Memories of the Strip
More of you recall good times on Cumberland Avenue
The Strip was just getting cranked up during my days on The Hill in the latter forties. My most vivid memories are of E&E (Ellis & Ernest), where I went for my usual breakfast of coffee and a donut (spelled "doughnut" in those days). Don't know if that was considered brain food, but it helped keep me awake during morning classes. The other major hangout was Sam and Andy's, where we would go for a "bowl of grease" (chili).
—Chester Campbell '49
I know I’m not going back as far as some, but as for the Strip, I recall the original Ruby Tuesday’s. And of course Sam and Andy’s, but not the sandwich there -- had to be the Vol Burger!
—Anthony DiMatteo, West Palm Beach, Fla.
I remember coming out of the T Room café in 1968 and seeing Tom Boerwinkle sitting on the window sill of the café. His legs were so long, he extended his legs all the way across the sidewalk and into Cumberland Avenue. (Tom is a 7 footer who played basketball for UT and the Chicago Bulls.) We politely walked out into Cumberland to avoid disturbing him!
—Michael David Rich ’69
It was spring 1970, and I was coming of age.
That past winter, my girlfriend - with whom I had shared my first intimate relationship - ended it. It was a difficult time, and I was struggling with all the roller-coaster emotions that accompany the end of any love affair, much less the first.
Driving down the Strip one lovely afternoon, I noticed her entering what was then the Hamilton National Bank. She had on a short, white sun dress and looked fabulous. So good, in fact, that I utterly failed to see that traffic had backed up and the car in front of me had stopped. It was ugly.
Without the benefit of brakes, I rear ended the car and inflicted, at that time, more than $500 worth of damage. Although there were no injuries, the driver was a middle-aged man with absolutely no sense of humor (and nothing but disdain for college kids). He berated me in front of everyone, ex included!
Of course, I now look back on the occasion and cannot help but laugh...
—Neil G. Taylor ’73, Miami, Fla.
Like so many others, the majority of my "Strip" memories have been mentioned. My husband and I have had the opportunity to return to Knoxville often, and when we began taking our children back to football games, we ALWAYS had to go to Sam 'n Andy's to get sandwiches. We have stood in line with our children in our arms (because they grew tired of standing). At one time, they could not understand why we would stand in line so long for a particular meal. Soon, they began to love the hoagies, too, and it became a tradition for them also (they became willing to stand in line on game days). They almost cried when Sam 'n Andy's left the Strip. Just this past year did we learn of the new location in Farragut. Our son, who is now a sophomore at UT, was jubilant.
I agree that Sophie's Cafeteria had the best on-campus food, and I too, absolutely loved the cottage cheese croquettes. My mother is a 1948 graduate of UT, and she said they served the cottage cheese croquettes then also. She lived in the Kitty Kain Wing of Strong Hall. I would like to direct those of you who are interested to a cookbook called “A Slice of Orange,” printed in 1995. It is full of "orange" recipes, most submitted by UT personnel and alumni. On page 209 is the original recipe for cottage cheese croquettes.
—Jane Ann (Bradley) Lane ’75, home economics
I'll never forget the night before the Bama game 1976. There were about five of us standing on the bridge in front of Strong Hall. There was a sign on the bridge the said "Honk for the Vols.” Cars were going under the bridge honking and we started encouraging them. Pretty soon there were more and more people standing on the bridge until the crowd spilled out on to Cumberland. Traffic came to a standstill. Members of the band showed up with their instruments and some cheerleaders in uniform. It turned into the biggest "pep rally" I ever saw. It went on for some time until a poor guy with Alabama tags showed up. The crowd started rocking his new Caddy till the wheels were about to come off the ground. He gets out waving a pistol and the "pep rally" was over. Two years later the night before the Bama game was when the Kerns Bread truck incident occurred. I think after that the campus police put a stop to the impromptu "Bama pep rallies.” I'll always remember that night whenever I drive down the Strip.
—Mark Wooten 78, ’82 DVM
I remember the amazing cinnamon rolls at The Torch!
—Steve King ’81, North Adams, MA
I lived in Clement Hall while at UT, and every morning I crossed at the 17th Street intersection to make my way to the architecture building. Come to think of it, I crossed that intersection at all hours of the day and night. I remember it being our version of the arcade game Frogger (popular at that time), only with my life at stake. Fortunately I always won that game. I remember going to Krystal at 3 a.m. for chicken sandwiches and seeing an odd assortment of people there. I was disappointed to see that Sam and Andy's had left. After the victory against 'Bama in '82, the goalposts were pulled down by fans and paraded down the Strip to celebrate our first victory in 11 years over the Tide. My fondest memory is getting something to eat at Gus' Good Times Deli, though not on the Strip but close enough. He's still there. "For here, to go?"
—Ed Garbee '86
My fondest memories are of The Roman Room.
As a regular, you could expect a firm handshake and short greeting from George.
Since at least the '70s, conservatives have asked themselves the rhetorical question-"Where can a man go to be a man?" At least on the Strip in the mid to late eighties, the answer was emphatically the Roman Room.
During the bar review, Jim Carraway and I started going to the Roman Room each night after class for manicotti (it was on special on Tuesday nights). As the ordeal of the bar review ground on, we picked up other friends who joined our forays. On the last night, George had to put four tables together to accommodate our little band.
—David Bradley '87
I actually spent more time on the Strip before I was a student at UT. Let me throw out some names and see if it sparks any memories. Cheeks was a disco place around the middle of the Strip that I went to frequently even though I was still in high school. Bogie's was near the end of the Strip. We ate hamburgers and seasoned fries (the first place that seasoned fries) at Ollie's Trolley. The Copper Cellar is still there, but back then you really walked downstairs under street level into a "cellar" to eat. Does anyone remember Bradley Station at the top of Cumberland? It was kind of a rough place with live bands. Back then we used to cruise Cumberland to see and be seen.
—Mara Dillon '88
The most prominent emotion I feel in reference to the Strip is remorse. I am a '91 grad of the music department, and during that time I must have played at every bar on the Strip at one time or another. I witnessed firsthand what alcohol can do, and my heart was broken on several occasions as I saw students my age and younger slowly begin to destroy their lives with the stuff. I grew up seeing extended family members throw their lives away for drink, and I guess I came to college with a bad taste in my mouth, so to speak. It is beyond my understanding why our culture, and especially the college segment of our culture, worships alcohol. It seems that we are opposed to every form of slavery unless it is slavery to substance. There is arguably no other substance on the planet that has caused more heartache, abuse, disease, tragedy and death than alcohol, and that is why I think of these things when I think of the Strip.
—John Thomas Oaks ’91, studio music and jazz
My favorite memories of the Strip all revolve around the drinking establishments (unfortunately). We would always check out the billboard on the front of the Library to see who was playing. Tall Paul was a definite favorite. After that, we would make a "Lap" or two around the Lap to check it out. Normally we would end up in the front corner playing darts. On the way back to the dorm, a trip by Krystals was a must! What fun! Great memories.
—Michelle Harwell ’92
I have two favorite stories about my years at UT and the Strip. One was the Library Bar. I just loved the fact that I could say I was going to the library and make it sound like I was such a studious person, when I was actually going to hang out at the bar and listen to the live music. Another one is hanging out at the old Longbranch Saloon. It looked like such a seedy place from the street, but it turned out to be one of the most laid back and easy places to hang and drink beer with your friends.
—Lisa Humphries
I remember Spicy's Wings (2-1).
—Cynthia Goins ’97
