[AGL] Theater stand-ins in Austin 1961 or so

[michele mason]

We were probably both there before we knew each other. I used to ride  
my bike. We got to do a lot that would scare today's parents to  
death. It was a different world.

On Jul 17, 2010, at 8:34 AM, Fontaine Maverick wrote:


> This is interesting. I hadn't remembered that about the Night Hawk.  

> In the sixth grade (58?), I went to Woolworth's for grilled cheese  

> before the movie at the Paramount or State & didn't even notice  

> that neither was integrated. As a 12 year old from San Antonio, I  

> was blissfully unaware of the "colored only" restrooms on the  

> outskirts of Austin. Took a greyhound down to Lockhart to see my  

> recently transplanted best friend and was shocked to see one as I  

> gazed out of the bus. Woke me the hell up. It wasn't much later  

> that my mom started taking me to the Varsity stand-ins.

>

>

> From: Frances Morey <Frances_Morey at yahoo.com>

> To: survivors' reminiscences about Austin Ghetto Daze in the 60s  

> <austin-ghetto-list at pairlist.net>

> Sent: Sat, July 17, 2010 12:36:59 AM

> Subject: Re: [AGL] Theater stand-ins in Austin 1961 or so

>

> Harry Akins as mayor had a meeting with the other restaurant owners  

> and told them that if they all integrate their facilities at the  

> same time then there would be no grounds for singling out any one  

> of them to effectively boycott over the issue. They saw the logic  

> of that and the public accommodations ordinance passed and the  

> restaurants were integrated overnight. That's the story I remember.

> Best,

> Frances

>

> From: Michael Eisenstadt <mike.eisenstadt at gmail.com>

> To: survivors' reminiscences about Austin Ghetto Daze in the 60s  

> <austin-ghetto-list at pairlist.net>

> Sent: Fri, July 16, 2010 4:27:06 PM

> Subject: Re: [AGL] Theater stand-ins in Austin 1961 or so

>

> I arrived in Austin only in 1963. I do remember participating in

> a protest at a gas station on the drag which did not serve

> African-Americans. At that time Harry Akins' Night Hawk

> restaurants were the ONLY integrated restaurants. The

> next year, spring 1964, the City Council considered but

> did not pass an equal access ordinance. Their excuse was

> that Congress was working on Civil Rights laws which indeed

> were passed that year, forced through Congress by then

> Pres. LBJ.

>

> Mike eisenstadt

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: "Jim McCulloch" <mcculloch at mail.utexas.edu>

> To: <austin-ghetto-list at pairlist.net>

> Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 10:39 PM

> Subject: [AGL] Theater stand-ins in Austin 1961 or so

>

>

> > Chandler Davidson is arranging a reunion in December of people who

> > participated in the standins.  Some members of the list may have

> > participated, and if Chandler has not  contacted you and you  

> would be

> > interested in such a reunion, you can reach Chandler at fcd at rice.edu

> >

> > As I understand it, the reunion would be in Austin.

> >

> > --Jim McCulloch

>

>


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