Does anyone know what happened to the green-and-clear plastic WIBK 850 AM electric clock which hung for decades in the main dining room at Bill’s Restaurant? It was brightly lit and about 20” tall. Located at Kingston Pike and Carr Street, Bill’s was a regular stop for travelers on U.S. 11-70 in Knoxville’s pre-interstate days. It was crowded 20 hours a day. It was also a popular early-AM dining location for Knoxville Police. Ruby and her daughter, Little Bit, were great hosts to 3rd Shift police, county deputies, the KUB overnight electric trouble truck crew, and State Troopers. Bill’s eventually morphed into a drive-in, tried to compete with Shoney’s Big Boy situated 4 blocks west. Nothing is forever. The Blue Circle, across from the Pike Theater, went first. And Bill’s eventually succumbed some 30 years ago, this as Bearden went downhill. Neither Bill’s nor the Blue Circle could survive as the Interstate roared around the clock, West Town flourished, and numerous other restaurant options opened. I hope the WIBK clock is also not lost to history.
