Knoxville Squares Historical Records (1970's)

 The  Orange Curl was a Knoxville hair salon established in 1974, known for  its nod to the University of Tennessee's bright orange and the popular  feathered and curled hairstyles of the 1970s. The salon was later renamed Salon OC and continues to operate under that name. History of the Orange Curl Salon

• Founded: The Orange Curl opened in the Cedar Bluff area of Knoxville in August 1974.
• Ownership change:  Just one year after its opening, Karen Woodring purchased the business  in 1975 and continued to operate it for decades. Her leadership helped  the salon become a neighborhood institution.
• Expansion: In 1977, the salon expanded with a second location, Orange Curl II.
• Renaming and relocation: In May 2017, The Orange Curl was officially renamed Salon OC. It also moved to a new location in the Best Buy shopping center in the Cedar Bluff area. 

Cultural context in 1970s KnoxvilleThe salon's name was heavily influenced by the University of Tennessee culture that dominated Knoxville in the 1970s. 

• University colors:  The "orange" in the salon's name was a direct reference to the  University of Tennessee Volunteers. The orange and white colors were  originally chosen in 1889 after Athletic Association President Charles  Moore observed the American daisies covering "The Hill" on campus.
• "Big Orange Country":  The university's signature orange was enthusiastically promoted  throughout the city, especially after basketball coach Ray Mears  popularized the slogan "Big Orange Country" in 1965.
• 1970s hairstyles: The "curl" referenced the decade's iconic hairstyles, which often featured feathered looks and other popular curled styles.
• Streaking fad:  The salon's 1974 opening coincided with a nationwide streaking craze  that hit Knoxville particularly hard. After an estimated 5,000 people  took part in a mass streaking event on Cumberland Avenue, news anchor  Walter Cronkite dubbed Knoxville the "streaking capital of the world".