TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Phenix City and its notorious past, including the events surrounding the assassination of Albert Patterson, former state senator and Democratic Party nominee for state attorney general, will be the topics of a night at the historic Bama Theatre.
On Oct. 22, The University of Alabama’s W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library will sponsor a film, lecture, reception and book signing at the Bama Theatre, 600 Greensboro Ave. in Tuscaloosa.
The event will start at 6 p.m. with a reception and book signing. Author Alan Grady of Huntsville will sign copies of his new book “When Good Men Do Nothing: The Assassination of Albert Patterson” (UA Press, 2003).
“When Good Men Do Nothing” is the definitive study of the Patterson murder case. Grady thoroughly examined the state’s original murder case files; the private papers of John Patterson, Albert’s son; previously unreleased material from the office of Alabama’s attorney general (who directed the subsequent murder investigation); the case files of the Alabama Department of Toxicology and Criminal Investigation, and official National Guard reports. He also conducted more than 40 original interviews with survivors and eyewitnesses.
At 7 p.m. Jessica Lacher-Feldman, public and outreach services coordinator for UA’s Hoole Library, will introduce Grady and Jeremy Butler, associate professor of telecommunication and film in UA’s College of Communication and Information Sciences. The two men will give perspectives on the 1954 assassination and on the film, “The Phenix City Story.” The 1955 film noir classic is directed by Phil Karlson. This semi-documentary was filmed on location in Phenix City, which was then known for organized crime, prostitution and gambling.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students with valid ID and will be available at the Bama Theatre box office.
In addition, copies of “Film Noir Reader” (Limelight, 1996), which features an article by Butler, will be available for sale.
In conjunction with the events at the Bama Theatre, an exhibition is on display at the W.S. Hoole Library, 2nd floor, Mary Harmon Bryant Hall on the UA campus.
“Wanted! 19th and 20th Century True Crime” features a collection of 19th century wanted posters from Alabama, as well as works of true crime and criminology from library collections. There also will be a selection of mid-20th century wanted posters that are being loaned from a private collection.
The Hoole Library is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with Thursday evening hours until 9 p.m. For more information on the exhibit, contact the library at 205/348-0500 or archives@bama.ua.edu.
Contact
Elizabeth M. Smith, UA Media Relations, 205/348-3782, esmith@ur.ua.edu
Jessica Lacher-Feldman, 205/348-0500, jlfeldma@bama.ua.edu