The idea for The CMSAHF was born amidst a flurry of comments sparked by Bill Zink's posting a picture of
Hoagy Carmichael which led to some very active tangential discussion.
As starter fodder for possible future discussions, the topics on the original posting included, but were not limited to:
- Hoagy Carmichael's life in Bloomington and his association with Bix Beiderbecke. Hoagy's appearance in the film
The Best Years of Our Lives. Mentions of Hoagy Carmichael in Ian Fleming's novels. Hoagy's first autobiography
Stardust Road. - Bill Weaver's work in progress, a biography of Hoagy's pal William "Monk" Moenkhaus. Monk's connection to Dada, and the Lilly library's collection of his correspondence from WWI era Switzerland.
- The idea that many (all?) pop music artists from Indiana share similar themes. Hoagy Carmichael, Dale Lawrence, John Mellencamp, Paul Mahern, Frankie Camaro. Specifically: nostalgic longing and social entrapment/involvement.
- The WQAX cassette compilation
Hoagy Picks the Hits- Bluegrass in Indiana
- Historical immigration patterns and their role in creating the state we now know
- Gennett Records and its role in Indiana's musical history, including appearances of Gennett titles in Harry Smith's hugely influential
Anthology of Folk Music.- The idea of Indiana as two states, a northern one and a southern one.
- The influence of rivers in Indiana's cultural development.
- Peter Lamborne Wilson/Hakim Bey's
T. A. Z. theory, Moorish Science, and the wandering Ben Ishmael Tribe.
- John Mellencamp as neo-impressionist painter.
- The possible existence of "hobo caves" in Bloomington.
- Why did Indiana produce very little rockabilly?
- The Underground Railroad in Indiana.
- New Harmony
- Traditional balladry
- The House of Blue Lights and Hoosier hauntings in general.
- The Klan in the Anderson area in the 70s cast as "Scooby Doo villains"
Thanks to Bill Zink for posting the picture in the first place (I think he had no idea it would create such a response), Mike Whybark for suggesting this group and coming up with the name, and everyone that responded to the original pic.
You need to be a member of The Carmichael-Moenkhaus Society for the Appropriation of Hoosier Folklore to add comments!