500 Festival In 1957, four civic-minded businessmen–former Indianapolis mayor alex m. clark; Joe Quinn, Safety Director of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway; J. Worth Baker, Shrine Potentate in 1957; and Howard Wilcox, promotions… Read More »500 Festival
Anniversary Celebrations Although they might have gathered occasionally to remember and honor the pioneers, there is no evidence of public observances of Indianapolis’ founding prior to the centennial celebration in 1920. The… Read More »Anniversary Celebrations
Barbasol In 1919 Frank Shields, an Indianapolis chemical engineer, began manufacturing a brushless shaving cream, naming it Barbasol after red-bearded medieval German emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Two years later Shields and partner… Read More »Barbasol
Bicycling The earliest appearance of the bicycle in Indianapolis was a demonstration on the Circle of the high-wheeled “ordinary” in 1869. Within a few years hundreds of men were riding the… Read More »Bicycling
Easley Rutland Blackwood Sr. (June 25, 1903-Mar. 27, 1992). Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Blackwood spent most of his adult life in Indianapolis. After graduating from high school, he joined the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company… Read More »Easley Rutland Blackwood Sr.
Blizzard Of 1978 The worst blizzard in Indianapolis history battered the city and most of Indiana on January 25-27. The “Great Blizzard of 1978” was part of a regional storm system that ravaged… Read More »Blizzard Of 1978
Broad Ripple Park Located along the White River, Broad Ripple Park served as a popular swimming and boating resort as early as 1890. Local businessmen W. H. Tabb and Dr. Robert C. Light,… Read More »Broad Ripple Park
Burger Chef In 1957 Frank Porter Thomas, an uncle of famed musician and Peru, Indiana, native, Cole Porter, opened a pilot restaurant at Little America Amusement Center to promote and sell the… Read More »Burger Chef
Burger Chef Murders On November 18, 1978, an off-duty employee of the Speedway Burger Chef, 5725 Crawfordsville Road, discovered the backdoor of the restaurant open and the staff missing. Four youthful employees were… Read More »Burger Chef Murders
The Cabaret The Cabaret is dedicated to elevating and promoting the cabaret art form. Cabaret is a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances, and the audience sitting at tables (often… Read More »The Cabaret
