A live weekly radio adventure through Indiana history with host Nelson Price.
Show airs live at 11:30 a.m. each Saturday on WICR 88.7 FM in Indianapolis.

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Hoosier History Live!

Hear it now! Listen to segments of some past shows as podcasts on our "Archives" page. Or listen live when the show is under way. Welcome. Hoosier History Live! is a weekly radio adventure through Indiana history, live with call-in, hosted by Nelson Price, historian and author of Indiana Legends and Indianapolis: Then and Now. Each week, the program includes a featured guest and topic, a call in from The Roadtripper with a tip about a Hoosier heritage-related road trip, and a Hoosier History Trivia question, complete with a prize for the correct answer. It is the nation's first and only call-in talk-radio show about history, premiering as a live weekly show on Jan. 12, 2008. Call-in number is (317) 788-3314. The program airs live Saturday mornings from 11:30 a.m. to noon Eastern Time on WICR at 88.7 FM from the University of Indianapolis. The Saturday show repeats the following Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. Listen online to Hoosier History Live! either day on WICR's live webstream.

Books by Nelson Price

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Graphic design and illustration.

Indiana Humanities Council
Make a tax-deductible donation to the show through IHC!

ICVA
Promoting Indianapolis and providing the show with its intrepid Roadtripper!

WICR
Our anchor radio station, on the campus of University of Indianapolis.

Special thanks to Heather Kaufman-McKivigan, website founder.

July 31 show

Theater history in Indy with Howard Caldwell

In 1934, an 8-year-old boy who lived in Irvington - and who would grow up to become one of the best-known TV news anchors in Indianapolis history - patronized a theater for the first time. It was Loew's Palace at 35 N. Pennsylvania St., where young Howard Caldwell was captivated by a movie, which was followed by a stage show.

Although Loew's Palace is long gone, its essence is recaptured in a new book by Howard, who became a familiar face - and often was described as "Indiana’s Walter Cronkite" - during his long career at WRTV-Channel 6. His book, The Golden Age of Indianapolis Theaters (IU Press), not only explores the city's majestic theaters, many of them bygone or renovated for other uses, it also analyzes the Hoosier capital's theater-going heritage.

Howard will join Nelson in studio to delve into the colorful history that kicked off in September 1858 when the Metropolitan, the city's first theater, opened at 148 W. Washington St. with a seating capacity of more than 1,700. The Metropolitan later became known as the Park, then as the Capitol when it was a burlesque house as it declined before closing in the 1930s.

Almost from the start, there was controversy. Some shows at "the Met" featured dancing, which, as Howard points out, "was not tolerated by Methodists, Presbyterians or Baptists" during the 1850s. And many church groups here frowned on theater-going in general.

In the 1860s, famous actors who performed at "the Met" included none other than John Wilkes Booth. As Howard notes, his final performance in Indy was in 1863, a mere two years before he assassinated President Lincoln.

The city's second theater, the Grand Opera House, opened in 1875 and eventually became known for vaudeville. In the 1880s, the lavish English Theater and Opera House on Monument Circle vaulted theater-going to a new level. In 1902, a production at the English of Lew Wallace's Ben-Hur featured "eight horses pulling two chariots on treadmills, powered by electricity," creating a sensation. As Howard notes in his book, performers who came to the Hoosier capital included W.C. Fields and escape artist Harry Houdini (both appeared at the Grand) and Ethel and John Barrymore at the English.

Alas, only four of the grand historic theaters downtown survive:

• Circle Theatre (now called Hilbert Circle Theatre), which opened in 1916.
• The Murat, which opened in 1910 with a revolving stage considered a national innovation.
• Walker Theatre, which was planned by entrepreneur Madam Walker and opened in the 1920s after her death. She had dreamed of a theater for African-Americans, who were denied admittance at some theaters or required at others to sit in balconies at the back.
• The Indiana Theater, a former movie palace that today is the home of the Indiana Repertory Theatre.

Howard and Nelson will explore those, as well as the theaters that did not survive, such as Loew's Palace and the Lyric on North Illinois Street, which presented three vaudeville shows a day when it opened in 1912. Some fun facts:

• The first presentation of a film in Indy occurred in 1896 at the Park (the Met had been renamed by this point), according to Howard's book. The film was a farce called "A Railroad Ticket."
• In the 1800s, auditoriums and lobbies for most theaters here were on upper floors of the buildings. The ground level typically was used for retail or offices.
• Although Howard will be forever associated with broadcasting - he was the anchor on WRTV's Evening News for its debut in 1959 and has been inducted into the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame - his accomplishments as an author go beyond his new book about theaters. He also is the author of Tony Hinkle: Coach for All Seasons (IU Press, 1991).

History Mystery question

In 1938, a new movie theater opened in Indianapolis, but not downtown. The first film shown in it was College Swing, starring Bob Hope.

The new movie theater became one of the city's first to be air conditioned. For decades, it was considered among the city's finest movie theaters, but by the early 1970s it had declined and even was showing adult movies, some rated X.

Then a major restoration in the late 1970s gave the theater a new life as a nightclub and concert venue that continues to this day. Long lines under the theater's marquee are a common sight as patrons wait to enter or buy concert tickets.

Question: Name the Indianapolis theater that fits this description.

The call-in number for the correct answer is (317) 788-3314, and the prize is four tickets to downtown Indy's newest attraction, the Rhythm Discovery Center at Illinois and Washington Streets, courtesy of the ICVA.

Roadtripper

Chris Gahl of the ICVA suggests that we stroll down memory lane to check out the Heartland Film Festival's premiere of the major motion picture Flipped (see a preview) on Monday, Aug. 2, at Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis.

Hollywood director, writer and producer Rob Reiner will attend the premiere, along with the movie's stars Anthony Edwards, John Mahoney and Penelope Ann Miller.

The movie Flipped is the latest addition to Reiner's directorial credits, joining such memorable films as Stand by Me, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men and The Bucket List. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the screening beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets for reserved seating will be available in advance for $25 each.

Aug. 7 show

2008 presidential election shift in Indiana

Whether you applaud the outcomes or bemoan them, there's no question the 2008 election cycle made Hoosier history. Our atypical recent turn as a "swing state" included a fierce battle among Democrats during their first truly significant presidential primary in Indiana in 40 years.

Next came a historic break from a tradition that stretched back even farther, with a majority of Hoosiers voting for a Democratic presidential candidate for the first time since 1964.

At the epicenter of all this was political commando Kip Tew, who headed Barack Obama's campaigns in Indiana. A partner with  the Indianapolis law firm of Krieg DeVault LLP, Kip will join Nelson in studio to share behind-the-scenes details from the razor-close primary against Hillary Clinton - which involved a split among Democrats in the state that Kip describes as "difficult and joyless" in his new book Journey to Blue (Hawthorne Publishing) - to a presidential campaign that involved TV journalist Jane Pauley, rallies in traditionally Republican strongholds such as Plainfield, and a whirlwind that changed lives, Kip's among them.

A Fort Wayne native who graduated from North Central High School in Indianapolis and IU, Kip is a former state chairman as well as Marion County chairman for the Democratic Party. He will be the latest in a parade of well-known Hoosier politicos of both parties who have joined Nelson to explore the dynamics - including shifts, curves, upsets and historic firsts - of Indiana's political landscape.

What's new with Hoosier History Live!

We welcome new sponsor Broad Ripple Brew Pub!

Our still-new Facebook page is yet another interactive opportunity for history aficionados to learn and share tidbits about Indiana's past. Check us out!

Please tell our sponsors that you appreciate their support of the program; we can't do it without our sponsors and our individual donors. Thanks also especially to the Indiana Humanities Council for serving as our 501 (c) 3.

Many people believe that we are funded by the University of Indianapolis. We are very grateful to radio station WICR 88.7 FM for carrying our program. And WICR is owned by UIndy. However, we receive no funding from the university; we are a consortium of journalists, historians and professionals who work together to produce this program. We rely completely on sponsors, grants and donations to support the program. We hope to receive adequate funding to be able to audio-archive (our current #1 wish-list item) all of our shows.

Stay tuned, or visit our "Support the show" page. We believe that Internet distribution will be our fiscal salvation.

Actions speak louder than words! We know that you like the show, but we do need financial support.

Shows, we got shows

We have more than 100 Hoosier History Live! radio shows completed, as a matter of fact. And we need to get show audio onto the website, which we are doing by and by, but we sure could use some sponsorship assistance as we edit and publish audio for each archived show. Take a look at the list below and check out all the opportunities for sponsoring a slice of original Hoosier History Live! content on the Web.

No one else is doing anything quite like what we're doing. We are the nation's only live call-in radio program about history. We offer a permanent and growing archive of quality content, available for sponsorship opportunities.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of Hoosier History Live!, click here or call Molly Head at (317) 927-9101 for more info.

Greetings from your host and producer

Your friends in “Hoosierdom,” Host and Creative Director Nelson Price and Producer and Development Director Molly Head at the Indiana Living Legends Gala, July 18, 2008 at the Indiana History Center

Curious ... about all things Hoosier? The Indiana Humanities Council blog, Hoosierati discusses how our heritage shapes the Hoosier state.

What people are saying about Hoosier History Live!

"Hoosier History Live! is a perfect place to consider and reconsider history ... not just what happened in the past, but what it may mean in the present. Nelson Price is the perfect host: enthusiastic, curious, and knowledgeable. Tune in to Hoosier History Live! and be prepared to be surprised."

James Still, playwright in residence, Indiana Repertory Theatre

"Nelson Price, more than anyone I know, infuses joy into the pursuit of history.  And that joy rings out loud and clear on the radio show, Hoosier History Live!"

Marsh Davis
President, Indiana Landmarks

"Nelson Price and his producer, Molly Head, put their hearts into everything they do. It's refreshing to hear a show that is so down-to-earth, informative and entertaining.  I have to hold my radio up to a window to hear it, but it's worth it!"

Glynis Worley, rural Bartholomew County listener

"No, I haven't heard of another call-in talk radio show about history. Our airwaves are now full of the worst vitriol! Give me the phone number for the show. I want to call in!"

Ken Burns, speaking at a preview of his film “The War” at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, April 18, 2007

"Distilling life experience into stories is an art. Telling stories of life experience for Hoosiers past and present will shape the lives of young people and enrich the lives of all in our state. Mr. Nelson Price brings alive the life experience of notable Hoosiers in Hoosier History Live!"

David T. Wong, Ph.D., President
DT Wong Consulting, LLC
Former Lilly research scientist who developed Prozac

"Hoosier History Live! is a fantastic opportunity for people to not only learn about history, but also become a part of the conversation. Much like our mission, the telling of Indiana's stories through Nelson and his guests wonderfully connects people to the past!"

John Herbst
President and CEO, Indiana Historical Society

Join our listening group at Bookmama's

Join the Bookmama's Hoosier History Chats at Bookmama's, 9 S. Johnson Ave. in Indy's Irvington neighborhood, every Saturday at 11:30 a.m. to listen to the show and discuss. Your host is Kathleen Angelone, owner of the independent bookshop. Grab a cup of coffee from across the street at Lazy Daze. Now is the time for Eastsiders to get into a heated discussion about history!