NEW CASTLE — A new short film titled “Only in Indiana” has debuted at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s Danielson Theater.
The 15-minute film, chronicling the memories and experiences of nine Indiana basketball legends, was the brainchild of the late philanthropist and Hall of Fame supporter, Danny Danielson. The project was made possible through a gift from Danielson, his late wife Patty and their family members.
The film includes interview clips with Bobby Plump, Oscar Robertson, George McGinnis, Larry Bird, Judi Warren, Steve Alford, Damon Bailey, Stephanie White and Katie Douglas. Nearly all were filmed in gymnasiums or arenas that were significant to their career.
Familiar locations used in the film include Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the New Castle Fieldhouse, the Southport Fieldhouse, Bedford North Lawrence High School and the Indianapolis Washington H.S. gymnasium, along with images and video of numerous other Indiana basketball hotspots and memorable games.
The film’s opening montage includes clips from Milan’s 1954 state championship victory, Crispus Attucks’ 1956 state finals triumph, Scott Skiles’ late game dramatics in the 1982 state championship game and Luke Zeller’s halfcourt heave to win the 2005 3A championship for the Washington Hatchets.
“Only in Indiana” also incorporates the work of Chris Smith and Michael E. Keating, the photographers behind the “Hoosier Hardwood Photo Project,” a popular visual arts effort to capture Indiana high school gymnasiums and games throughout the state.
From the film’s opening lines of Larry Bird recounting his childhood, “if you’d drive through the country back then, there was a basketball hoop everywhere,” to Robertson’s claim that Indiana high school basketball was “the greatest thing to ever happen to Oscar Robertson… you learned to compete!” to McGinnis’ closing line that, “I’m a 65-year-old man and people will say ‘George, I remember you in ’69 with your high school state championship team, I saw you at Butler’, it’s incredible. This is the only place – here in Indiana – that that happens,” the film seeks to recapture the glory of Indiana’s basketball legends and the sport’s rich tradition in the state.
Setting the scene for a trip through Indiana basketball history, the film is the first experience for visitors at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame museum in New Castle to begin their tour of the 14,000 square foot facility dedicated to preserving and documenting Indiana basketball history.
As part of the overall project beyond the film, the Danielson gift also funded new technology and hardware for the theater, including an HD projector, a projector screen from Draper, Inc., based in nearby Spiceland, Indiana, and a Dolby surround sound speaker system.
The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame museum is located at One Hall of Fame Court, New Castle, IN 47362. Admission is just $5 for adults and $3 for children age 12 and under.
