"Howard's Indiana" was a periodic feature series, with short stories and interviews on a variety of topics
Howard’s Indiana 2
(IBHA.HCC.0054)
(logsheet by Jack Ankony, J450)
Scottish Rite Cathedral
0:15 Thought of as artistic downtown scene
0:24 Largest Scottish Rite found anywhere
0:35 Bells remind that 50 Americans are prisoners in Turan
0:57 Howard talks with Harvey Petty
1:13 Petty describes stained glass
1:45 Howard explains masonry
2:06 Neal King explains membership of Scottish Rite
2:33 Building includes theater and ballroom
3:02 Constructed with Russian White Oak wood
3:35 $3.5 million to build
The Scottish Rite Cathedral is a building where members of a stone mason fraternity gather. There is also a theater and ball room. It is a very old building that is regarded for amazing architecture.
Murat Theater
0:10 Unicycle routine
0:23 City’s oldest theater
0:40 Cecil Burn used to run theater operations
1:01 $2 tickets for “scenes out of the past”
1:34 Talent is pricing itself out
2:05 Stage is much larger than normal, not built like this anymore
Murat Theater is the city’s oldest operating theater. Cecil Burn books shows from people playing the trumpet to unicyclists.
Central Canal
0:25 Ducks swimming in canal
0:45 Joggers run along trail, fishermen
1:01 Owned by Indianapolis water company
1:15 City thought it would bring commerce
1:35 Dream of making money turned to nightmare
1:45 Railroad took over, project abandoned
2:10 Boat rides for pleasure
2:40 Today it’s responsible for transporting drinking water
3:00 People enjoy sitting by it, home to animals
The Central Canal was originally built to serve as a way to transport materials between cities, but railroads were built at a similar time, which ended up taking priority. The canal is now responsible for the city’s drinking water, as well as a place for leisure.
Benjamin Harrison Home
0:25 Home on North Delaware street
0:46 Now owned by Jordan Foundation
1:00 Visitors allowed to tour house
1:18 Huge wooden cabinet gifted by German immigrant
1:35 Known as a serious, impersonal man
2:00 Talks about Harrison family history
2:20 House filled with artwork from Benjamin’s wife
2:40 Ballroom, exercise room in house
3:05 Regarded as middle-ranking president
3:20 Wife died in White House, Harrison remarried then died in 1901
This clip tours through Benjamin Harrison’s home in Indianapolis, including artwork, a ballroom and an exercise room. An interview with Dorothy Sallee discusses Harrison’s personality and interests.
Len Wallace and Ben Hur
0:20 Museum in Crawfordsville
0:38 Book called Ben Hur became bestseller
1:05 Interview with Mrs. Fred Cantrell
1:18 Compares to Gone With the Wind
1:35 Became famous play, too
1:50 Made into silent film, also regular movie
2:20 Museum describes variety of talent outside Ben Hur
3:00 Cantrell quotes Wallace on inspiration
This clip explains how Len Wallace’s book Ben Hur became a bestseller and was ultimately translated into a silent film and regular movie. There is a Len Wallace museum in Crawfordsville recollecting his achievements.
Athenaeum
0:05 Only 19th century cultural center in town
0:25 Germans headed to US, particularly Indianapolis
0:45 Organization advocated for votes for blacks, but not women
1:10 Bob Swan talks about German immigration
1:30 Used by students who wanted to become physical education instructors
1:52 Guys playing basketball
2:07 Also an emphasis on theater
2:25 Festivals in outside garden
3:10 Other singing, dancing, acting groups use theater
3:25 Twice a week bingo brings in a lot of money
3:52 Swan confident organization will survive
The Athenaeum was originally created by German immigrants as a place to convene and participate in various activities. Owner Bob Swan then used it as a place for physical activities and theater-like performances.
Slovene Parish
0:12 Holy Trinity created in 1906
0:28 Comfortable place for people not good at speaking English
0:56 Interview with James Divita
1:25 Served as place for physical labor jobs originally
1:50 Slovenian households stress discipline, cleanliness
2:30 Larry Crawford the youthful, energetic priest
The Holy Trinity church is part of the Sloven Parish that was created in 1906 as a place that welcomed people who weren’t yet fluent in English. It provided physical labor jobs for men, while the women were in charge of the households.
Booth Tarkington
0:10 Tarkington born into middle class home
0:25 Attended Purdue and Princeton but didn’t graduate
0:35 Wrote a lot of books and plays such as “The Magnificent Ambersons”
1:07 Interview with Elizabeth Hughes
1:32 Tarkington moved to 19-room home on Meridian Street
1:55 House now owned by Butler professor and used as museum
2:25 Library converted to music room
2:55 Tarkington hosted many parties
3:22 Third-floor studio where Tarkington worked converted to recreation room
3:50 Indianapolis should be proud of Tarkington
Booth Tarkington was one of the most famous writers of his time and even had his novels converted into plays and movies. His home is now owned by a Butler professor who has renovated the house slightly, but kept many pieces of old memorabilia.
Circle Restoration
0:15 Circle is closed
0:28 Indianapolis power and light bought building to restore
0:52 Restoration will cost at least $2 million
1:20 Felt the need to do something about deteriorating building
1:50 Many popular bands played there in 1940s
2:10 Sample of Dick Powell’s music
2:20 Considered finest musical palace west of New York when built in 1916
2:55 Shots of old movie/play posters
3:25 Goal is to have theater up and running in two years
Circle Theater was once considered one of the most prominent theaters in the country, but is now closed and deteriorating. Indianapolis Power and Light bought it and is trying to restore the theater back to its original form.
Indianapolis Museum of Art
0:10 100th Birthday of Indianapolis Museum of Art
0:35 Celebrated by various new exhibits
1:03 Interview with owner Robert Yassin
1:40 Opened a school as part of museum that became part of IUPUI
2:15 Now features contemporary and avant garde art
2:48 Descriptions of variety of paintings
3:10 Owners hope birthday reignites interest in museum
Indianapolis Museum of Art is celebrating its 100th birthday by featuring a variety of new art exhibits with the hope of sparking interest for people to come back and enjoy the museum that used to be very famous.
Broad Ripple
0:12 Broad Ripple is a village within a city
0:38 Amusement park and championship swimming pool are main attractions
0:55 Almost didn’t survive as many people moved away
1:18 Now a large influx of young people, affluent
1:47 Weber’s clock shop, dress shops
2:15 New dilemma: interest shoppers and diners or late-night party crowd
2:55 Expansion plans come from nightclub owners
3:20 Interview with Rick Risingmore, businessman/investor
4:00 Automobile issues in Broad Ripple- parking spaces
4:22 People dancing
Broad Ripple almost didn’t survive when many people chose to move away, but was revitalized by an influx of young and affluent people. Businessmen are planning to expand the city now.
Major Taylor Velodrome
0:15 $2.5 million Velodrome (bicycle track)
0:30 Named after World Champion bicyclist
0:55 Crowds of 20,000 used to gather for cycling competitions
1:15 History of Marshall Taylor
1:40 Taylor dealt with racism
2:15 Taylor competed in European tours later on
2:35 Interview with Art Strong, parks director
3:00 Taylor wrote an autobiography with advice
3:20 Taylor died in 1932
They are building a new cycling arena named after Marshall Taylor, who was a famous cyclist in the early 1990s. This clip talks about racism he dealt with and how he was able to persevere to have an impressive cycling career.
Columbia Club
0:20 Columbia Club is mainly older, wealthier Republicans
0:40 Interview with William Powers, president of club
0:55 Place to golf, eat, hang out with other members
1:15 Benjamin Harrison used to be part of club
1:50 Current building was built because of increase in membership
2:10 Edward Daniels was first president
2:30 Powers says club is important resource for both public and private sector
3:00 Approaching 100th birthday
3:30 Blacks and women now hold membership
3:50 Interview with James Blackburn
4:10 Integral part of Indianapolis
Columbia Club is a place where people can gather to eat, play golf and discuss solutions to problems in the public and private sector of business. It’s approaching its 100th birthday and has continued to thrive because of diversity inclusion and magazine advertising.
Charlie Davis
0:15 Charlie Davis wrote “That Band From Indiana”
0:36 Davis first formed band while pursuing business degree at Notre Dame
1:00 First performed at Casino Gardens
1:20 Dick Powell was band’s singer
2:00 Band made new show each week
2:10 Tap dancing, comedy acts provided variety
2:35 Joy Gang performed 28 times per week
3:00 Davis band moved to New York
3:15 Earl Moss and Davis only ones to not move back to Indy because of homesickness
3:50 Davis’ book gives era clarity
Charlie Davis formed a band that performed frequently in Indianapolis. They expanded to New York but many couldn’t handle lifestyle changes and moved back home. Davis’ book “That Band From Indiana” describes era.
2nd Presbyterian Church History
0:20 Church built in 1839
0:35 Man who wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin was first minister
1:00 Gene Milner opposed building of War Memorial
1:25 Church cost over $2 million to build
1:46 Attendance averages over 2,000 on Sundays
2:10 Up to eight generations of families have attended
2:30 Church has strong commitment to serving the community
3:00 People assistance programs (tutoring, health clinic, basketball)
3:40 Reverend Enright wants church to be known for caring attitude towards community
4:05 Being Christian isn’t just something you do for one hour on Sundays
The 2nd Presbyterian Church brings some of the highest attendance numbers of any church in Indianapolis. They pride themselves on not just being a church, but providing programs that help a variety of parishoners.
Central Ave. Methodist Church
0:25 Church has been there since 1892
0:45 Video of church ceremony
1:00 Membership is at an all-time low
1:15 Priest says low attendance is not frustrating
1:40 Priest used to divide time between churches, is now full time at Central Ave.
2:15 People are buying homes and raising families in neighborhood
2:35 37 percent of community is interested in joining the church
3:00 Priest gives tour of church
3:40 Marion County mental health department hosts classes
4:05 Reverend Brockman convinced church is going to increase attendance
The Central Avenue Methodist Church is one of the oldest in Indianapolis but has been suffering from low attendance. The current priest thinks since young families are moving to the community it will start to become more popular. The church also offers classes to people with mental issues.
Light of the World Church
0:18 1,200 people at Sunday’s service
0:33 Tom Garrett Benjamin Jr. is pastor
0:47 Benjamin says wealth doesn’t have to mean money
1:38 400 plus new members in last year alone
1:55 Sunday school department has been prospering
2:10 $11,000 in scholarship money to member offspring last year
2:30 Parishioners are a “salad bowl” referencing diversity, says Benjamin
3:00 Benjamin wants church to claim other facilities and land for young people
3:20 Video of church in action
The Light of the World Church is prospering in attendance and excitement. The Sunday school program is very popular, and the church generated $11,000 of scholarship money for its attendees in the last year.
Reform Hebrew Congregation
0:15 Largest congregation at synagogue: 1,500 people
0:36 Ever-increasing congregation of highly educated and socially aware people
1:10 Hallway lined with pictures of famous parishioners
1:35 Emphasize personal freedom and choice
1:50 People can add meaningful activities to their life through religion
2:10 Stained glass windows
2:20 Money being raised for renovations
2:50 Friday afternoon and Saturday morning services
3:40 Growing awareness surrounding synagogue
3:55 Video of people leaving synagogue
The Reform Hebrew Congregation holds the largest congregation in Indianapolis. The current rabbi considers the majority of parishioners very highly educated and socially aware.
Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral
0:22 Full attendance only happens on special occasions
0:47 Transferred from Vincennes to Indianapolis
1:27 Renovation planned for future
1:40 Interview with Reverend Gettlefinger
1:56 First phase of renovations have begun
2:28 Needs more participation from parishioners
3:00 Gettlefinger wants use of church to be broadened
3:40 Gettlefinger finds excitement in revitalization of church
Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral is suffering from low attendance numbers since transferring from Vincennes to Indianapolis. Reverend Gettlefinger wants more participation from parishioners, but finds excitement in the challenge to revitalize the church
Architecture of Downtown Indianapolis
0:10 Music playing, people walking in downtown Indy
0:30 Howard introduces classic, middle-aged, contemporary architecture
0:56 Lingonfelder works for a firm involved with downtown building
1:30 Firm has restored buildings downtown
2:15 Lingonfelder shows examples of different architectural styles
2:40 He photographed for architecture books all his life
3:06 Architecture needs to reflect excitement surrounding sports in Indianapolis
3:30 Lingonfelder’s project will be finished next spring
Howard Caldwell shows examples of the variety of architectural styles in downtown Indianapolis. He interviews a man who has photographed for architectural books and is working on a project restoring certain buildings downtown.
Indiana Roof History and Restoration
0:10 Video of dances during the 40s
0:25 Piano plays as pictures of theater are shown
0:50 Howard talks about history of Roof
1:00 Interview with Alice Hendricks
1:16 Alice used to work on Roof staff when it first opened
1:50 Simon and Associates have restored building
2:10 Bruce Hiberg is amazed by events that have already been booked
2:30 “It’s more beautiful than it ever has been”
The Indiana Roof used to be a popular place where dances were held. It declined in popularity until Simon and Associates decided to restore it. Alice Hendricks has worked there since it originally opened and said it is more beautiful now than ever.
Restored Union St. Downtown Entertainment
0:10 Broadway-like performance on stage
0:26 The Phoenix offers weekly performances
0:50 Movie offerings once saturated the downtown area
1:10 Slideshow of different theaters
1:35 All of those theaters are long gone
1:50 Howard walks around run down theater with Bob Born
2:15 Born convinced that new theaters will be well supported
2:50 Music plays, picture of old theater
Downtown Indianapolis used to be home to many impressive theaters that served as entertainment sources for people. Many of them are run down now, but Bob Born is part of a group of people aiming to restore these aspects of Indianapolis.