Moment of Indiana History
podcasts Archive
December 8, 2008
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A fruit by any other name…the “Indiana banana”
Although found in twenty six eastern states, the pawpaw tree might be particularly beloved to Hoosiers for the colloquial names given to its fruit. Known alternately as the “Indiana banana,” or the “Hoosier banana,” the tree Asimina triloba produces the largest edible tree fruit native to the U.S. The only temperate relative of a tropical […]
December 1, 2008
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I ride a bike, and I vote
Grassroots organizing. Alternative transportation. Greenways and parks. Many components of contemporary political campaigns seem to have been borrowed from the platforms and strategies that worked well in Indiana in the 1890’s.
November 24, 2008
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Tecumseh’s Curse
A quick scan of US Presidential history reveals an eerie recurrence: from William Henry Harrison through John Kennedy, every President elected in a year ending in zero has died in office.
November 17, 2008
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The Birthplace of the Modern Political Campaign
Political campaigns can turn the nation into a veritable battleground. Perhaps it is fitting then, that the place where the modern political campaign is said to have been launched is the town of Battle Ground, Indiana.
November 10, 2008
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Dan Quayle
Controversial vice presidential picks are nothing new in American politics, as even recent Indiana history reveals. When Republican presidential nominee George H.W. Bush announced his running mate in August 1988, Indiana Senator James Danforth Quayle faced relentless questioning from the press about his military service, personal life and leadership experience.
November 3, 2008
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Bellwether Blues…and Reds
When it comes to predicting the outcome of a presidential election, one might consult Indiana history. More specifically, the voting record of Vigo County, Indiana, which has been the most consistent bellwether of American presidential voting trends for more than a century.
October 27, 2008
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Selwin and Sammy Terry
When Universal Pictures floated its set of classic horror flicks from the 30s and 40s as ready-made content for the TV stations cropping up across the country in the 1950s, WISH-TV was the first Indiana station to bite—so to speak.
October 20, 2008
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Shocking New Medium
In addition to running syndicated shows from their affiliates, the new stations produced local programming, from news to station breaks. One opportunity for creating a local presence emerged with the so-called “Shock Package” of classic horror films Universal Pictures distributed to fledgling television stations.
