In this WSB newsfilm clip from the Pickrick restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia in 1964, restaurant owner, segregationist, and future governor Lester Maddox greets customers. Maddox walks through the restaurant greeting customers by name and asking them about their meal. At the check-out stand, a young man takes payment and sells United States flags. A sign advertises a copy of the Declaration of Independence selling for thirty-five cents. A black-colored bird in a cage whistles in the background. On July 2, 1964 president Lyndon B. Johnson signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act which prohibited segregation in businesses serving the public. Two days later three African American ministers unsuccessfully tried to integrate the Pickrick and were turned away by a gun pointed at them by Lester Maddox. Maddox publicly announced he would go to jail before serving African Americans, even after being charged in court for pointing a gun at the men and continued to keep ax handles, "Pickrick drumsticks" near the door of his restaurant in order to keep African Americans out. On July 22 in a case against the Pickrick and the white-only Heart of Atlanta Motel, owned by attorney Moreton Rolleston, a federal court upheld the Civil Rights act and issued an injunction beginning August 11 against both businesses prohibiting them from denying service to customers based on color or race. Lawyers appealed the case to the United States Supreme Court which heard the case in October; while waiting for the court to hear the case the Heart of Atlanta began accepting African American customers and Maddox closed the Pickrick on August 13. On September 26 Maddox opened the Lester Maddox Cafeteria in the Pickrick's old location and announced he would serve "acceptable" Georgians. During a trial for contempt of court on September 29, Maddox argued that he was not in contempt because he was no longer offering service to out-of-state travelers or integrationists. In December 1964 the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Civil Rights Act. On February 5, 1965 a federal court ruled Maddox was in contempt of court for failing to obey the injunction and ordered him fined two hundred dollars a day for failing to serve African Americans. Maddox closed the restaurant February 7, 1965 blaming president Johnson and communism for putting him out of business.

Title supplied by cataloger.

The Civil Rights Digital Library received support from a National Leadership Grant for Libraries awarded to the University of Georgia by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for digital conversion and description of the WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection.

1 clip (about 9 min.): black-and-white, sound ; 16 mm.

Original found in the WSB-TV newsfilm collection.

WSB-TV newsfilm clip of segregationist Lester Maddox greeting customers at the Pickrick restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia, 1964, WSB-TV newsfilm collection, reel 1186, 3:45/12:31, Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Ga, as presented in the Digital Library of Georgia.

Forms part of: Civil Rights Digital Library.