Manufacturer: Syracuse China
User: Morrison's Cafeteria
Date of plate: 1946

Entry for Syracuse Pattern #51500 in their underglazed binder 1.

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Notes: J.A. Morrison opened the first Morrison's Cafeteria in 1920 in Mobile, Alabama, pricing its meals at 31 cents. Wildly successful, it was soon serving 1000 meals a day and grew into a chain with locations in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and several other states. At one time, 151 locations dotted the Southeast. The company later branched out into catering, with hospitals, schools and even movie locations as customers.

At one point, it was owned by Shoney's. In 1982, Ruby Tuesday's was added to the company, as well as L&N Seafood Grill, Mozzarella's and several more. Piccadilly Cafeteria bought out the chain in 1996 and most Morrison's locations have since been closed.

White body design with lyre inside wreath, flanked by laurel leaf wreaths and ribbons, all in blue. Syracuse pattern #51500 was a controlled pattern for Morrison's and is shown on page 103 of the Syracuse underglaze binder 1 (see above). Design patent # 121,314 by JT Wigley July 2, 1940.

Sources:
http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Morrison-Restaurants-Inc-Company-History.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison's_Cafeteria
http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1385

For related info:
Morrison's Cafeteria by Fraunfelter
Morrison's Cafeteria 2 by Syracuse China

Contributors:
Plate photo: Melanie Jordan Millican
Creamer photo: Stanzi Latka