Indiana Avenue

Indiana Avenue – Indiana Avenue is a diagonal road that stretched Northwest from the intersection of Illinois and Ohio Street to Lockfield Gardens, a New Deal housing project primarily inhabited by blacks. During the 1940s and 1950s, the Avenue not only was the center for black cultural events in general, but it hosted one of the liveliest jazz scenes in the country. Among the Avenue’s many jazz clubs (mainly on the 400 and 500 blocks) were the Cotton Club, Trianon Ballroom, Sunset Terrace, George’s Bar, Henri’s, the Red Keg, the Red Rooster, the Ritz Lounge, the Sky Club (after hours), “Dee” Paradise, the Rainbow Palm Gardens, the Mitchelyn, and Danny’s Dreamland. Jazz was also performed at the Indiana Roof, the English Theatre, and the circle Theatre. Other hot spots nearby were the Missile Room (after hours) on West Street and the Pink Poodle on Capitol Avenue. Up and down the Avenue, countless local jazz musicians honed their craft and learned from their peers and travelling musicians. Among the many local talents who played in the clubs were guitarists Wes Montgomery, Paul Weeden, and Floyd Smith; bassists Monk Montgomery, Larry Ridley, and Leroy Vinnegar; pianists Buddy Montgomery, Errol Grandy, Lanny Hartley, and Melvin Rhyne; drummers “Killer Ray” Appleton, Sonny Johnson, Earl “Fox” Walker, Benny Barth, and Dick Dickinson; saxophonists Jimmy Spaulding, David Young, Jimmy Coe, Pookie Johnson, Russell Webster, Charles Tyler, and Les “Bear” Taylor; trumpet players Freddie Hubbard, Virgil Jones, and Maceo Hampton; and trombonists J.J. Johnson, David Baker, and Slide Hampton. In addition, one could hear nationally known bands led by the following: Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, Cab Calloway, Lionel Hampton, Billy Eckstein, Lucky Millinder, and Erstine Hawkins. Featured performers such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, Illinois Jacquet, and Sarah Vaughn also performed on the Avenue. The only landmark still in operation from the Indiana Avenue’s zenith is the Madame Walker Theatre.