Madame Walker Theatre Center Celebrates 85 Years

The Madame Walker Theatre Center held its grand opening on December 26th, 1927. The Walker Building, located on the Indiana Avenue corridor, was the center of entertainment, business and pride for the city’s African-American community from the 1920s to the 1950s. Today, 85 years later, the Madame Walker Theatre Center still anchors Indiana Avenue as one of the city’s only National Historic Landmarks owned and operated by African-Americans. In celebration of 85 years on Indiana Avenue, the Board of Directors and staff have announced a full week of fundraising events that will entertain, educate and reflect on the future of the historic building.
The line-up features one of the original Supremes, Mary Wilson, doing a tribute to the beloved Lena Horne in a project called James Gavin's Stormy Weather: The Lena Horne Project starring Mary Wilson. The week will also boast a 1927 Flapper Party, Casino Night, an IndyTalks discussion on the future of Indiana Avenue and a day for IPS students to meet “Madam C. J. Walker” (played by Vickie Daniel) and be educated on the legacy of the Center’s namesake.