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Documentary

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Established in 1933, The Riviera Swim Club, located in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood in Indianapolis, Indiana, is well-regarded among Hoosiers for its elaborate swimming facilities. But historically, not all Hoosiers have been allowed to enjoy the Riviera Club’s amenities. Until the 80s, Black and Jewish applicants were frequently denied membership. Following the drowning of 15-year-old Dwight Eugene Jones in a nearby stretch of river after he had been denied entry to the Riviera Club on the basis of his race, tensions around the Riviera’s exclusionary policies ascended to new heights, adding fuel to a lawsuit filed in 1974 alleging the club violated Title II of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Troubled Waters: The Integration of the Riviera Club tells the story of those involved with the Bates v. Riviera Club Inc. lawsuit, especially leading lawyer for the plaintiffs Lawrence Reuben, and offers a historical perspective of how the Riviera Club was made to integrate after years of legal and community pressure.

Credits

Director, Producer, and Researcher
Emily Reuben

Assistant Director 
Jeremy Rogers

Camera Operators
Emily Reuben
Jeremy Rogers
Leigh Wanzer-Moreno
Sam Wilderman

Sound
Emily Reuben
Jeremy Rogers
Leigh Wanzer-Moreno
Sam Wilderman

Illustrations
Leigh Wanzer-Moreno

Interview Subjects
Ernest “Ernie” Kobets
Sue Kobets
Edward “Ed” DeLaney
Karen Holmes
James “Jimm” Moody
Barbara Fasbinder

Graduate Committee
Christopher Flook
Dr. Maria Williams-Hawkins
Dr. Wendy Soltz
 

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