Not just surviving, but thriving
By BRANDON A. PERRY
This year the Indianapolis community is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Madame Walker Theatre Center, which has been recognized nationally as a key venue for the celebration of African-American culture and achievement.
Executives of the facility have held special events to celebrate its rich legacy and honor Madam C.J. Walker, the entrepreneur whose vision made it a reality.
“We’re absolutely excited about the 80th anniversary,” said Cynthia Bates, president of the Madame Walker Theatre Center. “It has truly served as an icon in our community and it remains unique as an existing historical venue built by an African-American woman.
Located in the historical Indiana Avenue Culture District at the intersections of Indiana Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Street, the four-story 48,000 square foot facility is a home to a popular 935-seat theater known for its African motif, the elegant Grand Casino Ballroom for private gatherings and office space used by local business and non-profit organizations.
Walker, the building’s namesake, was a Louisiana native who went from picking cotton as a youth to becoming the nation’s first self-made female millionaire after establishing a firm that manufactured hair products and cosmetics.
She moved the enterprise to Indianapolis in 1910 and sought ways to contribute to her new community. It was her vision to establish a thriving venue that could house a restaurant, a nightclub, offices and a cultural center all at the same time.
Walker’s death in 1919 prevented her from seeing the dedication of the Walker Theatre in December 1927. Since that time however, the building has lived up to her legacy by upholding the creativity and achievements of African-Americans, from the height of the Indiana Avenue jazz scene in the 1930s and ‘40s to the diverse offerings of entertainment today.
For Wilma Moore, senior archivist of African-American history at the Indiana Historical Society, it is appropriate that the building is included on the National Register of Historic Places and is listed as an Indiana Historical Landmark.
“The Madame Walker Theatre Center is a historical icon that speaks to the significance of Madam Walker’s time in Indianapolis, and her place in history,” Moore said. “The endurance of Walker’s legacy as signified by her building suggests how a person’s hopes and desires, funneled by hard work can be rewarded.”
Moore added that the facility is also a significant reminder of Walker’s accomplishments during a period of racial uplift and serves as a “source of pride” for the city’s African-American community.
“Whenever I drive past the building I think about how beautiful it is,” said Moore. “It was built and designed very well.”
Since its renaissance in the late 1980s, the Walker Theatre Center has hosted numerous performances, book signings and lectures by prominent national figures and other events. Many individuals have also chosen the prestigious option of renting areas of the facility for private events such as wedding receptions.
The center also has a set of year round monthly series including Jazz on the Avenue, Steppin’ On the Avenue (which celebrates Black dance forms), the Writer’s Symposium, the Walker Film Series, Youth in Arts and others.
A major goal of Walker executives today is to broaden the center’s appeal by offering events that cater to younger audiences.
“The center has become very proactive in building new programs and events that appeal to a younger audience,” Bates said. “We realize the majority of our loyal patrons are age 50 and older, so we are looking to develop experiences that appeal to the next generation arts patrons.”
Examples of these experiences include a recent visit and workshop by tap dancer Savion Glover and Laughin’ on the Avenue, a monthly showcase of national comedians who get “crazy crunk” on the Walker stage.
Bates recently announced that the center will expand its partnership with the city’s growing faith community by offering the Gospel On the Avenue series, which will be hosted by DJ Thomas Griffin and feature a gospel artist each month. The first event, featuring the Gospel Gangstaz, will take place on Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.
“It’s been a desire of mine to see a gospel series launched,” Bates said. “This program will allow us to provide an ongoing platform for local artists launching their careers.”
For more information about the Madame Walker Theatre Center and a listing of events, log on to www.walkertheatre.com or call (317) 236-2099.
