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All-TigerNet [11934]
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"Littlejohn's Grill" ... a little-known Clemson landmark
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Mar 30, 2011, 8:44 AM
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Most of us have heard the stories of the more famous night spots around Clemson over the years. Some of us more mature fans even remember experiencing them.
"The Esso Club", "The Study Hall", "Lester's Tiger Den", "The Red Carpet Lounge", "Lamar's", "The Sloan Street Tap Room", "Bollwinkle's", etc., etc. The list goes on and on.
But, how many are aware of perhaps the most historically important Clemson night spot of all time?
I'm talking about a place called "Littlejohn's Grill" that was located out on highway 93 going toward Central. It was opened just after WW II and went by the name of "Littlejohn's Grill" until the owner died in the mid 60s. Later it was called "Alfies' Playpen" and "The King Cobra" ...
So, what's so what's so important about this particular place?
Simply that some of the greatest musical acts in history played there at one time or another. Take a look.
http://www.littlejohnsgrill.com/
Otis Redding, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Little Richard, Jackie Wilson, The Shirelles ... these acts actually came to Clemson and they got practically no fanfare.
Check out the web site and read the amazing history of what has to be one of Clemson's best kept secrets.
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CU Medallion [20946]
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Very cool!***
Mar 30, 2011, 8:50 AM
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Orange Immortal [63597]
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I can remember when it was "Alfie's Playpen"
Mar 30, 2011, 8:57 AM
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in the 80's era.
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Clemson Conqueror [11372]
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Re: "Littlejohn's Grill" ... a little-known Clemson landmark
Mar 30, 2011, 8:57 AM
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I was either a freshman or sophmore at Clemson when Otis Redding performed at the school, but I had never heard of Littlejohn's Grill. It's an interesting piece of history.
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Ambassador [6046]
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Where exactly was this building?***
Mar 30, 2011, 9:00 AM
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All-TigerNet [11934]
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Re: Where exactly was this building?***
Mar 30, 2011, 9:03 AM
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I think it is still there. About a half-mile or so out from Sardi's Den on the right. I haven't lived in Clemson in 13 years, but it's my impression that the building is still standing.
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Ambassador [6046]
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As best I can determine, it's where the LJ Comm Ctr is now***
Mar 30, 2011, 9:09 AM
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All-TigerNet [11934]
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Re: As best I can determine, it's where the LJ Comm Ctr is now***
Mar 30, 2011, 9:25 AM
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Yes, I think you're right.
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Standout [313]
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Varsity [103]
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Re: Where exactly was this building?***
Mar 30, 2011, 10:16 AM
[ in reply to Re: Where exactly was this building?*** ] |
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That picture looks to be 20-30 years old. Every vehicle looks to be ancient.
I truly hate I missed all of that, but I never heard of that place (60-70's). That would have been fun. Thanks for the history of that place. Cool.
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Clemson Conqueror [11372]
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Re: Where exactly was this building?***
Mar 30, 2011, 9:04 AM
[ in reply to Where exactly was this building?*** ] |
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Apparently somewhere on Highway 93, but I had never heard of it before this thread.
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Orange Blooded [3258]
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110%er [5737]
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For us kids....
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Mar 30, 2011, 9:05 AM
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Down the street at THE CORPORAION, Mothers Finest was pretty crankin' in the early 80's.
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Orange Blooded [2218]
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Great Post.... The Jim Crow era may be gone
Mar 30, 2011, 9:08 AM
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but it should not be forgotten. It's important to understand that even legendary entertainers like Duke Ellington could not simply walk in to a hotel or restaurants in the Clemson area when he played here unless he was with a white. Other entertainter were forced to play in places like Littlejohns Grill because the "white" theatre's would not book them until much later. If we learn from the past we can make things better in the future...
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Orange Blooded [2353]
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Re: Great Post.... The Jim Crow era may be gone
Mar 30, 2011, 9:45 AM
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Believe me, it's not forgotten. We are reminded about it EVERYDAY.
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Standout [313]
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Re: Great Post.... The Jim Crow era may be gone
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Mar 30, 2011, 1:07 PM
[ in reply to Great Post.... The Jim Crow era may be gone ] |
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This is somewhat off-topic, but I once interviewed a local man who told a story about his work experiences at a local manufacturing plant in the 50s and 60s. He was made a manager and every couple of years managers were treated to a banquet reception at the Clemson House. Everyone who had hit a new service milestone received a plaque or something like that. Every year his bosses told him he could come to the banquet, but he would have to be served his dinner outside since black people were not allowed to eat in the Clemson House with whites. He didn't raise a stink about it, I think because he was more than happy to be a black manager at a time in the South when not many black people were allowed to manage anyone, much less manage white workers like he did. He politely declined the invitation every year, and to compensate him, his company paid for him to attend his SC State College homecoming every year. As the civil rights movement went on, he eventually told his bosses that he felt he should be able to attend the banquet with the rest of them. His bosses, representing significant clients of the Clemson House, called up the Clemson House management, made what I'm sure was a convincing argument, and he was allowed to attend. From that point on the Clemson House was integrated.
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Orange Blooded [2218]
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I heard similar stories like that when I was doing
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Mar 31, 2011, 9:09 AM
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a book on Clemson years ago. Duke Ellington would play at the gym but was not allowed to stay at the Clemson House let alone eat there. There is another story about a black women that was hired at the university in the 60's. Everytime a committee was formed or meeting held about race relations she "had" to attend. I was able to speak directly to Dr. Edwards about when Clemson was integrated. Good story but it's just a shame that someone had to go through that.
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Top TigerNet [32639]
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I grew up in Central in the '70s & '80s and drove by there
Mar 30, 2011, 10:19 AM
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almost every day; can't remember the name early on, but I think it was called "The Corporation" at one time. They used to have a band there alot called "The Transaction Band".
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All-TigerNet [11934]
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Re: I grew up in Central in the '70s & '80s and drove by there
Mar 30, 2011, 10:54 AM
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"The Corporation" was a different building. It was tucked over in the far corner of the Ingles parking lot.
Littlejohn's Grill is (was) right on the highway and about 1/4 mile before Igles.
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Hall of Famer [22966]
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From Hwy 123 (going towards Central), Littlejohn's was
Mar 30, 2011, 11:39 AM
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nearly 2/3 of a mile on the right. It was a cinderblock building with a gravelly dirt parking lot. I don't think the place was open except on the weekends, but it was certainly busy then. In those days, entertainment for the African-American neighorhoods was extremely limited and Littlejohns filled the bill. Occasionally some local bands from the Clemson area would play there.....but for a period of time in the 60's, there were some national names who'd play there on a Thursday or Friday between tour stops.
Message was edited by: tigrjm76®
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110%er [4086]
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Re: "Littlejohn's Grill" ... a little-known Clemson landmark
Mar 30, 2011, 10:20 AM
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There is also an article about it in the latest edition of the SC Genealogical Society's publication, The Carolina Herald and Newsletter.
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110%er [5802]
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Looks like a lot of Marijuana was smokd there back n the day
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Mar 30, 2011, 2:49 PM
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(isn't that how pot became mainstream? through the jazz clubs?) lol
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Varsity [103]
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Re: "Littlejohn's Grill" ... a little-known Clemson landmark
Mar 30, 2011, 4:58 PM
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about lil jon's grill is this
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Varsity [103]
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That got goofed up. Meant to say
Mar 30, 2011, 4:59 PM
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All any of us that attended in the 90s remember about lil jons grill is this.
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Recruit [75]
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Another landmark that I believe is gone...Whirl's
Mar 31, 2011, 12:09 PM
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Waaaay too many nights at singalong to even count...you don't have to call me darlin'...darlin'.
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CU Medallion [20946]
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Clemson in the late 1980's: Whirl's
Mar 31, 2011, 12:51 PM
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The Whirls sing-along was an experience for those there in the late 80's. They even had the Whirls' official pointer. It was too cool!
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Varsity [103]
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Team Captain [471]
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Re: "Littlejohn's Grill" ... a little-known Clemson landmark
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Mar 31, 2011, 1:37 PM
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My freshman year was 1956, and I remember it well. Didn't have wheels, so didn't get out a lot. It was a white, cinder-block "hole-in-the-wall" place. But man big time , mostly rhythm and blues acts.
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Paw Warrior [4873]
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do you mind if we dance with yo dates?***
Mar 31, 2011, 6:35 PM
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Replies: 28
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