Memories Of Late Nights and the Old South

It used to be that diners always stayed open 24/7. People young and old frequented diners after a night out at movies, dinners, parties, etc. In the 1960s, as high school teens, my friends and I would hit the Old South for a late-night snack and a final laugh before heading home. Usually, we shared fries and a drink, because none of us ever had much money. We had to make sure we got home before midnight as that was the curfew we had to follow. Mind you this was a Friday or Saturday night adventure for us. We were still in high school and if we did go out on a weeknight, we were back home before 9 p.m.

The Old South is an institution in Russellville, Arkansas. Its history spans over seven decades. “William E. Stell, the owner of the National Glass and Manufacturing Company of Fort Smith, built the Old South Restaurant in 1947 for Russellville businessman Woody Mays."

"When it was constructed, the Old South Restaurant was located in an undeveloped stretch of Arkansas Highway 64, at that time the main travel route from Tennessee to Oklahoma," the National Register nomination says. The diner quickly became an oasis for hungry and weary travelers, providing good food and a place to relax 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

For more history on the Old South, visit their website or stay up-to-date with them on Facebook.

Today, across the United States diners still exist that stay open 24 hours a day, but the Old South doesn't do that anymore and it's not open seven days a week. They close daily at 9 p.m. and are closed on Sunday.

You can enjoy the experience of this small-town diner for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The Old South is located on Arkansas Highway 64 at 1330 East Main Street in Russellville, Arkansas.

Find directions here.

Since I'm a huge fan of Elvis Presley, I would be remiss not to mention the Old South was a stopping point for him and other great entertainers like B.B. King as they traveled throughout the U.S.

Courtesy Old South Restaurant Russellville, AR

The statue of Elvis is on prominent display in the entry foyer and every time I see it, his two old favorite songs come to mind: Don't Be Cruel and Hound Dog. I start singing them in my head and my legs want to move ...something I have in common with Elvis.

I have a lot of really good memories of hanging out with friends at this all-night diner. We listened to music on the jukebox and sat in the back corner round table booth unless someone else beat us to it.

It didn't matter which booth we sat in though, as they were back to back where we could all talk and cut up. The place was usually filled with late-night diners of all ages.

I'm talking about the years 1968 -1969 during our "coming of age." We were in our final year (1969) of high school cramming in all the fun we could and very aware that graduation was around the corner.

The best way for me to describe exactly how it was to be alive at that cultural instant is by directing you to the Academy Award-nominated classic movie "American Graffiti" set in 1962.

It captures the emotions and romance of summer nights in Russellville, Arkansas filled with rock and roll, dances, cruising 4th street, and circling the Sonic and Tastee Freez.

I have so many memories of my high school days of carefree times with my friends and ending up at the Old South for a late-night snack before heading home. We were a fun crowd ...friends then and friends now. Our class reunions always included as least one lunch date at the Old South.

The Old South continues to offer a great dining experience today. Sometimes a few of the fun crowd get together to enjoy the comfort food and atmosphere that has been constant over the years. The difference ... we meet for lunch and not late at night. I'm not sure if any of us could stay awake that long.

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Jo