November 1, 1985 - Once the largest afternoon daily newspaper in the Carolinas, the Charlotte News ceases publication today. The last issue marks the end of a 97-year presence in the Queen City. Front page of the last Charlotte News
March 20, 1996 -Controversy erupts in Charlotte. Tony Kushner's award-winning play called Angels in America opens for a 10-day run. Charlotte Repertory Theater stages the performance. The play portrays sensitive subjects, such as the deadly disease called AIDS, and involves brief nudity on stage. Some people are offended and demand the play be stopped. It continues to the end, however, after a judge orders that it not be prevented from running.
January 7, 1969 - A fence separates white Elmwood Cemetery from black Pinewood Cemetery. Black city councilman Fred Alexander wants the fence removed, but other council members have voted him down. Now, Mayor Stan Brookshire has cast the deciding vote in favor of the idea. The fence comes down. Fence removed at Elmwood cemetery
March 15, 1986 - The Afro-American Cultural Center opens. It is located in the old Little Rock AME Zion Church on the edge of the First Ward neighborhood. The center sponsors theater, art and exhibitions that celebrate the African American history of Charlotte.
The Cultural Action Plan will help theater, dance, music and arts groups in Mecklenburg obtain funding. Part of the plan designates the Arts and Science Council as the agency that decides how much money each group will receive.The North Carolina Dance Theater
September 9, 1978 -A law allowing the sale of liquor by the drink passes in North Carolina. Before, only private clubs could sell liquor by the drink. Patrons who wanted an alcoholic beverage in restaurants would bring their own bottles, often in a paper bag. This was called brown-bagging. The new law helps the city's restaurants and convention business. Liquor Election
May 18, 1986 - Shalom Park, the new center of Charlotte's Jewish community, is dedicated. The city has two Jewish houses of worship: Temple Israel and Temple Beth El. Since one follows beliefs that are more traditional and the other is more modern, the congregations must decide if they want to join together and move to the park. Although both will relocate and build new facilities at Shalom Park, the congregations will choose to remain separate.
June 24, 1996 - The summer Olympic games will soon begin in Atlanta, Georgia. A blazing torch symbolizes the spirit of the games. The Olympic flame is traveling through the South and today arrives in Charlotte. Men and women, young and old, of many races and abilities take turns carrying the torch. One man is Kater Cornwell, a veteran of the Vietnam War now confined to a wheelchair. who is not to be prevented from running.
April 23, 1969 - There is a new judge presiding over the Swann case, the legal action that tests whether integration can actually work in schools. Judge James B. McMillan orders schools to be racially balanced, even if it means children ride buses to schools far away from their own neighborhoods. In Charlotte-Mecklenburg, 20,000 parents sign petitions against Judge McMillan.
February 14, 1987 - No longer will the Charlotte Observer refer in print to the center city as downtown. From now on, the largest daily newspaper in the Carolinas will use the term uptown as a way to help civic leaders promote the upbeat, positive attitude of the Queen City.