THE SPOOKY ‘STAR WARS’ SHORTAGE OF 1977
A Look at Atlanta’s Most Famous Graveyard Have you ever paid a visit to Oakland Cemetery? Located on the southeast side of the city, this historic spot has been Atlanta’s first choice for prominent burials since 1850. Not only is the 48-acre plot a cemetery home to 70,000 souls, it’s also a wedding venue, a gorgeous garden, and an art gallery. Most importantly, it’s the resting place of many of Atlanta’s most famous (and infamous) historical figures. As you know, Kevin is a bit of a history buff, so in honor of Halloween, we’ve decided to give you a cemetery tour. These are a few of Oakland Cemetery’s most well-known permanent residents. • IVAN ALLEN JR. — Allen was born in 1911 and served as mayor of Atlanta from 1962–1970. He battled segregation, testified before Congress in support of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and wooed both the Braves and the Falcons to the city. • JULIA COLLIER HARRIS — Born in 1885, Julia co-owned and edited the Columbus Enquirer-Sun, the first Georgia newspaper to win a Pulitzer Prize. The Enquirer-Sun won for its coverage of the Ku Klux Klan and the Scopes Monkey Trial. • BOBBY JONES — Jones, born in 1902, is considered “the greatest amateur golfer of all time.” During his lifetime, he won golf’s Grand Slam and co-designed Augusta National Golf Club, where the Masters Tournament is held. • CARRIE STEELE LOGAN — Logan was born a slave in 1829 and lost both of her parents during childhood. After emancipation, she established the city’s first African American orphanage, the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home, which is still operating today. • MARGARET MITCHELL — Mitchell, born in 1900, is famous for writing “Gone With the Wind,” one of the most popular books and films of all time. Other famous figures include Maynard Jackson, the first African American mayor of Atlanta; Selena Sloan Butler, co-founder of the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA); and Dr. Joseph Jacobs, a drugstore owner whose shop sold the first glass of Coca-Cola in 1886. Do you have a relative buried in Oakland Cemetery or know of another famous grave we left off of our list? Let us know next time you call in to chat about a case. Kevin is always excited to learn more about Atlanta’s history! You can always reach Kevin directly at 404.566.8964 or Kevin@PatrickTrialLaw.com. (If you ever need it, his cell phone is 404.409.3160.) Meet Oakland Cemetery’s Permanent Residents
A long time ago … in October of 1977 to be exact, Halloween was fast approaching and many parents faced a major dilemma. That year, kids didn’t want to go trick-or-treating dressed as vampires, witches, or ghosts. The classic costumes simply wouldn’t do. That Halloween, almost every child in the United States wanted to dress as their favorite character from the new hit movie, “Star Wars.”
Today, you can walk into a Halloween City on Oct. 30 and easily pick up a costume for Rey, Darth Vader, or Princess Leia. But in 1977, less than five months after the release of the first movie in the popular franchise, getting your hands on “Star Wars” merchandise was a bit more difficult. Ben Cooper, a costume company in Brooklyn, had the foresight to license “Star Wars” for costumes right after the movie came out. Unfortunately, they didn’t foresee how great the demand for these costumes would be. Retailers across the country were selling out of “Star Wars” costumes as fast as they came in. Some stores reported selling more “Star Wars” costumes than pumpkins. Kids who got their hands on an authentic Han Solo or C-3PO costume were considered lucky. But kids who arrived at the store to find the costume shelves empty didn’t throw in the towel. Instead, they went and found some brown towels to make their own Chewbacca costumes. In the current age of cosplay, homemade costumes based on movie characters are commonplace, but in 1977, this was uncharted territory. Kids searched for white dresses to be Princess Leia and bathrobes they could cut short to mimic Luke Skywalker. Moms everywhere broke out their sewing machines and created costumes using only action figures for reference. It was grueling work, but it showed how much kids wanted to spend Halloween in a galaxy far, far away. The “Star Wars” costume shortage marked a new era for Halloween — one where making your own costume was just as cool, if not better, than buying it.
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