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

[michele mason]

When the Fed ruling came down, Volma and his wife, a priest from St  
Edwards, Margot(sp?) and I, met each night to try a different place.  
We did that a few times until we were satisfied, I guess. Nobody  
turned us away, or got violent, but it would be stone quiet and tense  
for a while. Much easier here than Shreveport, or Jackson. I don't  
even remember Harry Akins. I just have this picture in my mind of  
Louis Shanks with a fat cigar in his teeth, his boots up on the desk,  
eyes closed, while Volma spoke, or we sang. So, Frances, were you at  
those  meetings too—way before we knew each other?

On Jul 17, 2010, at 2:36 AM, Frances Morey wrote:


> 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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