The New Richmond post office created a special Hickory cancellation stamp in 1989.
New Richmond held an annual Hickory Festival through 1990.
Knightstown celebrates the 20th anniversary of Hoosiers’ release, June 2006
Hoosiers fans line up out the door of the Hoosier Gym, waiting to have autographs signed by some of the Huskers and others.
The film was shown in the gym.
Angelo Pizzo and David Anspaugh visit their alma mater, Indiana University, April 7 and 8, 2011
Pizzo and Anspaugh take questions at an informal gathering at the IU Cinema.
Pizzo and Anspaugh laugh as their longtime friend “Strats” Stratigos relates a funny story from the filming.
Anspaugh autographs a mini poster for a fan.
Angelo Pizzo and David Anspaugh receive the Living Legend award from the Indiana Historical Society, July 29, 2011
David Anspaugh visits his hometown of Decatur, Indiana, August 20, 2011
Decatur resident Larry Isch presents Anspaugh with a plaque.
Anspaugh, wearing a Hickory #15 (Jimmy Chitwood) shirt, addresses the crowd at Bellmont Senior High School before a screening of Hoosiers.
Nineveh Heritage Festival, October 6, 7, and 8, 2011
Brad Long and Maris Valainis before the golf scramble in Edinburgh
Brad Long and Chelcie Ross
Chelcie Ross, Maris Valainis, and Angelo Pizzo speak under the tent
Maris Valainis autographs a Hickory team photo on top of framed articles about Hoosiers from the Johnson County Daily Journal
David Anspaugh visits the Hoosier Gym, March 20, 2013
This was the first time the Hoosiers director had been back since the filming in the fall of 1985.
Anspaugh meets some Hoosier Gym volunteers. A small group of onlookers accompanied him as he toured the gym.
He noted how little the facility had changed over the years.
One of the great things about filming Hoosiers’ home games in Knightstown, the director commented, was that “the fans cheered as hard at 7 p.m. as they did at 7 a.m.”
Anspaugh recalled the filming of the scene in the locker room after the first home game: “We were running out of time, and we decided on a simple, low-angle shot… I liked it when I saw the dailies and didn’t think much about it after that. But, since then, film professors have congratulated me on that shot, saying it’s just ‘genius.’ I wish I could take credit for that! But, it was just that we ran out of time, and that’s what we settled for.”
Returning to one of the filming locations after so many years was an emotional experience for the director.
Anspaugh visits with gym volunteers as newspaper photographers take pictures.
Indianapolis Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep conducts an interview.
Anspaugh signs the guest book.
The director signs a movie poster: “To All The Hoosier Gym Family — Thanks for taking such good care of the place while I was gone. It’s good to be home again! David Anspaugh.”
Angelo Pizzo and David Anspaugh are inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, March 20, 2013
1954 Milan team member Bobby Plump prepares to present commemorative rings to Pizzo and Anspaugh at the induction banquet. Third from left is Steve Hollar.
The Milan ’54 Hoosiers Museum moves into its new, more spacious location, June 8, 2013
The museum contains some Hoosiers memorabilia, including many basketball uniforms and other costumes, as well as some props from the movie’s hospital set.
The Milan Indians’ 1954 Indiana state basketball championship trophy
Brad Boyle (Hickory Husker Whit Butcher) visits the Hoosier Gym, July 13, 2013
At the time, Boyle was a lieutenant colonel in the Indiana Army National Guard and a physician assistant.
Brad Long (Buddy) and Maris Valainis (Jimmy) share a laugh at a Q&A before a screening of Hoosiers in Richmond, Indiana on April 9, 2016
Knightstown celebrates the 30th anniversary of Hoosiers’ release, September 16 and 17, 2016
As the sun sets on the Hoosier Gym, Movie Night begins.
The limited-edition 30th anniversary souvenir shirt.
The autograph line.
Wade Schenck (Ollie), David Neidorf (Everett), Maris Valainis (Jimmy).
Near the end of the autograph line are Tom Marshall (sectional referee) and the Travel-Aires (national anthem quartet).
Autograph signing went on for three hours as the caterers began setting up the tables for the banquet.
Wade Schenck (Ollie) and David Neidorf (Everett).
Maris Valainis (Jimmy) and Brad Boyle (Whit).
Brad Long (Buddy) and Chelcie Ross (George).
Linton Wildcats: Player #23 (Bob Gulde), #52 (Jeff Moster, the player who is mean to Ollie), and #41 (Jeff Bates).
Director David Anspaugh.
Writer/producer Angelo Pizzo.
Front: Chelcie Ross, David Anspaugh, Wade Schenck, Angelo Pizzo, Ray Craft. Back: Brad Boyle, David Neidorf, Trevin Poole (Kent Poole’s son), Brad Long, Maris Valainis, Tom Marshall, Gary Long.
Guests dig in to dinner.
At the banquet, David Neidorf presents the original Huskers team photo from the movie’s final scene. His father owned it for 30 years before giving it to the Hoosier Gym.
Hoosier Gym volunteers pose with the original team photo before it is placed on the wall.
Hoosier Gym volunteers fasten the team photo to the wall.
A plaque honors the Neidorfs’ donation of the original team portrait.
Writer/producer Angelo Pizzo and director David Anspaugh welcome Hoosiers fan Javier Puertas to the Hoosier Gym, August 9, 2019. Puertas and his family came all the way from Spain to visit the Gym, other Hoosiers locations, and other sites related to Indiana high school basketball.
After an absence of over 20 years, the Hickory Huskers’ team bus returned to Indiana for good in March 2021. This fully restored 1939 Chevy bus will be located primarily in Knightstown, home of the Hoosier Gym.
Knightstown celebrates the movie’s 35th anniversary, November 20, 2021