The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-02-01
POLICE TO
PUT LID. on
HOLLYWOOD
Chief Calls in officers After
Gay Opening Is Dis
closed.
MAY REFUSE PERMITS
White Persons and Negroes
at Avenue Cafe.

POllce Chlet CLAUDE r. JOnn-
son called into his Office this
afternoon all captains and lieu
tenants to find out why Holly
Stood Cafe, 532 Indiana Ave,
the dazzling spot among the
"Avenoo's" bright lights, was
open Saturday night to all
white or Negro.
Johnsons action followed dis
closure by The Times that negroes
and white people danced together
there until light penetrated the
windows Sunday morning. 1t was
the grand winter opening"
Something to Happen
IF the captain and lieutenant on
duty and the sergeant on that beat
can't give good excuse why that
thing existed something is going to
happen" Johnson said.
He also said police would again
clamp down on the place and refuse
dance permits to the proprietor if
white persons had been permitted
there or dancing had continued after
midnight.
Johnson, when he assumed office,
announced Indiana Ave. resorts
would be cleaned up and Mayor Du-
vail in a pre-inauguration announce
ment said white persons would be
kept out OF such places.
Johnson said he understood the
opening was to be for Negroes only.
When The Times reporter visited
the place he expected to be refused
admitttance because of Johnson's
But he wasn't.
He received his admittance ticket
right along with the rest of the
crowd, that from time to time
,jammed the stairway leading to the
)cafe.
Inside BedIam
The inside of the place, after mid
night, became bedlam. The music
continued to get hotter" AS the
orchestra members perspired, so did
the dancers,
The number of white persons was
fewer than usual Saturday night, ac-
cording to regular visitors at the
place.
Several young Negroes, who have
not missed night at the place for
a long time, said that generally the
crowd consisted of about an even
mixture of white persons and Ne
groes.
One Of them told of teaching the
wife of white man to dance the
one-step a few nights ago.
Signs of intoxication were evil
dent on all sides. No open drinking
was seen by The Times reporter,
but several persons found it hard to
mount the narrow stairway to the
scene Of activity
"Hot" Dancing
Two Negro women put on some
warm stuff billed as, "all that is
late" They sang and crooned some
of the hottest jazz pieces what
am" intermingled with snappy
dancing.
Hollywood and other Indiana. Ave
BLACK and tam. resorts were or
dered to bar white persons by Po-
lice Chief Herman F. Rikhoff, when
two persons were fatally injured and
two seriously hurt in an automobile
accident at Indiana Ave. and Illinois
ST., two months ago. 1t was said
that they had just been to the Holly
wood.
Hollywood opened Saturday night
at 9 p. m, and according to an
nouncements distributed was to stay
open until %
The announcements were entirely
correct.
AS soon as the crowd began to
grow the small dance floor in the
center Of the cabaret became crowd
ed and dancers found it much more
convenient to dance between the ta-
bles and other spots on the floor.
Autos Parked
Many. automobiles were parked
along the ''Avenoo" IA front of the
Hollywood.
After midnight it was practically
impossible to obtain table, and per-
sons lined the front and sides of
the soda fountain.
No police were seen in or around
the cafe.
The same reporter obtained admit
tance to the cabaret the night fol-
lowing the accident. He was Only
allowed to remain there a short tirnes
however, and was ousted by po-
liceman.
He was told to come right back
as soon as the law went away
1t is said that white persons have
been permitted in the cafe since New
Years eve.
Y0TTTUC NAMED NTAJ0RS