Thomas Edison, inventor of the phonograph and holder of many motion picture patents, was opinionated about talking pictures. He, of all people, was against them. He had a valid personal reason: he was profoundly deaf. He also believed silent films provided a quiet, relaxing diversion; he felt talking pictures would drive away audiences. An editorial in The Evansville Journal (May 25, 1926) seemed to agree, calling silent movies “a good antidote for radio. When we have speaking films and visible radio, where shall we flee for relaxation and change?”
Where, indeed? We ask this 98 years later in a society constantly bombarded by a deluge of entertainment, information, opinions, breaking news, music, and noise. We’re never far from them. They are as close as our cellphones, as handy as the flatscreens on our walls, available 24/7. In 1926 radio was not yet in everybody’s homes and movies still needed subtitles,
son: “He’s right. The audience likes to do the talking.”
In 1926 the media of the day, mainly newspapers and magazines ‒ generated talk about talking movies. A surprising number of editorials were against them, favoring silent movies for their quiet relaxation. How would “Latin lovers” like Ricardo Cortez (born Jacob Krantz to Austrian-Jewish parents in New York City) manage transition to sound? Actually, he enjoyed a long career and was one of the better early Perry Masons in films.
but that Journal editorial’s prediction was uncannily prescient.
In response to Edison’s prediction that talking movies would never be successful, the editorial writer at The Evansville Press (June 4, 1926) agreed for a different rea-
A small notice appeared in The Evansville Courier (Sept. 17, 1926) that most readers may have overlooked but proves that the brothers Warner were serious about talking pictures. They were negotiating to install Vitaphone talking-picture equipment in 20 movie houses, a full year before The Jazz Singer made film history. In October 1926 Courier cartoonist and entertainment writer Karl Kae Knecht and his wife were in Chicago where
Big hats were still in style when this photo was taken of Patsy Ruth Miller in the early 1920s. She was born in St. Louis but had ties with Evansville. Her aunt was Mrs. John Daussman. (Photo from author's collection)
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The MaturityJournal is a monthly publication designed to inform and entertain mature citizens in Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties. The magazine was founded in 1986 by George Earle Eaton with the intention of serving (in his words) “those old enough to know they don’t have all the answers, and young enough to still be searching for them.”
STAFF
Publisher/Editor Ron Eaton
Business Manager Suzy Eaton
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Editor-in-Chief (in memoriam) George Earle Eaton
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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they saw and heard Vitaphone for the first time. Knecht wrote that it was “the latest and most perfect of any and all the attempts to bring voice and sound to the movies.”
Karl and Mrs. K. saw and heard Hoosier movie-morals czar Will Hayes on film, speaking “in a clear, non-mechanical but natural voice, his every utterance being timed exactly on the record with the projection of the picture.” A performance by the New York Philharmonic orchestra followed, along with some operatic selections, and then the showing of John Barrymore in Don Juan with Vitaphone music but no dialogue.
Vitaphone wasn’t the only sound system in Hollywood. Fox studio was experimenting with sound pictures using Movietone. Unlike Vitaphone, which used sound on disk, Movietone recorded sound on film, and eventually the
film industry would adopt sound on film universally. But during the five-year period when movies transitioned from silents to talkies, a number of sound systems were available: Bristol-Phone of Bristol Machine Works, Norwich, Connecticut, sound on disk; Kinographone, sound on film, a product of General Electric; Phonofilm, a product of DeForest Phonofilm Corp. of New York, sound on film; Vocafilm, sound-on-disk, used in the early talkie period by Educational Pictures.
The first Evansville theater to be wired for sound was Loew’s Victory at Main and Sixth Streets, managed (and financed) by the Loew’s chain of movie theaters. The Evansville Press reported that the Victory was “believed to be the first house on the Loew circuit to be inspected with the idea of using it for talking motion pictures.” Some $45,000 went toward sounding devices, radio equipment, new motion picture machines and synchronization apparatus. The Victory went dark for a few weeks while engineers from Electrical Research Products, a Western Electric subsidiary, closely scrutinized the theater, took measurements and soundings, and judged the auditorium’s acoustics, adding a special booth for the Vitaphone equipment. As this was going on, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount, and United Artists announced plans to produce “synchronized pictures exclusively.” In other words, silent pictures were dying.
The Victory reopened Sunday, Sept. 30, 1928, with the 30to-50% talkie Tenderloin, starring Conrad Nagel and Dolores Costello (wife of John Barrymore and grandmother of Drew). The following week’s program was the
Continued page 4
epic aviation drama Wings with Charles “Buddy” Rogers and Clara Bow. Filmed as a silent, the Victory showed it with sound effects added. Wings would win the first Academy Award for Best Picture in 1929. It was the last film from the silent period to be so honored.
In February 1929 the New Grand (Sycamore St. between Second and Third), featured live vaudeville headlined by movie star Betty Blythe, whose parents grew up in Evansville but moved away before she was born. Also on the bill was the comedy team of George Burns and Gracie Allen doing their “Lamb Chops” routine, which they repeated as a movie short and later on their TV series. The final days for vaudeville were at hand at the Grand. After the Photophone sound system was installed (not to be confused with the Phototone), the Grand reopened Saturday, March 16, with Al Jolson
in The Singing Fool, an all-talking picture along with a newsreel with sound effects.
On December 9, 1928 the American, at Main and Seventh, had installed the non-synchronized Phototone sound on disk system that required two sound technicians to operate. On May 2, 1929, under new management, the theater opened with a new electric sign and frontage and the more reliable Vitaphone. The film was In Old Arizona, considered the first outdoor talking picture, with Warner Baxter, who would win an Academy Award in 1930.
January 10, 1930 saw the opening of the first neighborhood theater to get talkies, the Alhambra at 52 Adams Ave. The Fall of Eve starred Patsy Ruth Miller, who lived in Evansville briefly before going to Hollywood; she was a niece of Mrs.
Continued page 6
Tenderloin was only 30-to-50% talkie when it played at Loew's Victory, but it was a turning point anyway, the start of Evansville's theaters easing away from silent movies permanently, a process that took five years.
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John Daussman. The Alhambra, as would most of the neighborhood theaters, used the DeForest Phonofilm system. Eight days later the feature film Why Leave Home with Sue Carol and David Rollins opened with the first talking serial in Evansville, Ace of Scotland Yard, and a sound cartoon, which wasn’t identified.
Columbia, at Fulton and Columbia, and Franklin, at 1013 W. Franklin, were considered twin theaters because they were owned by the Fine Brothers. They both closed for installation of sound equipment and opened on Wednesday, April 30, 1930. For the first two days, both showed Red Hot Rhythm starring Josephine Dunn and Alan Hale (father of the Skipper on Gilligan’s Island). On Friday and Saturday, May 2-3, they split the filmfare: Columbia presented The Racketeer with Robert Armstrong and Carole Lombard and Franklin showed another film featuring Lombard, High Voltage, which also featured William “future Hopalong Cassidy” Boyd.
On May 4, 1930, Rosedale at 1352 Division St., opened with the notice “all future pictures will be shown with sound.” The first: Joan Crawford in Untamed.
June 14, 1930, Rudy Stieler reopened the Royal Theater at 703 E. Walnut, newly equipped with Phototone’s Talkofilm, with the talkie They Had to See Paris with Will Rogers and Fifi D’Orsay.
The Fine Brothers purchased the Woodlawn at 1011 N. Main and closed it for remodeling and installing DeForest sound. They reopened on August 1, 1930 with the talkie, Lovin’ the Ladies starring Richard Dix.
The last two theaters were wired for sound in 1931. The Majestic, 21 S.E. Fifth St., closed at the beginning of summer in 1929 and remained closed until August 6, 1931. In the interim it came under new management (by the Loew’s theater chain) and underwent extensive remodeling, installing 1,000 new seats, new lighting effects, sound equipment, new floor in the auditorium, new frontage, new sign, and upgraded restrooms. It reopened with the film Smart Money with James Cagney. The Ohio, at 19 Main St., showed one of its last silent films, Tearin’ Loose on Sunday, October 11, before closing for a week to install sound. The first talkie at the Ohio was a George O’Brien Western called The Last of the Duanes MJ
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As many of you probably know, the new Nellie’s restaurant has opened on North First Ave., and we welcome them to the neighborhood. We are also excited to announce that the Maturity Journal will be available in the entryway for those who wish to pick one up each month.
The man who doesn’t read good books is no better than a man who can’t read them.
Hometown History
Presented
by the Vanderburgh County Historical Society
The Dixie B
by Joe Engler, Webmaster/founder HistoricEvansville.com
With the popularity of the automobile in the early 1900s, auto trails started popping up. They were marked routes to help guide travelers and were the forerunners of today's state highways. Oftentimes, these auto trails had a badge or colored band that was posted on utility poles along the route. Before
the days of cell phone navigation, guidebooks and sometimes newspaper articles would also spell out the directions "turn left" or "continue three miles."
Auto clubs or other private organizations were formed to promote these roads. All of a sudden, there was a race to create faster and safer
travel. While the auto trails helped spur road improvements such as paving and more direct routes, they were truly designed for tourism and to bring visitors to the towns they passed through. In the same way that railroads put towns on the map and being excluded could seal a town's fate, the same could be
Antique sign for the Dixie Bee Line Ferry located inside the Log Inn in Warrenton
Dixie Bee Line
The Dixie Highway was one of the early transcontinental auto trails to connect Chicago to Miami. In April 1915, the Dixie Highway commission selected major cities like Indianapolis and Louisville, on its way south to Nashville. However, that dogleg completely bypassed Evansville.
The first reference to the Dixie Bee Line, or sometimes Dixie B, first appears on June 1, 1915. It was so named because it was a beeline, a quicker or more direct path. Proponents touted that the route would cut at least 100 miles off the Dixie Highway.
The Dixie Bee Line Highway Association was established, and several planning meetings were held culminating in a convention on June 24, 1915, at the Vendome. A city-wide reception welcomed representatives from the interested counties, and, of course, Mayor Benjamin Bosse had a hand in things. As chairman of the committee, he personally gave the delegates a tour of the city. The biggest contention was between an easterly (Guthrie, Pembroke) and westerly route (Clarksville, Tenn.), but nothing would be decided immediately.
On November 4, 1915, the official route was finalized after another heated meeting. The Dixie Bee Line
would head into Evansville from Warrenton via the Old State Road. It connected to Stringtown Road in the Mechanicsville/Stringtown area and then crossed Pigeon Creek. The route continued along Governor St. to Virginia St. to First Ave. It headed west along Franklin St. to St. Joseph Ave. and then from Pennsylvania St. to Barker Ave. and on into Howell. From there, the Dixie Bee went past the train yards following Old Henderson Road all the way to the ferry. Situated across from the city, the Henderson Ferry Co. would reincorporate as the Dixie Bee Line Ferry Co., carrying cars across the Ohio River into Kentucky.
Welcoming Community
Stone markers for the Dixie Bee subdivision at Maxwell Ave and Morton Ave. Another set exists at Stringtown Rd and Reis Ave.
The larger route south would go from Henderson and roughly follow Alt US-41 to Madisonville. It continued closely along US-41 to Hopkinsville and merged with the Dixie Highway in Springfield, Tenn.
To the north, the Dixie Bee Line connected to Princeton, Vincennes, Terre Haute, and Clinton along US41. It continued roughly along IN-63 until it turned west, crossed into Illinois, and joined with the main highway in Danville, Ill.
New Dixie B Line
By late 1922, a more direct route through Evansville was proposed. The easterly section was touted as a way to shave more time for travelers heading to Florida. A big part of the New Dixie Bee Line was the promise of a new Ohio River bridge. It was approved in 1923, and a push was underway to purchase the right of way for construction.
From the north, the new route straightened the path from Old State Road and came into town approximately along where the present-day US-41 stands It entered Evansville on Willow Rd. and took a sharp right angle turn by Oak Hill Cemetery. It followed Columbia St., Fares Ave., and Canal St. to Kentucky Ave. It continued south past Dade Park (Ellis Park) to a bridge that wasn’t yet completed. In the interim, the new Florida
Now Accepting New Patients!
Cities to Battle for Dixie Bee Line In Big Convention Today (Knecht sketch from Evansville Courier Jun 24, 1915)
Short Route Ferry Co. would carry the traffic across the Ohio. The new Indiana-Kentucky bridge was dedicated July 4, 1932, and ferry operations ceased soon after. In the century since, the Dixie Bee Highway has largely disappeared from local history. The Dixie B was officially adopted by the National Highway System in 1926. The bulk of the highway was co-opted into US-41, especially in the Evansville area. The Fares Ave. Bypass was constructed in the late 1930s, and when the highway was rerouted in 1972 the older route became known as Business 41.
An old marker placed near the original Stringtown Bridge over Pigeon Creek crumbled beyond repair in 1982, and the historic metal Dixie Bee Bridge over US-41 was badly damaged in 2020 when it was hit by a truck and was torn down the next year. About the only vestige of the old highway is the old
Dixie Bee subdivision. Way back in October 1915, it was platted along the original route capitalizing on its access to the new highway. Stone columns flanking the entrances are still standing today.
Yet the highway’s influence may be its lasting legacy, and it is fair to say that the Dixie Bee put Evansville on the map!
To view more, including a current map overlayed with the historic Dixie Bee Line, check out https://historicevansville.com/ country_roads.php#dixiebee MJ
Every passing moment is another chance to turn it all around
G RANDVIEW T OWER
Leasing!
or older or
• Handicapped Accessible
• Views of City from Every Balcony
• Access to Park
• No Pets (assistance animals only)
• On-Site Parking
• On Bus Route
• Security Cameras
• Total Electric
• No Application Fees
• On-Site Management & Maintenance
• Secure Entrance
• Community Room
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• SWIRCA Meals • Laundry Room
Out of all of the perfect scores, Tim Breivogel of Evansville was selected as our July winner. Tim has won 2 Buffets & 2 Drinks.
Locally owned by Rick Riddle
July Questions
HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS
What highway stretches from San Francisco to New York City?
I-40 (B) I-70 (C) I-80 (D) I-90
RACK 'EM
Of the 10 balls on the table in a game of 9-Ball, how many are striped?
(A) 1 (B) 4 (C) 8 (D) 12
ABOUT FACE
Which of these faces is NOT on Mt. Rushmore?
(A) Teddy Roosevelt (B) George Washington (C) Thomas Jefferson (D) Franklin Roosevelt
HIT SONGS
"Judy's Turn to Cry" was the response to what earlier Leslie Gore song?
(A) I Will Survive (B) It's My Party (C) Be My Baby (D) Stand by Me
COMEDY TEAMS
In the '50s, what team met The Mummy. Frankenstein and The Invisible Man in their movies?
(A) Martin & Lewis
(B) Laurel & Hardy
(C) Abbott & Costello (D) Cheech & Chong
online at
NewburghRemembered
Presented By
Among the collections contained in the Newburgh Museum is the Civil War correspondence of Tennessean James W. Morrow to his wife, Susan. This significant collection of 26 letters was generously donated by Newburgh resident John Ellis, one of Susan’s descendents. Susan, herself, became a resident of Warrick County as a direct result of the War.
The letters convey James as a simple, yet devoted husband and father who is striving, but struggling, to provide for his little family. While his legible penmanship suggests he has received some schooling, it is evident that this education was limited as his spelling and grammar are often wrong and inconsistent. Still, his heartfelt and sincere words reveal a tender soul who is in anguish from being absent from his wife and infant son, George.
Letters Home
“In Hopes of Better Days” – Part 1 of 4
by Ryan Rokicki
The first letter in the collection was written from Gayoso, Missouri in 1861, where James was working and living in a boarding house. Although the first four of eleven southern states had already seceded by the time James takes up his pen, he makes no reference to the impending conflict that will soon impact his life. The letter is presented here with minimal corrections to maintain authenticity.
Gayoso, Mo.
January the 17th 1861 Deare Wife, i take the present operchunity to wright you a fue lines to let you no that i am well at present and hoaping that [these] fue lines may find you enjoying the same like Blessing. don’t think my deare wiffe that i have forgot you and my deare Baby. deare i have not done much work in the last three days from the fact that my Bordsis (the proprietor of the boarding house) wiffe dide last night. She had a Baby last Friday night week and has Bin geting
worse ever cince, till last night she dide. deare i think you wold like to live heare for there is not a drop of whiskey in this town. deare i don’t no how long i will stay heare. But at iny rait i will Be heare three or fore months. i intend To com after you next sunday or tuesday. But if i don’t get ther then don’t Be uneasy i will Be there the next sunday sirten, if i live. i sent five dolars to you By Charley. i don’t no what arangments i will mak yet aBout liveing. though i think we will Borde out a while iney how. i can get Bord for Both for fore dolars per week. i am paying two per week.
Deare Wiffe, i do want to see you and gorgey mity Bad. But i am doing all i can for you. Deare you must live in hope, if you die in dispare, live in hops of Beter days, for there is a Beter day a coming. so nuthing more at present But that i remain your deare and afectonet husband untill deth.
Jas. W. Morrow
Back to School Back to Wellness
by Lisa Verkamp, Senior Strategic Engagement Director, YMCA
As the summer draws to a close and children prepare for the return to school, it’s the perfect time for older adults to adopt a similar mindset of renewal and routine. Just as students benefit from the structure of a school day, aging adults can reap significant rewards from establishing a wellness routine. Embracing a structured schedule can be transformative by enhancing physical health, mental clarity, and overall quality of life.
Physical Health
Engaging in activities like walking, swimming, or yoga can improve cardiovascular health, enhance flexibility, and build strength. Moreover, consistency in physical activity helps to maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, and improve balance, which is crucial in preventing falls.
Mental Clarity
Just as students sharpen their
minds with daily lessons, older adults can benefit from activities that stimulate cognitive function. Research has shown that engaging in mentally stimulating activities can slow the progression of cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia. Additionally, regular physical exercise has been linked to improved brain health, thanks to increased blood flow and the release of endorphins.
Emotional Well-being
A wellness routine also plays a vital role in emotional well-being. Establishing a routine provides a sense
of purpose and structure. Social activities, whether it's a fitness class, a book club, or volunteering, foster a sense of community and belonging.
Getting Started
As we transition from the leisurely days of summer to a more structured season, take inspiration from the back-toschool spirit. Begin by setting small, achievable goals. Incorporate a mix of physical, mental, and social activities that you enjoy. Remember, the key is consistency. Just as students benefit from a daily routine, so too will you find renewed energy, clarity, and joy from a well-structured wellness routine. Embrace this season of change as an opportunity to prioritize your health and well-being. By establishing and maintaining a wellness routine, you’re investing in a future filled with vitality and fulfillment. MJ
Submitted by Judy Stock, MJ reader
• Every time someone comes up with a foolproof solution, along comes a more talented fool.
• I’ll bet you $4,567 you can’t guess how much I owe my bookie.
• Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.
• If you keep both feet firmly planted on the ground, you’ll have trouble putting on your pants.
• When I married Miss Right, I had no idea her first name was Always.
• My wife got 8 out of 10 on her driver’s test ‒ the other 2 managed to jump out of the way.
• There may be no excuses for laziness, but I’m still looking.
• Women spend more time wondering what men are thinking than men spend thinking MJ
Picturing Our Past
by Hannah Thomason, Archivist at Willard Library
"It's fun to stay at the YMCA!" Evansville's first YMCA was established in 1857 by E.H. Sabin. Sabin left Evansville to serve as a chaplain and surgeon a few short years later during the Civil War. The organization he began disappeared in his absence but was revived in 1876. Pictured here is Evansville YMCA's building in the 1910s not long after opening in 1914 on the corner of 5th and Vine Streets. It offered residential, recreation, and meeting spaces. Today, the building has been repurposed into Central Lofts apartments. MJ
The Cooking Corner
By Jancey Smith
Kabobs for Dinner
Visit janceys.blogspot.com
A fun way to change up the nightly meal rotation is to have kabobs. It’s dinner on a stick that can be cooked in the oven or grilled outdoors. There are countless options, especially this time of year. We tend to keep it simple with chicken, peppers, onions and, sometimes, cherry tomatoes. Yes, a five-ingredient recipe that takes about 20 minutes to prep and 30 minutes to cook. The Italian dressing takes care of all the flavor for you, but Greek can be a fun option, too.
One of my tips is to cut and marinade the day before. It’s a quick 30 minutes of prep and then you
can move on. That makes assembly quick and easy when it’s time to cook. Tip number two when it comes to kabobs is to cook meat and veggies separately. I know they look pretty on a stick for presentation, but they tend to have different cooking times. For me, pretty just means frustrating.
Once you try this easy version of kabobs, it’ll be easy to try other goodies like zucchini, squash, and eggplant. Another fun option is pineapple, because cooking really brings out the sweetness of this fruit. Have some fun, experiment, and keep it easy. After all, it’s summer.
Airport in the Maldivies is located on an artificial island in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Fried Onion Burgers
Ingredients:
4-6 boneless skinless chicken breast
2 medium sweet onions
3 bell peppers, any color
1 pt. cherry tomatoes (or what needed)
1/2 bottle Italian dressing, divided (about 1/2 cup)
Directions:
1. Cut chicken into 1-inch chunks. Place in bowl. Add 1/4 cup Italian dressing and mix to coat. Cover and refrigerate an hour or up to overnight.
2. Wash and slice peppers and onions into 1-inch petals. Place in bowl. Add 1/4 cup Italian dressing and mix to coat. Cover and refrigerate an hour or overnight. (Note It is best if you don’t mix the chicken and dressing with the veggies and dressing.)
3. When ready to cook, soak skewers if wooden. Preheat oven or heat grill.
4. Layout two cookie sheets covered with foil. Skewer chicken pieces, not too crowded, and place on one sheet. Alternate vegetables on skewers and place on other pan.
For oven - Bake at 375. Start veggies first and cook for 10 minutes. Add chicken kabobs to oven and cook for 20 minutes more. Remove, test for doneness.
For grill - Over medium coals, start veggies and cook for 30 minutes. Cook chicken over indirect heat rotating often for about 20 minutes. Leftovers are good served over rice. Makes 4-6. Recipe easily adjusted. MJ
By Glenn A. Deig, Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation
Medicaid, a joint federal and state program, assists those requiring long-term care in nursing homes. In order to qualify for Medicaid to help pay for long-term care, one must meet strict financial eligibility requirements. Clients often ask if they can just “give away” assets to friends or family to qualify for Medicaid. Typically, any significant transfer of assets made within five years of a Medicaid application will result in penalties. In Indiana, a one-month penalty is imposed for each $7,635 (effective 7/1/2024; this figure changes on July 1 of each year) that has been gifted over the previous five-year period before applying for Medicaid. Medicaid will not pay for the nursing home during the penalty period. For instance, if an individual gave away $76,350 within the five-year period leading up to the Medicaid application, then there would be a 10-month penalty period ($76,350 divided by $7,635), during which Medicaid would not pay for nursing home care.
However, Indiana has specific provisions that protect families of disabled children, including disabled adult children. Under these provisions, transfers made to a disabled child, or to a trust established for their benefit, are exempt from the usual Medicaid penalty rules.
This exemption is crucial for families who wish to ensure that their disabled children are financially secure without jeopardizing Medicaid eligibility for other family members needing nursing home care. For instance, if parents transfer a portion, or all, of their assets directly to, or to a trust for their disabled child, these assets are not counted against them during the Medicaid application process. This provision allows parents to plan for their disabled child’s future while still preserving their own eligibility for Medicaid to help pay for long-term
Little-Known Medicaid Rule Allows Some Nursing Home Residents to Protect 100%
of Assets
care. To qualify for this exemption, the disabled child must meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability.
Families considering this approach should seek guidance from an experienced elder law attorney to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. Consideration should also be made to ensure that the disabled child’s benefits are not negatively affected by such planning. I have an asset protection team that focuses on helping clients qualify for Medicaid while protecting assets to the fullest extent of the law. Contact our office at 812423-1500 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
SEARCH PARTY
by Ron Eaton
In this letter grid you will find thirty words of at least 5 letters each. The words can be found by searching horizontally, vertically, or diagonally in any direction.
The thirty words can be divided into six groups of five related words. (Ex: planets, baseball teams, U.S. states) After you have found the thirty words, the unused letters, when read from left to right (top to bottom), will spell out five words of a seventh related group.
IF YOU NEED SOME HELP, turn the next page upside down to reveal the 6 categories for this Word Search.
Solution on page 23
Rhyme Tyme
(This is a fun quiz submitted years ago by former MJ writer Esther Dossett.)
Below are clues to challenge your perception. As an example, what rhyming words could you use to reply to the clue “fur furniture”. Answer – hair chair. Good luck & have fun!
1. Drenched Fido
2. Thicker serving plate
3. Ridiculous flower
4. Cantaloupe thief
5. Whale fat washer
6. Solitary fencepost
7. Highest quality nuisance
8. Indigo church bench
Solution on page 23
Search Party Hints
Turn this upside down if you want help solving the Search Party. Below you will find the 6 categories for this puzzle.
Hometown History Contest
Presented by Vickie
Fields, Special Collections Librarian, Willard Library
Study the photo below, answer the question relating to the photo, and you’re a potential winner! It’s that easy! Entries may be made by sending a note or card to the address below. Please include your address and telephone number. You can also enter online at: www.maturityjournal.com/contests. Entries must be received no later than the 17th of the month to be eligible, and only one entry per person will be allowed. The winner will receive a $25 gift card from Liberty Federal Credit Union.
Send your Hometown History Contest entries to: Maturity Journal
8077 Marywood Dr., Newburgh, IN 47630
SPONSORED BY:
Congratulations to LaVon Niehaus – Evansville who correctly identified The Bailey Bridges in our July issue. LaVon has won a $25 Master Card from Liberty Federal Credit Union.
In May, Mayor Terry announced that the city was in very early discussions with a private company regarding possible renovations of a beloved local venue. This venue opened on June 15, 1952 and closed in 2012 due to deterioration and lack of use. In it’s prime, it hosted such acts as Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne, BB King, Iron Maiden, ZZ Top, and so many more. In fact, there was once a wedding held there, right before a performance of the The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It was also used by local groups, and many local bands performed there. The venue held 8500 people, though only 5500 had actual seats. What many do not realize is that the venue we know and love is not its first iteration. The original construction featured a stage which resembled a castle and was much smaller than the current facility. This venue is missed, and if renovated it would be a welcome and appreciated addition to the city. MJ
Question: What local venue is this?
A Salute to Local Heroes
by Ron Eaton
With the 2024 Olympic Games fresh on our minds, there is no better time to reflect on a local culture that has served us well for over a century. As many of you know, several years ago I wrote two books about our impressive sports history here in southwest Indiana. The first one, Local Legends the Stories behind the Headlines, spanned 100 years of our history, and I continue to marvel at the passion for local sports and the athletes our area has produced, men and women who transcended local sports to make an impact nationally and even on a worldwide scale.
In 1934, Pete Fox became the first Evansville native to play in a baseball World Series, and another local man became a major character in one of the darkest days in professional history. Edd Roush began on the dusty fields of Gibson County and later became a popular member of the Cincinnati Reds. In 1919, Roush led the Reds to the World Series but what ensued gave the sport a black eye for many years. When the dust cleared, Edd Roush was the MVP and star of a Series that became known as the Black Sox Scandal when 8 members of the White Sox were caught throwing the
Series games for money.
Major League baseball was also blessed with another local boy when a Princeton-born man with huge hands became a beloved star. Gil Hodges grew up in Petersburg before finding his way to the Brooklyn Dodgers to play next to the great Jackie Robinson as he was breaking the color barrier. Later, Hodges managed the New York Mets and led them to the 1969 World Series title as the “Miracle Mets”. Local baseball history was also made in 1963 when the East Side Pony League team became the only local team to win a baseball World Series at any level.
Perhaps the greatest of all local baseball players is Memorial’s Don Mattingly, who played with many of the Yankee greats and became one of the greatest Yankee favorites of all time. In fact, many believe that Mattingly and Gil Hodges are the two best players who are NOT in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Evansville’s Don Mattingly before he became one of the most beloved Yankees of all time
On the basketball front, our region has more than its share of stars, beginning with the Evansville Aces coached by the legendary Arad McCutcheon, who led them to five national championships with future NBA stars like Jerry Sloan and Don Buse, among others. On the west side of Evansville, the USI Screaming Eagles added another basketball national title in 1995.
I would challenge any region of a similar size to match the sports history of our area. In addition to those already mentioned, we have a golf major tournament winner (Bob Hamilton, 1944 PGA), a Kentucky Derby and Preakness-winning owner (Princeton’s Jim Pegram), and two basketball national scoring leaders (North’s Dave Schellhase and Harrison’s Calbert Cheaney). There were also numerous gridiron standouts such as Bosse’s Marty Amsler who played with legendary running back Gayle Sayers, Memorial’s Larry Stallings, Harrison’s Kevin Hardy and Scott Studwell, Reitz superstar Don Hansen, and Super Bowl MVP
and 2-time winning Super Bowl quarterback Bob Griese.
All of these plus many more give us a history that we should be very thankful for, from our very first Olympian, Central High School’s Charles Hornbostle, who finished fifth in the 800 meters at the 1936 Berlin Games when Jesse Owens won four gold medals, to two ladies who are cementing a legacy right now. Evansville Reitz’s Lilly King has emerged as a bona fide
swimming superstar from her days at Reitz to a stellar career at IU to the world stage where she is competing in her third Olympiad in 2024 after setting multiple world records while winning numerous Olympic and World Championship gold medals.
At this same Olympiad, we can also watch as Princeton’s Jackie Young adds to her basketball resumé as a member of the USA women’s basketball team. While
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at Princeton High School, Jackie scored 3,268 points, the highest total (boys or girls) in Indiana history. She was also named Indiana’s Miss Basketball before winning two national championships at Notre Dame. In addition to being an Olympian for the second time, Jackie was chosen #1 in the WNBA draft and has led the Las Vegas Ace to two WNBA championships.
As we watch Lilly and Jackie take center stage in the biggest sporting event the world has ever known, maybe we should take time to reflect on what we have been so fortunate to observe over the years. And we should also have an immense sense of pride that our tiny corner of this huge world has produced such amazing athletes. MJ
The common cold isbothpositiveand negative.Sometimes theeyeshaveit and sometimes the nose.
Before they were Olympians, Evansville Reitz’s Lilly King (left) and Princeton’s Jackie Young
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