Civil Rights Demonstrators in Court: Actor Sterling Hayden (bearded) stands with other demonstrators in San Francisco court today. They were the first group of some 226 demonstrators arrested Saturday during a sit-in on automobile row in San Francisco. Charges included unlawful assembly, refusal to disperse, trespassing and disturbing the peace. At right is Attorney Willie L. Brown, representing this group. The hearing was later postponed until April 17.

Sterling Walter Hayden (1916-1986) was an American actor and author. For most of his career as a leading man, he specialized in westerns and film noir, such as Johnny Guitar, The Asphalt Jungle, and The Killing. Later he became noted for appearing in supporting roles such as Gen. Jack D. Ripper in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964). He also played the Irish American policeman Captain McCluskey in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather in 1972 and the novelist Roger Wade in 1973's The Long Goodbye. He played the role of Leo Dalcò in Bernardo Bertolucci's 1900 in 1976. In 1964, he was arrested for his participation in a Civil Rights demonstration at an automobile showroom.

Willie Lewis Brown Jr. (1934) is an American politician of the Democratic Party. Brown served over 30 years in the California State Assembly, spending 15 years as its speaker. He later served as the 41st mayor of San Francisco, the first black American to do so. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Brown was one of only a few blacks practicing law in San Francisco when he opened his own business. He practiced criminal defense law, representing pimps, prostitutes and other clients that more prominent attorneys would not represent. One early case was to defend Mario Savio on his first civil disobedience arrest. He quickly became involved in the Civil Rights Movement, leading a well-orchestrated sit-in to protest housing discrimination after a local real estate office refused to work with him because of his race. Brown helped organize the public protest and helped attract media coverage. His role in the protests gave him the notoriety to run for the State Assembly. Brown would later run for Mayor. The San Francisco Chronicle called Brown "one of San Francisco's most notable mayors" who had "celebrity beyond the city's boundaries." Brown became the Democrats' Whip in 1969, then Speaker in 1980. He was known for his ability to manage colleagues and maintain party discipline. According to The New York Times, Brown became one of the country's most powerful state legislators. Brown served as San Francisco mayor from January 8, 1996 until January 8, 2004. He presided over the "dot-com" era at a time when San Francisco's economy was rapidly expanding. Brown presided over the city's most diverse administration, with more Asian-Americans, women, Latinos, gays and blacks than his predecessors. After being 'termed out' of the mayor's office, Brown officially retired from politics, although he was often associated with former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Brown continues to participate in advising and fundraising for other politicians.

Donated to the Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College by Michael Mattis and Judy Hochberg on June 2, 2021.

On recto: Typewritten label to the left of image, "(FX4) SAN FRANCISCO, April 13--CIVIL RIGHTS DEMONSTRATORS IN COURT-- / Actor Sterling Hayden (with beard), stands with other demonstrators in / San Francisco court today. They were the first group of some 226 / demonstrators arrested Saturday during a sit-in on automobile row in / San Francisco. Charges included unlawful assembly, refusal to disperse, / tresspassing and disturbing the peace. At right is Attorney Willie L. / Brown, representing this group. The hearing was later postponed until / April 17. (APWIREPHOTO) (s21120rwk) 1964".

On verso: Typewritten along left edge, starting at bottom, " HAYDEN, STERLING (ACOTR[sic]- CIVIL RIGHTS)". Stamped in blue ink near bottom: "APR211[illegible]64". Handwritten in graphite along left edge after typewritten inscription: "2200 CVL-LDR-125.1".

Sheet: 8 1/8 x 10

Wire photographs were originally transmitted over phonelines, then later, by satellite. They were first used in the early 1920s. Associated Press became a leader with this. After pigment touch-ups, etc., the print is put into a drum (like a drum scanner). The image gets converted into audio tones that are transmitted. The tones are received and beamed onto photo-sensitive paper. Wire photographs are copies without originals---they are hybrid, transmitted objects. (Britt Salvesen, Curator and Department Head, Photography Department, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, March 30-31, 2022)

This object has the following keywords:

• Arrest
• Civil Rights Movements
• Courtrooms
• Discrimination
• Hearings
• Injustice
• Protesters
• San Francisco
• Sit-ins
• Sterling Hayden
• Sterling Hayden
• Willie L. Brown

• Image Dimensions: 6 11/16 x 8 1/4 in. (16.99 x 20.96 cm)