OLD SOUTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD
This page will be about the Old South Side Neighborhood during the 1960's. Full disclaimer some of the sources that I will be using are from the 1960's. The language is definitely from the 1960's just a heads up.
BEFORE THE HIGHWAY
Here is a sanborn map of the neighborhood from 1956. This specific section of the map shows what the neighborhood looked like before the I-70 highway. The section of the map in between Wilkins St. and Ray St. is now where I-70 is. The blue sections of the map means that the buildings was made out of concrete. The brown section means that the buildings was made from wood. From the map we can see that there where houses and buildings possible business buildings in this area. If you would like to view the full map the link is below.(1) http://ulib.iupuidigital.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/SanbornJP2/id/2195/rec/5
YOUNG SOUTHSIDE BOY DIES AFTER BICYCLE MISHAP
Joseph Evans Jr. and Dexter Strokes were two young boys that lived in the neighborhood. They were 10 years old. The two boys were riding on a bicycle when a car hit them. Joseph Evan Jr. died from head injuries. Dexter Strokes was fine and came out of the accident with only had a head and shoulder injuries. Curtis Poynter was the driver of the car. His brother was the passenger. Mr. Poynter was drunk while he was driving. "When questioned by the police, Curtis said he was forced off the road by two drag racers, one in a pick up truck the other in a green Ford. Neither the alleged vehicles or drivers had been apprehended by Thursday, police said.(2) Curtis and his brother both faced charges for being drunk and drunk driving. Curtis was charged with involuntary manslaughter. "Jo Jo" was the son of Mrs Betty Finney and Joseph Evans Sr. Born in Ceveland, he was brought to Indianapolis at the age of two months. He was a pupil at school No. 22, a member of South Cavalry Baptist Church and a cub scout in the Concord Center troop."(2)
JUANITA'S PLAYHOUSE
Juanita's Playhouse was matinee in the neighborhood. Juanita's Playhouse had both movies and live performances. Juanita's Playhouse was located at 1357 S. Meridian St. Today if you were to go this location you would find an empty lot surrounded by two houses to the north and one house on the bottom right corner of the lot.
In July of 1962 two things happened. The first was "Little Miss Thunderbird the fabulous shake dancer will headline the floor show at Juanita's Playhouse."(3) During this time Juanita's Playhouse was up for sale. "Incidentally, the establishment was up for sale, and it's because the owner's mother is sick and she feels that she should be with her during her illness."(3) In this little insert we find out that the owner of Juanita's Playhouse was a woman. For a woman to own a business during this time period is pretty incredible. This was not uncommon. However, there was also not a lot of women doing this either. There were some though. Just to add a little perspective to this, a woman was not even allowed to open a bank account without her husband in the 60's. However, things quickly turn around for the worse for Juanita's Playhouse a month and a few days later. What happened was Juanita's Playhouse was caught on fire. It was confirmed to be arson. "The tavern is located at 1357 S. Meridian St. on the southside in a middle-class neighing on the fringes... Somebody borhood with lots of Negros livin in that vicinity was determined No Negros would enjoy the intoxicating liquors and neighborliness of a community that prided themselves of a foreign descent... And this in spite of the fact that the neighborhood is becoming more integrated daily and that Indiana has an Equal Rights Law."(4) In the end two people were arrested in connection to the case. One of the suspects it was unclear exactly what his motive was.
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SOUTHSIDE ARMORY
The SouthSide Armory host events such as concerts and dances. Many famous performers have preformed at the Southside Armory. A few would be B.B. King, Llyod Price, Solomon Burke, Dee Clark, Jimmy Hughes, and Ike and Tina Turner. All of whose pictures from newspapers can be seen above.(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) Ike and Tina Turner even preformed at the Southside Armory twice in 1962. even the impressions preformed at the Southside armory. The Southside Armory was located at 2015 S. Pennsylvania St. Today if you go there it is a recycling plant with some warehouses.
THE LAST SECTION I WILL QUICKLY TALK ABOUT IS TWO PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY.
One person is Frank Newman. He was the director of the Jewish Welfare Federation. He became the Director in December 1, 1959.(11) The Jewish Welfare Federation for a while was homed in the Concord Center starting in 1914. Frank Newman in 1964 led a tour throughout the neighborhood to some Jewish young people who were visiting. There was a slight misinterpretation with what happened on the tour.(12) But overall, Frank Newman was a very interesting man. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 98 in 2011.(13) Another person I would like to talk about is Harry Jackson. "A one time pillar of the Jewish community, Harry Jackson 76 manufacturer of Clothing died March 13, 1961. Mr. Jackson's principle interest for years was the Communal building, operated as the southside Jewish center years ago."(14) One thing is for sure both of these men had a profound impact on the community.
SOURCES
1. Sanborn map of area from 1956 http://ulib.iupuidigital.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/SanbornJP2/id/2195/rec/5
2. Hoosier State Chronicles, Bicycle mishap on pages 1 and 2 April 9, 1960
3. Hoosier State Chronicles, Miss thunderbird at Juanita's Playhouse July 22, 1960
4. Hoosier State Chronicles, Tavern destroyed... Why? August 26, 1962
5. Hoosier State Chronicles, B.B.King June 18, 1960
6. Hoosier State Chronciles Llyod Price March 24, 1962
7. Hoosier State Chronciles Ike & Tina Turner June 16, 1962
8. Hoosier State Chronicles Solomon Burke and Jimmy Hughes December5, 1964
9. Hoosier State Chronicles Big 10 star attraction show and dance including Dee Clark and Barret Strong at Southside Armory April 16, 1960
10. Hoosier State Chronicles December 23 1961, Impressions preform “gypsy woman” at southside Armory
11. Hoosier State Chronicles Oct. 23, 1959 New JFW Director Frank Newman arrives December 1.
https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=JPOST19591023-01.1.15&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------
12. Hoosier State Chronicles Oct. 30, 1964 Southside tour story explained
13. Frank Newman Obituary
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/indystar/obituary.aspx?n=frank-h-newman&pid=154969533
14. Hoosier State Chronicles September 8, 1961 Harry Jackson Died March 13, 1961 connected to the southside - Concord Center