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Query about the mayor in 'Ghosts'....

myosotis

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I wondered if it was definitively known that the mayor in 'Ghosts' was based on TS...I've tried to find information on this site and on the internet in general without success. (wiki references Sneddon..)
I was reading about the anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Bill on 2nd July 1964, and the article (in the Times) was illustrated by a photo of one Lester Maddox...who I immediately thought reminded me of the mayor ...
Lester Maddox apparently owned a fried -chicken restaurant, and was pictured brandishing a gun to prevent 3 African-Americans from entering , on the day after the Act was signed. He eventually sold the business rather than serve African Americans...he was apparently Governor of Georgia from 1967 to 1971.
The pictures below are -in order- Maddox, the mayor and Sneddon

http://[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/5/wlestermaddox.png/][/URL]



Uploaded with ImageShack.us


http://[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/62/wtomsneddon.jpg/][/URL]
 
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I think the mayor was definitely based on TS but without being so obvious.
And let's not underestimate MJ's knowledge in American History, especially African American history.
 
^ I agree with that. MJ was very knowledgeable, and could have factorised Lester among possibly other people into the part of the Mayor, but I think for the most part it was based on TS.
 
Thank you all above...I guess there are plenty of real-life characters who deserve defenestration! (am loving the gif, raz2911)

PS to crazyvegasMJ...another coincidence...Maddox died on 25 june (03)
 
I always believed that the Mayor in Ghosts represented TS but also others who have that type of attitude. I recently found something funny about the mayor. I was watching the video of MJ in Gary, Indiana, and when MJ speaks, at 2:05 he says thank you to
"MR MAYOR". I looked at the Mayor and couldn't help but think of THE MAYOR in Ghosts....they look very much alike. The video is below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDa8IWRmSTo
 
Pace said:
the mayaaaaa....

Could have been him, and why not. But on the other hand, down to the glasses and the nondescript suit- a lesson in blandness and average guy, which could be kind of the point.

Although Michael was nice enough to want some hair for his mayor. :D
Click to expand...

I wondered about that...he could have made him so much more unpleasant looking...but you're right, he is quite bland; maybe he wanted to point out that under a bland exterior could lurk a really evil heart. (ie you can't tell a book from it's cover). I don't think Michael would have done anything by accident or default , in terms of how the characters looked.
I always wondered how he could bear to dance as 'the mayor'...like putting some of his own talent into evil hands.
 
I've always felt this was the case. To me, both the look and the personality of the mayor are based on TS. And rightfully soo!
 
Funny... I never thought of this! Very good point. I am sure part of that character was based off TS.
 
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