"Howard's Indiana" was a periodic feature series, with short stories and interviews on a variety of topics
Howard’s Indiana 7
(IBHA.HCC.0058)
(logsheet by
Art Collectors Indianapolis
0:12 Finest local artists attended new exhibit
0:20 Students of Gene Lacy
0:35 Staff brochure with Lacy on cover
0:56 Lacy did best work with music in background
1:30 As contemporary today as it was in 1950s
1:55 Lacy designed logo and slogan for AUL
2:20 Howard interviews student
2:45 Man says Lacy befriended students, didn’t just teach
3:25 Howard interviews Lacy
3:35 “Color is a matter of intelligence”
3:55 Friendships mean the most to Lacy
A new art exhibit opened in Indianapolis featuring work from Gene Lacy. Lacy was known for using vibrant colors in his work, but will be remembered for the friendships he built along the way.
Criminal Courtroom Indianapolis
0:10 Marion county courthouse
0:25 Five-week proceedings
0:36 Started when man was found dead in car after being shot
0:50 Forrest Heel shot, Connie Nichols attempted suicide
1:15 Howard details interaction
1:45 Howard interviews judge, prosector, defense
2:15 Cameras allowed but with restrictions
2:40 They claimed to not feel affected by TV cameras
3:00 Connie convicted of manslaughter but appealed
3:30 Major case covered on TV and in newspapers
3:45 Judge feels cameras in courtroom are good
3:55 Connie sentenced to 20 years in jail
Connie Nichols found out Forrest Heel was cheating on her so she shot and killed him. After, she attempted suicide with sleeping pills but survived. Their court case was a huge deal because TV cameras were allowed, which impacted the journalism industry.
Muncie, IN Ball Corp. Jar Manufacturer
0:10 Glass containers for home canning
0:32 Muncie employment once reached 5,000
0:55 Renewed interest in home canning, but now metal is prominent
1:12 Ball company started in Buffalo, NY with wooden kerosene can
1:38 Moved to Indiana in 1980s
2:04 Plastics division in Evansville
2:24 Goal to diversify production
2:50 Growth meant accepting changes
3:05 Expanding to aerospace work, satellite production
3:40 Sales up 9-10% in last decade
4:08 Discussion on staying in Muncie vs. moving to bigger city
4:23 Approaching 100th year
The Ball Corporation jar company started nearly 100 years ago as a kerosene can manufacturer, but now specializes in jars for home canning. As the company grows it is expanding into the aerospace field, too, but doesn’t want to leave Muncie.
Milan HS Indianapolis Bob Plump
0:20 Milan was big underdog in playoff game vs Terre Haute
0:45 Milan played slow down, possession game
1:15 Plump hit game winning shot at Hinkle Fieldhouse
1:36 Went on to play at Butler University
1:45 Interview with Bob Plump
2:05 Plump member of high school Hall of Fame
2:30 Plump keeps in touch with former teammates
Bob Plump became famous for hitting a game winning shot for Milan High School in the state championship game against Terre Haute, which was a much larger school that was expected to win the game.
Pacer luncheon John Sutton
0:15 Luncheon held for fans to hear from players and coaches
0:32 John Sutton started luncheons
1:03 Sutton has season tickets for Pacers
1:25 Video of Pacers game
1:35 “I feel sorry for anyone that doesn’t live here”
2:00 Video in Sutton’s office
2:22 Indianapolis is a city of civic participation
2:50 Sutton played basketball and was in theatre
3:05 Played golf and basketball at Wabash College
3:17 Battled in World War II
3:33 Sutton was county treasurer
3:50 Retiring now but will work part time
4:23 “My life has been people”
John Sutton is a big Indianapolis Pacers fans and organizes luncheons where fans can hear players and coaches talk. His life is defined by attending Wabash College and being a member of the US Army during World War II.
Old Radios
0:30 4.5 million sets of radio by 1930s
0:40 Music plays on radio
1:18 Largest collection of radios held in Auburn Cord Newsenburg Museum
1:46 Indiana historical radio society
2:00 Pictures of old radio stars
2:27 Atwater Kent radio set approached price of Model T Ford car
2:52 People used to make homemade radio sets
3:15 Crosley Corporation revolutionized radio
3:30 WFBM radio stations had symphony orchestras
3:55 Interview with Barrett talking about radio restoration
4:23 Radio now compared to past
Radios started to become popular in every home in the 1920s and 1930s. The largest collection of the first form of radios are now housed in the Auburn Cord Newsenburg Museum. Caldwell interviews a man talking about the process of restoring radios.
Carol Hayden Boston Marathon Runner
0:10 VIdeo of Boston Marathon
0:20 Carol Hayden now works at AT&T
0:40 Carol considered one of best runners in her age class
0:54 “I feel good mentally but my legs are sore”
1:14 Rain wasn’t too uncomfortable to run in
1:33 Carol thinks about silly things when she runs
1:50 Video of Carol running
2:07 Has weighed 95 pounds since she was 18
2:23 Has won medals for AT&T corporate events
2:48 Prioritizes health and happiness
Carol Hayden has been running her whole life and recently competed in the Boston Marathon. She runs 6 times per week and says it helps keep her happy and healthy. When she’s not running, she works at AT&T.
Circle Theatre
0:10 Bright, colorful lights at Circle theatre
0:23 Theater now looks very bare
0:36 $6 million restoration project
0:50 Man discusses renovation plans
1:18 Key change was enlarging stage
1:38 Deeper stage meant changes to seating visibility
2:13 Upstairs lobby is staying the same
2:36 Seats are being restored, rehabilitated balcony
3:00 Building is 60 years old
Walker Theatre Indianapolis
0:13 Three phase restoration program
0:26 Most attractive area for revitalization in Indianapolis
0:37 New housing project to improve population
1:30 Ken Morgan in charge of Walker restoration
1:46 Morgan thinks this will encourage other improvements in city
2:00 Morgan says restoration is for all members of community, not just black
2:26 Book on Margaret Walker, who theater is named after
2:45 Walker ballroom still hosts dances, dinners, meetings
3:00 Daily noontime buffet attraction
3:12 “Theater is one of a kind” - reference to African decor
3:35 Cultural center of area
3:45 Will be completed in 13 months
4:00 “It will be significant for this whole country”
The Walker Theatre in Indianapolis is named after Margaret Walker. It is unique to other theatres because of the African and Egyptian decor. Ken Morgan is working to restore the theatre in conjunction with a new housing project to revitalize the neighborhood.
Teacher Morton Finney
0:10 John Morton Finney fascinated by learning
0:20 Interview with Finney
0:30 “It’s gratifying to tackle these problems in education”
0:54 Taught in language department at Crispus Attucks
1:05 10 college degrees and is also an attorney
1:25 Indiana University named him a distinguished graduate
1:37 Married to Paulene Ray, Cornell graduate
1:55 Daughter Gloria is a principal in elementary school now
2:10 Interview with daughter talking about father
2:40 Just completed 46-week Portuguese class
3:00 If he loses school board election he always has alternative plan
Morton Finney is 94 years old now, but has earned 10 degrees from Indiana University in various subjects. He has worked as a teacher, administrator and attorney and is always eager to learn new things. Now, he’s running for a school board position.
Indiana Barber College Irvington
0:12 Indiana Barber College 25th anniversary
0:27 1,500-hour minimum training
0:48 Nutrition relates to skin and hair disorders
1:08 Two thirds of learning time spent practicing haircuts
1:45 Interview with man talking about prospects of industry
2:25 Bob Holler must work as apprentice before owning own business
2:50 Interviews with various students talking about aspirations
3:45 College says no career offers more encouraging outlook
At the Indiana Barber College, students must have 1,500 hours of training in order to graduate. Most want to eventually open their own shops. The college claims that compared to other careers, being a barber has a very encouraging outlook.
Irvington National Historic Registry
0:30 Irvington has a lot of historic buildings
0:43 Library has pictures of famous Irvington landmarks
1:05 Mrs. Lemon is working on archive of art, photography of architecture
1:30 Benton House restored to Victorian elegance
1:50 Benton House now serves as meeting place for organizations
2:15 Real estate agent talks about uphill swing of neighborhood
2:40 New heating, air conditioning, plumbing, wiring
3:07 Other house owned by KKK leader
3:22 House completely restored after fire
3:43 Quality and character-rich houses in Irvington
4:10 Most houses built in 30s and 40s
The town of Irvington is know for its historic architecture that is starting to be restored by the Benton House association. These houses bring prestige to the town.
Holy Rosary Catholic Church
0:10 Church bells ring
0:15 Built in 1911
0:28 Phillip Green is current bell ringer
1:00 Devita wrote book about Italians in Indianapolis
1:25 Howard recognizes area rich in Italian population
1:45 Howard interviews residents of neighborhood
2:00 Almost all residents said they had to work a lot growing up
2:22 Mortgage crisis taught people they had to contribute money to church
2:43 Bingo, spaghetti dinners help church funding
3:05 Tutti Machelli worked in produce business
3:30 Produce stores still owned by Italians
3:50 Rosemary Page says community is very close knit
Starlight Musical
0:20 Theater near Butler football field struggling with business
0:40 Man discusses losing money, possibility of closing theater
1:05 Music Man set attendance records
1:25 Starlight important because offers high-grade entertainment
1:45 Budget over $1 million per year
2:25 Gilbert and Sullivan plays increased amphitheater popularity
2:50 Interview with actress named Margaret
3:28 Season ticket sales dropping quickly
3:58 Musical rehearsal videos
The Starlight Musical is an amphitheater in Indianapolis that is suffering from lack of season ticket sales. It was once very popular during the summers and is strategizing on how to revitalize that popularity.
Leavenworth on Ohio River
0:10 Quiet community of 350 people
0:30 Ohio river used to be used for commerce
0:45 Flooding forced citizens to live in second floor of homes
1:08 Stevenson and company general store survived, used for community storage during floods
1:34 Store rebuilt and relocated
2:00 Store sells grocery, hardware, pottery, baskets, antiques
2:33 Buttonworks used to be Leavenworth’s biggest industry before flood
3:10 Town became tent city after flood
3:37 Jack Stevenson looking forward to brighter future
4:00 Hope Ohio River never floods town again
The town of Leavenworth was a quiet community of 350 people that was largely destroyed when the Ohio River flooded and took out many homes. The Stevenson Company and Buttonworks were two of the biggest sources of employment and money for the town.