The Legacy of the Madam Walker Theatre Center Honored in New Book

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Oct. 2, 2013 - PRLog -- The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series is Madam Walker Theatre Center: An Indianapolis Treasure from author A'Lelia Bundles. The book goes on sale October 14, 2013 and boasts more than 200 vintage images celebrating this Indianapolis theatre center.

As they watched construction of the block-long flatiron building brick by brick throughout 1927, African American residents of Indianapolis could scarcely contain their pride. This new headquarters of the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, with its terra-cotta trimmed facade, was to be more than corporate offices and a factory for what then was one of America’s most successful black businesses.

In fact, it was designed as “a city within a city,” with an African Art Deco theater, ballroom, restaurant, drugstore, beauty salon, beauty school and medical offices. Generations of African American families met for Sunday dinner at the Coffee Pot, enjoyed first-run movies and live performances in the Walker Theatre and hosted dances in the Casino. Today, this National Historic Landmark is an arts center anchoring the Indiana Avenue Cultural District.

Highlights of Madam Walker Theatre Center include:

•Many rarely before seen images, the majority of which are from the private Madam Walker Family Archives. The author, A’Lelia Bundles, is the great-granddaughter of Madam Walker.
•Highlights how Madam Walker Theatre Center is the anchor of the city’s Indiana Avenue Cultural District and one of two National Historic Landmarks associated with Walker’s legacy.
•Includes photographs from local photographers William Rasdell, Carl Black and John Hurst providing documentation of the activities at the Madam Walker Theatre Center.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com/.