Life in Indy -- 1955 -- (Just a Start)
My mother was quite popular back in high school at St. Agnes Academy in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her girlfriends admired her poise and seriousness and compassion. She brooked no dissension amongst them and they loved her for it. It seemed effortless, but Mom had a sadness about her that drew people in and kept them at a distance at the same time. She was very pretty except for a slightly oversize nose, makeup always perfect. Tall and shy, she sometimes walked into things in the street on her way to and from school, her nose in a book and mind deep in thought. She hated the too hot Indiana summers, finding solace and air conditioning in movie theaters, the only place to get out of the July and August heat. Escape from the flatness, the boringness of the Midwest was foremost on her mind as a teenager. "I'll marry the first man I love" she sometimes thought.
In 1955 she was dating the boy next door. Literally. Their second floor bedroom windows were perfectly aligned, so that the young man could call, point through the window to her, and Mom would pick up the phone before it even rang. They would talk for a while, about nothing much, excited to be getting away with something under their parents noses but not sharing any real secrets. The relationship was immature, and that was fine with mom, who did not love this boy or any of the other Indiana kids she dated. She was looking for more, and to get out of that fucking state.
One of her favorite things to do as a girl was attend basketball sectionals at Hinkle Fieldhouse, on Butler University's lovely campus just a few miles from her home on Crittenden. All Indiana folks loved and lived for the state basketball tournament come springtime, and she was no different. Her father, my Grandfather, knew the names of every player on every school in the city. When his girls were small Grandpa would drag all them, and baby Jerry, to all sorts of games. Eventually the three sisters even grew to enjoy attending, though they didn't know most of the rules and were thus unable to follow much of the action on the court/rink/diamond. Simply being with their father as he enjoyed himself was enough. My Grandparents didn't have a television set in 1955. It was only when Grandpa found out that he could watch televised sports that they broke down and bought one
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Oscar Robertson went to an all black high school, back when few questioned why African-Americans and whites shouldn't attend the same schools. He grew up poor and angry in the inner city of Indianapolis. Oscar played basketball desperately, fiercely, and all alone when he was on the floor. A killer of a player but not a good teammate, he led Crispus Attucks High to consecutive state titles and an undefeated season in his senior year. The brilliance of his game and the orneriness of his personality would forever confuse and fascinate the masses, both in the media and public.
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David Letterman grew up in a happy household in the Broad Ripple section of Indy, in a home where his father and mother were a bit overwhelmed by life and its burdens but forever striving to provide their only child with all he needed. They loved him completely, unconditionally, though maybe too much. Dave's father would come home from work at 5:30 and slump heavily into his favorite chair, another day complete. Another to come tomorrow. His Mom would cook and bake endlessly, almost obsessively, and would keep tabs, lightly, on young David throughout the day when he was not in school. Even in elementary school, young David was popular and funny. He had figured out early how to get people to like him.
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In 1955 Bill Haley and the Comets released "Rock Around the Clock", the first radio hit rock and roll song. James Dean's first two movies arrived: "Rebel Without A Cause" and "East of Eden." "Mister Roberts", a WWII comedy masterpiece, came out. J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" was published, the trilogy complete.
In sports, the Brooklyn Dodgers finally, finally beat the Yanks in the World Series, their first and only title in Flatbush. Bill Russell led the University of San Francisco to the first of consecutive national men's basketball championships, and the greatest winner in sports history was off and running. The University of Kansas Allen Fieldhouse was opened. And the Browns won the NFL title, believe it or not.
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That was a long time ago, but really, in some ways, not so long.
In 1955 she was dating the boy next door. Literally. Their second floor bedroom windows were perfectly aligned, so that the young man could call, point through the window to her, and Mom would pick up the phone before it even rang. They would talk for a while, about nothing much, excited to be getting away with something under their parents noses but not sharing any real secrets. The relationship was immature, and that was fine with mom, who did not love this boy or any of the other Indiana kids she dated. She was looking for more, and to get out of that fucking state.
One of her favorite things to do as a girl was attend basketball sectionals at Hinkle Fieldhouse, on Butler University's lovely campus just a few miles from her home on Crittenden. All Indiana folks loved and lived for the state basketball tournament come springtime, and she was no different. Her father, my Grandfather, knew the names of every player on every school in the city. When his girls were small Grandpa would drag all them, and baby Jerry, to all sorts of games. Eventually the three sisters even grew to enjoy attending, though they didn't know most of the rules and were thus unable to follow much of the action on the court/rink/diamond. Simply being with their father as he enjoyed himself was enough. My Grandparents didn't have a television set in 1955. It was only when Grandpa found out that he could watch televised sports that they broke down and bought one
===========
Oscar Robertson went to an all black high school, back when few questioned why African-Americans and whites shouldn't attend the same schools. He grew up poor and angry in the inner city of Indianapolis. Oscar played basketball desperately, fiercely, and all alone when he was on the floor. A killer of a player but not a good teammate, he led Crispus Attucks High to consecutive state titles and an undefeated season in his senior year. The brilliance of his game and the orneriness of his personality would forever confuse and fascinate the masses, both in the media and public.
===========
David Letterman grew up in a happy household in the Broad Ripple section of Indy, in a home where his father and mother were a bit overwhelmed by life and its burdens but forever striving to provide their only child with all he needed. They loved him completely, unconditionally, though maybe too much. Dave's father would come home from work at 5:30 and slump heavily into his favorite chair, another day complete. Another to come tomorrow. His Mom would cook and bake endlessly, almost obsessively, and would keep tabs, lightly, on young David throughout the day when he was not in school. Even in elementary school, young David was popular and funny. He had figured out early how to get people to like him.
===========
In 1955 Bill Haley and the Comets released "Rock Around the Clock", the first radio hit rock and roll song. James Dean's first two movies arrived: "Rebel Without A Cause" and "East of Eden." "Mister Roberts", a WWII comedy masterpiece, came out. J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" was published, the trilogy complete.
In sports, the Brooklyn Dodgers finally, finally beat the Yanks in the World Series, their first and only title in Flatbush. Bill Russell led the University of San Francisco to the first of consecutive national men's basketball championships, and the greatest winner in sports history was off and running. The University of Kansas Allen Fieldhouse was opened. And the Browns won the NFL title, believe it or not.
===========
That was a long time ago, but really, in some ways, not so long.
posted by joe sweeney at 9:16 AM
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