 In May 1981, Carl and Elaine Miles, an otherwise unemployed couple, began exhibiting Blackie the Talking Cat on the streets of Augusta, Georgia.Blackie would meow "I love you" or "I want my Mama" to passers-by, who would give small change to the Mileses.About a month later, police warned the couple that they risked jail time if they did not obtain a $50 business license.