And do you have any information on it and who the owners were? A friend who’s doing research on Charlestonand Folly Beach is looking for the information.
Thanks so much!
Deborah
I went there many times 1961-63, If u could not Shag u were wasting your time,had a couple girl friends use to meet there, always had fun.Sure do miss those days. Pete
Hi Deborah my name is Dee and I grew up going to the Sands restaurant when I was little, about six seven eight years old and it was run by a gentleman by the name of Chester Dushay. He was a good friend of my father’s and we used to go there quite a lot especially on the weekends and they would cook the best t-bone steak. I remember one night when I just got a new pair of shoes, apparently so first he put a shiny penny in both of my shoes.
Chester was my grandfather. If you can share anything you remember about him,I would greatly appreciate it.Who is your father? I would love to have information about that time.
He was my grandfather. His name was Chester Duscheque (Dushay). They supposedly had really good bands back in the day. If y’all would like to talk to my mom, let me know.
Yes..went shaggin there many times. The singer in the band was Calvin. Do you remember dancing at the RVA on Spruill Avenue? A two piece band…Sadie and Lazarus…good ole days!
My grandparents owned it. My mom is still alive and could answer your questions.
My mother worked there in the early 60’s before she went to Shoney’s when it opened.
If anybody can provide a picture of Cannon and Rutledge streets around the late 1960S or early 1970S.
Anyone have any pictures of the old Dino’s bar at the corner of Rivers Avenue and old Meeting Street across from Durant Avenue
Watch out for a guy named (Strawberry)!!
Looking for information, photos or memorabilia on the “Whales Tail”. A bar on King St. Late 1970s.
Wife attended College of Charleston and worked there.
Circa 1980, the Whales Tale was out of business and the location was purchased by a CofC alum: George “Tank ” Barnette. Ithe location was renovated and became “The Cougar’s Den”; a very popular college bar.
Hi.. I’m trying to remember a dress shop on lower King St. Across from The Band Box back in 1965. The Epstein family ran it as I remember… Thanks
It was Lowell’s. Barbara and Lowell Epstein owned it, along with 2 other locations at both malls in West Ashley and Northwoods. They kept all 5 of us Woosley girls in beautiful clothes ( also my wonderful beauty of a Mom). They gave me my very first job working evenings and weekends while I was a student at Middleton High. At only 15, they were wonderful employers and mentors to me and I’ll never forget them! Or the fabulous clothes! Paula Woosley-Sorrells
It was probably Davidson’s…run by Lowell Epstein’s mother…such a lovely southern lady. Lowell’s was further down…in the same block as Barton’s. (If memory serves me, that is. ). I also worked at Lowell’s in the late 60’s.
His mother was Ethel. She was such a kind lady.
Or was it Reed Bros I think thst was on King though
In 1960’s After a long day, maybe 2 of drinking beer, talking, dancing and living life to the fullest on and around Folly pier. The one thing that sticks in my mine after those times long ago, were chili hot dogs.
Who remembers the Original Target Drive in Rivers at Aviation? Roberts Drive in came in the 70’s, when Target moved down Rivers
I remember it well. I was in elementary school, and my sister was in high school. Whenever mom and my sister wanted to discuss “boy problems,” we went to either the Target, the Cactus Drive-In, or Mama Kate’s. I sat in the back seat while they discussed the age-old questions.
Mama Kate’s was great. Went there as a young kid with my mom . I loved her spaghetti!
I’ve been trying to remember the name of the owner/ chef of Andrea’s Seafood in the ’70’s. the 1st time we met him , he had a bait & tackle and grill on the roadside before getting into Charleston. He fixed us breakfast and took me out on his pier and taught me how to fish in the inlets. Two years later he had built a huge restaurant in it’s place. He became very famous for his place even in top magazines. Does anyone know what happened to him and his restaurant ? We heard he was murdered ?
GARY, ANDREAS WIFE BACKED OVER HIM AS HE WAS STUCK IN THE MUD AND TRYING TO PUSH IT OUT. IT THEN BECAME THE DUMB WAITER SEAFOOD ,PLAYED HORSESHOES THERE MANY TIMES . GREAT STEEMED CRAB . IT THEN MOVED NEXTDOOR WHEN BUSHY PEAK BOUGHT IT AND BECAME BUSHIES SEAFOOD.
The story goes andre’s wife caught him in bed with another woman and shot him. My dad ended up owning it and running it for years. Bushys Seafood.
As they are now long out of business does anyone have the Spaghetti Recipe from Labrasca’s Italian Restaurant on Upper King Street. Nothing else compares and when it moved to Mama’s on Sullivan’s Island it lost something in the move.
That recipe was just in Post & Courier (I just googled) 3-19-19. Remember that place well as a child!!
Just across the street from charleston county hall. The manager of labrasca’s ended up being the manager at my dad’s restaurant, Bushy Seafood for many years. His name was Bill Epps.
Anyone know if there was a Florence Critendon home or the like that would have been in Charleston possibly near the Medical College?
I believe that home was uptown – near Hampton Park.
Yep, my mom warned my sister about it all the time. 🙂
Hi 12/31/2019
Anyone remember the COAST GUARD STATION on RIVERS AVENUE close to REYNOLDS AVE. where the beach patrol horses & the homing pigeons were kept from the 1940S until about the 1960S .
Also CROSBYS GARAGE on MEETING ST. RD.
Looking for some old Cooper River Boxing photos from the 50′ and 60s’. I was on the team. Shortie Gilder was one of the boxing coaches along with leon Galloway.
I remember all of the places mentioned in the comments. Does anyone remember Mama Kate’s?? The Mount Vernon Inn or hotel. I loved Hampton Park and does anyone remember a drive-in restaurant called Bootle’s and the Cavalier???
In the late 1940’s, my mom-to-be worked as a car hop at Bootle’s BBQ. My dad-to-be worked across the street at a gas station and would watch her as she was working. He drove over there every day for lunch just so he could see her. He was driving a Model-T Ford on which he had installed a horn that sounded like “Ooga Ooga!” He asked one of the other car hops what my mom’s name was and he thought she said “Lula Bell”, but it was really Daisy Bell. So, he would drive around and around Bootle’s on two-wheels while honking his Ooga Ooga horn and hollering out the window, “LULA BELL! LULA BELL!” Hahaha. One day when mom picked up the window tray from his car, there was a jewelry box on it that my dad had put there for her. She asked him, “What is that?” and he said, “I can’t help it, Daisy. I’ve fallen in love with you. If you like it, put it on.” That was in about 1949. They got married the following year in April and had six children. I was the second to the oldest. Dad died in ’68 and Mom died in ’96.
In the early 60’s mu Mom Hazel Corrie was a waitress at Boodles. I was a youngster but I remember the best grilled cheese sandwich I ever ate was there. I also remember my father talking to my mother about buying it before it closed.
Sure do – the onion rings were the best. Also, not far away was N. Area Tackle Shop – hot dogs boiled in beer. I went for the hot dogs, and my old man went for the beer….
I remember mama Kate’s! My grandmother from Italy loved to eat there!!
Evelyn Rubins?
Jeff…
I played guitar and sang in Dino’s back room between ’69-71…was owned by two brothers, one named Mike…they had the best cheesecake !!!..Would love to find a pic of the old place….
Anyone one remember a Cassie Townsend who had a small boutique on Church St in 1975? Was in love were her once and wondering whatever happened to her?
Also, anyone remember Big John’s, a seedy bar downtown that was owned by Big John Canady, former NFL NY Giants player?
Went to Big John’s many times. Loved that place. Sometimes I’d run into my brother there! Bras everywhere!
My mom would take me to Folly Beach almost every day in the summertime. I remember Pete’s – the billboards advertising Coppertone, the smell of hotdogs, the sandy floorboards and the Pabst Blue Ribbon signs.
Anyone remember Roy Harts. The best hamburgers and milkshakes on savannah Highway.
Roy Harts,best hotdogs I ever ate,man I’d love one now…
I sure do he had a place at the beach and Savannah highway. I remember going to the one on Savannah highway at Halloween and getting free ice cream cones and the one at the beach years later with my girl friend and now my wife for burgers.
sure do he had a place at the beach and Savannah highway. I remember going to the one on Savannah highway at Halloween and getting free ice cream cones and the one at the beach years later with my girl friend and now my wife for burgers.
So great remembering all these places mentioned. Bill’s Holly House was a favorite of ours when we were kids. It was next to the Greenbax store, which we thought was filled with such treasures, and loved when mom would take us there! Wasn’t there a Mama’s Money on King St? And, the old Charley’s bar, Café 99, No Name Café… 80’s hangouts. Anyone have pictures of the Gourmatisserie on Market St? You could get just about any kind of food you wanted there….downtown’s own food court. Kids would rent roller skates from High Rollers skate shop and skate in the streets all day long. Then, an awesome ice cream sundae from Swenson’s. Pick me up when someone invents a working time machine! I’d go back in time in an instant and enjoy those special days again! Lol!
Where was Bill’s Holly a house located? He was a relative of my wife who would like some I for about it.
Yes, the Hollidays used to live behind us. I remember Ramond and Ronald.
HOLLY HOUSE WAS WHERE HAY TIRE IS NOW,SAME BUILDING AS THEIR OFFICE .I WAS THE DISH WASHER AS A BOY.GREAT WAITRESES AND JUKE BOX AT YOUR TABLE.MR. BILL WAS FUN TO WORK FOR.
Does anyone have any info on the Dorchester Avenue night life in 1975. My mother was involved in a murder there and I’m looking for more info. Specifically, girls with rose emblem tattoos. My research is saying that it was a common tattoo showing affiliation with a drug/crime “syndicate” that was based in clubs on Dorchester Ave. Longshot, but any help is appreciated. Thanks!
How about when the old zoo was at Hampton Park ? And Cooper River Bridge was two way ? When you grew up in our town, everybody knew you or your Family. How About Condon’s Department Store had the first equilateral on the eastern seaboard coast. My how time flies
Anyone remember a restaurant in Mt Pleasant called Blue Hawaii, I think? Where was it located?
It burned down sometime in the late 70s or early 80s. Page’s Okra Grill is on that site now (Coleman Blvd right at the curve).
It was in Mt Pleasant on Coleman Blvd
In late 1969 or early 1970 my wife managed a small boutique on King Street downtown.
It was owned by a young couple who lived in the area.
One Saturday a man entered the boutique with a gun and forced all the employees into a back room and made all the employees lie face down on the floor while they robbed the store.
It frightened her so badly she quit soon after and we moved back to West Virginia.
I was there when Mrs. Loretta King (wife of civil rights protester Dr. Martin Lewis King) organized a hospital workers strike and a strike by the sanitation workers.
Martial Law was declared and the State National Guard was called out to enforce a dusk to dawn curfew which included gun fire etc.
Does anyone remember the restaurant Buddy’s
Yes, I do remember Buddy’s. Best seafood and service. Back in May 1981 my future husband took my mom and dad, and I out to lunch there after I graduated from MUSC. It is now owned by the Easterby’s.
I used to work at White Horse Restaurant downtown, believe it was 80s. Johnny and Bunny Westendorf owned it and I would love to catch up with Bunny’s brother David. Also a fellow waitress Lisa who both worked there.
It was a popular restaurant with bar in back.
Im with you Edward. Those were the days.
Hello all,
I’m working on a research project related to Marion Square. Does anyone happen to remember what year the “Old Citadel” was painted its current pink color? Also, does anyone know where I might find photographs from the same date?
Thank you in advance to all!
Does anybody remember mama Fridas best lasagna in Charleston navy buddies loved it nice owners 1972
Does anyone remember a seafood restaurant on Folly Beach in the early to mid 1970’s called “Sam’s”? They had the best crab dip anywhere!!
I went on this website for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed reading the comments about Folly Beach, Chas and N. Chas.
GOODNIGHT ALL AND MAY GOD BLESS!
Do you remember Potarios Italian Restaurant (Don’t know if I spelled it right) on Savannah Highway. Best Pizza I ever ate. My Dad would take us there and remember riding my bike to get a carry out for me and Dad.
Yep, Portaro’s.
Bruce Portaro was the owner. He had a brother named Tom that ran Tom Portaro’s on rivers avenue also.
If the restaurant mentioned in 03/1973 was Freda’s on Society Street, I also nominate the cheesecake. Best ever! I’ve been trying forever to get the recipe of this favorite. Any help out there?
I lived in N Charleston with my Navy Submarie husban in the early 70’s. I worked downtown Charleston. I remember a small restaurant in town thinking the name as Skip Runny. He sold a bowl of soup for 10 cents. Does anyone remember such a resturant???