Indianapolis in the '60s

Take a tub of ice filled with soft drinks, some bags of potato chips, a room full of twisting teens -- and LOUD music. In the '60s, those were the simple ingredients teen-agers mixed together to spell F-U-N. The favored go-go getup for girls consisted of long tresses falling down over button-down shirts and Beatle bangs on boys was the "cool" look. Getting together for a good time in September 1965, this group of teens danced to the amplified entertainment provided by a group of four boys, ages 14 and 15, who called themselves the Emblems. Sporting white denim trousers, light blue shirts, black ties and blazer jackets, the teen-age combo played their electric guitars, drums full blast to the delight of their peers.

The most recognizable image of children's television host Harlow Hickenlooper with cream pie in hand, circa 1961.

Janie Hodge in front of the wall of photos in the WTTV Channel 4 studios.

The 1969 Washington H.S basketball team poses after winning the state championship.

The Torch Bearer rank, the highest honor for Camp fire Girls, was conferred on five Indianapolis girls in 1960 by Mrs. Jesse Barker (right). From left: Phyllis Keenan, Mary Crider, Jana Witmer and Ann Wilhoite all of the WaDaKiYa Camp Fire group and Frances Andrews of Broad Ripple High School.

t the end of his first year as mayor in 1968, Richard Lugar posed for a photograph in his City/County building office, overlooking construction of the Indiana National Bank building at Pennsylvania and Ohio Streets.

Teacher Marguerite Mahoney (background) poses with her second and third grade class at James A. Garfield School No. 35 in the Indianapolis Public School system during the 1959-1960 school year.

The City-County building rises behind the old Marion County Courthouse (foreground) in this view looking north from Washington Street (foreground) in 1960. Alabama Street is at right and the old City Hall is in center at the top of the photo.

Herb Isaacs was host of Happy Herb, a show for children on WTTV in the early 1960s.

The center of the city, Monument Circle, looking west down Market Street toward the Statehouse, on May 31, 1965.

Photo from the Star-News book, Hoosier Century Another purchase in the basket, Mary Roberts maneuvered the delivery device up and away on April 1, 1965. At the Downtown StoutÕs store, customersÕ shoes and money were sent to a cashier on the second floor. Star photo by James A. Ramsey. Published April 4, 1965.

Deputy sheriff Dave Ballinger (left) gives fellow deputy James Mellene a helping hand at the scene of a large washout at East 34th Street and Franklin Road on August 13, 1960.

Children from the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation rehearsed on Dec. 15, 1960 for "The Menorah That Went Dark," which they performed three days later in connection with Hanukkah. While Shelly Bloom (rear) lit a candle, others in the foreground joined in song around the menorah. Shown from left are: Bonnie Einstandig, Margie Leff, Danny Cook, John Hene, Neal Taslitz and Miles Fishman.

Riviera Club lifeguards Gary Bough (center) and John Pickard (in back) took time out from their summer jobs on June 11, 1960 for a poolside chat with Sandy Hess (left), Marsha Grimme and Arlene Smell (background). The private club, which opened in 1933 at 5640 N. Illinois St., has about 4,000 members and features five outdoor pools, one indoor pool and 14 tennis courts.

Economy-minded shoppers jam the basement of H.P. Wasson & Co. in 1960 during a literal “bargain basement” shoe sale where shoes for just $4 a pair could be had.

Shoppers swarmed into the William H. Block & Co. store in 1965 to take advantage of Hoosier Bargain Day, sponsored by the Indianapolis Merchants Association. Merchants offered customers deals with coupons that could be entered into a contest to win a 1966 Ford Mustang.

Workers were greeted by a beautiful sight on Monument Circle one morning in 1962. The Merchants Association, which footed the light bill for the Circle decorations, agreed to keep the gigantic "tree" lighted from 6:30 p.m. until 8 a.m.

Fans line up along Monument Circle to see The Beatles full length film "A Hard Days Night" at the Circle Theatre Aug 26, 1964

Hundreds of spectators jammed the southwest quadrant of Monument Circle for the 500 Festival Circus, May 21, 1962.

The final number of Holiday on Ice was in full swing in the State Fairgrounds Coliseum on Halloween night, 1963, when leaking gas from a propane tank near an electric popcorn warmer in a concession area resulted in an explosion. Of the 4,327 people attending the show, 54 died almost instantly and 20 more died en route to or at hospitals. Approximately 400 others were injured, some permanently.

Rudolph Allen sees to it that 1960 primary election voting place at 318 W. 16th St. has sufficient posters to mark it as a poll..

Actress Frances Farmer was the hostess of a movie showcase to be called "Frances Farmer Presents" on WFBM-TV (now WRTV-6).

In 1965, 16-year-old Sylvia Likens was held captive, abused and tortured to death over three months by Gertrude Baniszewski, Baniszewski's children, and other neighborhood children.

Richard Dean Hobbs, 15 and Gertrude Baniszewski listen to Judge Harry Zaklan as he orders then bound over to the Marion County grand jury Nov. 1, 1965. Both were charged with the murder of Sylvia LIkens.

12 year old John MeHaffey enjoyed the first day of summer on June 21, 1964 fishing on the banks of the Indianapolis Water Company canal near Washington Boulevard.

Sharon Bruce, a cheerleader for Shortridge High School, pounded the hardwood after the Blue Devils lost a heartbreaker to Tech High School in the final seconds of their sectional matchup at Butler Fieldhouse in 1961. Shortridge was headed to victory over Tech when the Greenclads scored the winning basket with 7 seconds remaining.

Two young children, oblivious to the enormous Willie The Whale over their shoulders, try to attract a swan in the pond at the Indianapolis Zoo's original E. 30th Street location a week before the zoo opened for its second season in 1965.

Lines of children and their parents wait for the Circle Theatre doors to open on April 1, 1958 for a showing of Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

Women's fashions in the 1960s featured shorter shirts and boots.

Supporters of the historic City Market overfilled the public assembly room in the City-County Building in 1964 to protest the threatened closing of the market by health officials. The crowd of about 800 cheered a series of speakers who urged the Board of Safety to resist attempts to close the structure, erected in 1886.

Youngsters in the Heather Hills addition, viewing the advent of Spring as an opportunity to play outside, enjoyed a fun game of hide and seek on May 5, 1967. The children's hiding places were discovered when five-year-old Mary Kay Stewart lifted trash can lids to find Doug Penley (center), his brother Greg (left) and Andy Szabo snuggled inside.

Children, dressed as litterbugs, paraded in the 700 block of Woodruff Place, East Drive, in an effort to create interest in a neighborhood cleanup project on April 27, 1967. The children (from front) included Scott Keeler, Debbie Casses, Pam Geralds (partly hidden), Risa Keeler, James Bartlett, Richard Bartlett, Marygail Darnell, Pat Casses and Karla Long. The project was sponsored by the Woodruff Community Center.

Finishing touches were put on a quilt for the 1961 Christ Church Cathedral Bazaar by (left to right) Mrs. George E. Small, Cathedral Sewing Guild President Mrs. Arthur H. Willey and Mrs. Bernard J. McDonnell. The Guild, nearly 125 years old at the time of this photo, raised funds for the church by selling quilts at annual bazaars.

Police arrest and carry out three men involved in a 1964 Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) sit-in at the old Indianapolis School Board building at 150 North Meridian Street. The three (front to back) John Torian, Alfonzo Black and James Pond, demanded the integration of teaching staffs in Indianapolis schools. CORE supporters carrying signs reading "Why a Black Attucks?" and "Integrate Attucks staff" also picketed construction of an addition to Crispus Attucks High School. That night, the Indianapolis Board of Education rejected a plea by CORE that all school construction be stopped until "de facto" segregation was eliminated. Attucks' teaching staff was integrated in the late '60s, but segregation of students continued into the 1970s, despite the state's 1949 desegregation law.

Indiana Central College basketball coach Angus Nicoson (left) drew out a play for returning Greyhound starters Al Williams (42) and Bob Smock (52) at the start of the 1967-68 season.

Movie star Jayne Mansfield, one of nearly two dozen celebrities in town on May 27, 1961 for the 500 Festival, held aloft her pet French poodle, Monsieur Oui Oui (Mr. Yes Yes).

Eight stone ladies were brought down from their places atop the doomed Marion County Courthouse to be auctioned off to the highest bidders prior to the building's demolition in the spring of 1962. They were sold statue by statue and brought a total of $2,150.

The Indianapolis Hilton Hotel was beginning to take shape on the southwest corner of Ohio and Meridian Streets in this view looking west on Feb. 19, 1969. Work on the $11 million, 20-story hotel took most of the year to complete. It was the cityÕs first major hotel built in decades, with 430 guest rooms, a governorÕs suite and parking for 570 automobiles.

Herman Hohlt cuts leaf lettuce for market in his greenhouse on Bluff Road, south of Hanna in this 1960 photo.

Manual, 1960. The Redskins celebrate after their 71-61 Southport Sectional victory over Southport Feb. 27, 1960. In the back row are coaches, Woody McBride, Head coach Dick Cummins, Paul Roberts and Harold Bennett. Players ini the front row are left to right - Ed Stiegelmeyer, Larry Short, Dick Foran #44, Leon Carter, #40, Dick VanArsdale, Tom Van Arsdale, Dave Scheib, Jim Cummings, Armen Cobb and Roger Wood. This was Manual's first sectional victory in 37 yers.

Six defendants and two defense attorneys in the Sylvia LIkens murder trial await the opening of court session April 20, 1966. Seated, left to right, are attorney John Nedeff, Stephanie Baniszewski, Richard Hobbs, Paula Baniszewski, John Baniszewski, Coy Hubbard, Gertrude Baniszewski and attorney William Erbecker.

Workmen grabbed a huge hopper of concrete before pouring it down a chute to the 26th floor of the City-County building during construction of the new government center on Feb. 21, 1961. This view looks north from the penthouse. The streets in the background are Delaware (left) and Alabama.

A youngster receives polio vaccination on July 13, 1961.

Children from the Indianapolis Preschool Center’s Operation Head Start welcomed Lady Bird Johnson to Indianapolis on July 24, 1966. While President Lyndon Johnson’s speech at Monument Circle dealt with Vietnam, Lady Bird’s main theme was centered on Operation Head Start, of which she was the national honorary head.

Beatlemania was at full tilt in Indianapolis when the British pop foursome released their film Help in 1965. Sign-carrying fans Lana Stephens (left) and Gloria Willett, both from Greenfield, were among those who lined up at Loew's Palace to see the film that summer. The pair stayed through five showings in a single day. The line waiting to get into the theater, which was at 35 N. Pennsylvania St., extended north to Market Street and east on Market for half a block.

The last event of the grand Claypool Hotel, built in 1902 at Washington and Illinois Streets, was a demolition ball held before the wrecking crews moved in on Saturday night, June 14, 1969. Party-goers watched as wreckers began their task of demolishing the -year-old Claypool Hotel shortly after midnight on June 15, 1969. After a fire swept through the Claypool on June 23, 1967, the ÒGrand Old Lady of Washington StreetÓ never reopened. T

Johnny Carson finds the fit a little tight as he snuggled into the STP Turbocar at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 10, 1967 while being filmed for a segment on "The Tonight Show." After some high-speed driving instructions from regular driver Parnelli Jones (upper left) and owner Andy Granatelli (not shown), Carson took several laps around the track in the turbine-powered car that almost won the 1967 500-Mile-Race. He turned one lap at 120 mph, another at 110.5 mph and possibly cranked it up to 160 mph on the backstretch. Standing by to assist are Turbocar mechanics Vince (left) and Joe Granatelli. On the right is director of racing for Firestone, W. R. McCrary.

Rookie driver Danny "Termite" Jones was hoisted over the fence by an ambulance attendant at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 12, 1961, attempting rescue race driver Tony Bettenhausen. The veteran Indianapolis 500 driver was killed when his No. 24 Stearly Motor Freight Special crashed in the main straightaway during practice. Jones, who had been following Bettenhausen, braked to a halt in the southwest turn and ran back to the scene. He grabbed a fire extinguisher in a futile attempt to battle the flames eating at the race car through a shroud of wire fence ripped from along the outside retaining wall. The accident happened on the day before the first day of qualifications. Bettenhausen, 44, of Tinley Park, Ill., was killed instantly in the crash caused by a mechanical failure.

Tiny eyes were upon Mike Willis, 6-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald G. Willis, as he was about to bite into his first Bratwurst sandwich at the Volksfest at German Park on Aug. 5, 1961. Waiting to be served their sandwiches were Kathy Sweetman (left), 4, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. David Sweetman and Mark Willis, 4, Mike's brother.

1960s fitness expert Debbie Drake demonstrates one of the exercises she advocates for self-improvement. She authored a book titled Debbie DrakeÕs Easy Way to a Perfect Figure and Glowing Health, and hosted a TV program on WISH-TV in1962.

Interstate 65, the main north-south throughway in Indiana, is constructed in Downtown Indianapolis in this view looking west, taken in the 1960s. I-65 greatly facilitated interstate commerce. Shown at left is 11th Street; Pennsylvania Street runs from left to right in the foreground.

Aerial photo showing the interchange of Interstate 465 and Interstate 74, west of Indianapolis. (1961 File Photo)

It took only 10 seconds to reduce the 55-year-old Lincoln Hotel (right) to a pile of rubble on the morning of April 9, 1973. More than 300 sticks of dynamite was used in the demolition of the historic hotel, located at West Washington Street and Kentucky Avenue. The hotel, which opened on June 29, 1918, took three years to build. The first eight floors were completed during World War I and remaining floors were added in 1921 when supplies were more readily available

Three college students, (left to right) Hernandez Gonzales, Lawrence Lucas and Irving Riley, conducted work in Indianapolis in the summer of 1968 in a program sponsored through the Indianapolis Urban League. Gonzalez, a sophomore at Dillard University in New Orleans, interviewed 800 Indianapolis businesses that summer.

Finalists in the 1969 Central Indiana Spelling Bee awaited their turn to spell at the Indiana War Memorial Auditorium. The 103 spellers qualified for the final round from schools in a 23-county area.

A midway fire at the Marion County Fair was an added attraction for hundreds of fairgoers on August 9, 1967. Quick work by volunteer firemen confined the blaze to four game concessions and two house trailers parked behind them. A large crowd scattered quickly as the blaze spread, and a merry-go-round about 10 feet away from the game booths was halted and its load of children fled to safety. Luckily the Castleton Fire Department was exhibiting its new $27,000 pumper at the fair and was on the scene within minutes. The fire, which was extinguished in 10 minutes, started inside a trailer.

Exhuberant students celebrating Butler University's second straight Indiana Collegiate Conference championship on Feb. 20, 1962 called upon president M. O. Ross at 10:30 that evening. The Bulldogs had just defeated Ball State 87-86 in overtime, earning not only its 20th victory of the season, but also a bid to play in the NCAA postseason tournament against Bowling Green March 12 that year.

Archbishop Paul C. Schulte (center, at front) of the Indianapolis Roman Catholic archdiocese, blessed the new Brebeuf Preparatory School during a dedication ceremony on Sept. 16, 1962. The Rev. Charles Ross (left), pastor of St. Pius X Catholic Church and the Rev. Paul Utz, pastor of St. Monica Catholic Church, aided him as he passed by an honor guard comprised of the 167 freshman boys in Brebeuf's first class.

Mayor Albert Losche (right) takes a bite of a survival cracker during the stocking of a fallout shelter at the World War Memorial on April 1, 1963. The shelter was one of 200 fallout shelters setup in downtown Indianapolis during the Cold War. At left is Charles L. Hudson, regional county civil defense officer and in the center is Charles W. Broderick, city-county civil defense director. GENERAL INFORMATION:

Indianapolis Mayor Charles H. Boswell inspects the Downtown streets on Saturday, Feb. 25, 1961, shortly after declaring a snow emergency. A freak blizzard blew into Indianapolis just two days after the temperature had climbed to 62 degrees. The mayor, who picked up the endearing nickname, "Snow Belt Charlie," had made a decision to rent, rather than buy snow removal equipment after the weather service had said Indianapolis was not in the snow belt. In an odd twist of fate, a blizzard struck Indianapolis on the day Boswell was quoted about the decision. Boswell served as mayor from Jan. 1, 1959 until he resigned on Aug. 4, 1962 to become postmaster of Indianapolis.

Patrons filled Clowes Memorial Hall on the Butler University campus for the opening night concert on Oct. 18, 1963.

The Cub Scout pack at School 44, 2033 Sugar Grove Ave., spent Dec. 23, 1969 preparing baskets of food for distribution to needy families. Two den chiefs, Herman Humbles (left) and Alvin Strong, both 13, were weighted down by the package they just filled.

Ten-year-old Larry Baker got a first-hand demonstration of firefighting techniques from Indianapolis fireman Paul Doherty (left) and Capt. William Earle on May 11, 1963. Members of Engine Company 22 visited the children of the 1900 and 2000 blocks of North New Jersey Street as part of a reward for carrying out a special neighborhood clean-up project.

Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-N.Y.) looking pale and shaken at the news of Martin Luther King's assassination, disreguarded his prepared speech and spoke briefly to a predominantly black crowd of 2,500 here last night, urging them not to meet violence with violence.

A mourner weeps at a memorial service on Monument Circle for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., on April 5, 1968, the day after Dr. King was slain in Memphis, Tenn. The flag flew at half-mast during the solemn ceremony, attended by approximately 500 people, including Gov. Roger D. Branigin and numerous religious leaders. ÒIndiana joins the nation in grief,Ó said Branigin. ÒHis (Dr. KingÕs) voice is still, but his dreams of racial justice and concord among our citizens remain.Ó\

Tony Hinkle, Butler University's 3-sport coach and athletic director on March 11, 1962. He was named to the James A. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Oct. 13, 1965. Butler Fieldhouse was renamed for him in 1966. He retired at the end of the 1969-70 season.

Union Station in 1960; view looking south.

Indianapolis News photographer Joe Young peeked through stage curtains set up at the State Fairgrounds Coliseum on Oct. 4 1960 to capture a different angle of presidential candidate John F. Kennedy.

The crowd waves to the drivers as they pass at the start of the 1960 Indianapolis 500.

Meridian and Washington Street intersection Dec. 24, 1965.

Ayres shoppers at Meridian and Washington Street intersection Dec. 24, 1965.

A flaming tire shoots over the catch fence in a wreck that killed Dave MacDonald and Eddie Sachs early in the 1964 race. MacDonald's car was designed to hold enough fuel for the full race. When he crashed, the car burst into flames directly in front of Sachs.

15,000 people watched the Sahara Grotto fireworks show at Butler bowl in 1960.

Five-year-old Jeff Greene longed for the day when he could be old enough to play football like the big boys at Brookside Park in this Oct. 11, 1966 photo.

Parents watch their children enjoying a small Ferris wheel ride at Riverside Amusement Park in Indianapolis on Aug. 13, 1960. The park, located on West 30th Street at the White River, opened in 1903 and operated until the end of the 1970 season.

John Neighbours, 13 took advantage of the hill just north of Butler University's football field to get in some sledding. Neighbours got some hang time on this run after hitting a ledge, Dec. 25, 1962

Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy, right and Matthew Welsh Democratic candidate for Indiana governor are surrounded by well wishers as they prepare to leave the Indianapolis airport in an open convertible. Kennedy spoke at a rally at the Indiana State Fairgrounds coliseum. Oct 5, 1960

Indianapolis, Ind. -- A barrage of outstretched hands greeted President Lyndon Johnson after his speech in Indianapolis. The President took time out to meet some of the 42,000 persons on hand for the address, before he departed for a luncheon speech here in 1966.

Estella Bonifield (left) keeps her eyes on information operators on the job at Indiana Bell in 1960. The article, published August 20, 1960, noted some callers took the "information" too literal. "How do you freeze fresh peaches?", "should dumplings be cooked with the pot lid on or off?" and a caller that asked "where could he rent a stork?".

Wide-eyed and happy children watch as Santa Claus comes to Indianapolis in 1966.

Joan Weston of the Bay Bmbers (left) and Sandy Dunn of the Cardinals try to mix it in spite of the referee's attempts to break up the scuffle during a roller derby match in 1968 and the fairgrounds coliseum.

Freelance photographer J. Parke Randall was shooting for The Indianapolis News at the 1960 Indianapolis 500, and his assigned spot was the northeast turn of the track. Randall was focused on action on the track when he heard screams behind him and turned as the makeshift tower fell to the ground.

Theater goers at Starlight Musicals in 1966.

Fairgoers enjoying the Swiss Bob ride in August 1960. This is one of the new Gooding Amusements rides on the Midway of the Indiana State Fair.

Farmers at the Indianapolis Stock Yards on the southwest side in 1960.

Manager Rollie Hemsley of the Indianapolis Indians gets a shower of various liquids, after the club beat Atlanta, 1-0 in a playff Sept. 3, 1963 to decide the Southern Division champion in the International League.