It was a scorching day about five years ago when I saw James Snow dancing on a thin strip of concrete at 38th Street and College Avenue. A tall, lanky man wearing a wide-brimmed, sweat-stained Panama hat, he glided and twirled, lifting his hands as if in praise.
I rolled down my window to hear “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire and couldn’t help but sing along. He smiled and pointed at me. I smiled back and waved. He tipped his hat as I drove off. The moment lasted no more than 20 seconds, but I’ve never forgotten that brief encounter of joy.
For more than 40 years, James “Dancing Man” Snow was a beloved fixture at that busy intersection. The city mourned when he died in his sleep of natural causes on Sept. 28, 2020, at the age of 77; his infectious energy lifted the spirits of hundreds of thousands who passed by.
Now, more people will learn about Snow’s story, when the Museum of Fabulosity opens June 6 at the Tube Factory artspace in Garfield Park. Former IndyStar reporter Will Higgins created the pop-up experience to resemble a small-town museum. His mission statement: “The exhibit is about human beings, and what they do in order to a) draw attention to themselves; b) express what’s in their heart of hearts; or c) just get through life.”
Higgins’ goal? Celebrate the “weird bits” of Indianapolis history through the “truly interesting and truly human” stories of 16 people, using inventive artifacts and scenes.
“Many stories are so strange, they seem made up,” Higgins said. “But they are not made up. They are paired with amazing photographs and also fabulous objects that approximate long-lost Indy icons – boxing gloves worn by Lou Thomas the night he killed Arne Anderson; the chair Cannonball Adderley tipped back on the night he discovered Wes Montgomery; (Olympic track and field athlete) Max Emmerich’s spikes…”
Known affectionately as the “Dancing Man,” “Radio Man,” and “Guitar Man,” Snow entertained drivers with spontaneous performances, often accompanied by a boom box or guitar. He never asked for money—a wave or honk of appreciation was thanks enough. He wasn’t homeless, nor was he alone. Snow had a large community of admirers and friends.
Higgins knew Snow, and wrote about him for the IndyStar and Nuvo. Snow’s part of the exhibit features a Panama hat like the one he wore, and a boom box like the one he toted.
Born on February 9, 1943, in Holly Springs, Mississippi, as one of 11 children, Snow moved to Indianapolis to join his older sister in the early 1970s and worked various jobs before going on disability. From that point on, he dedicated his life to spreading happiness through dance.
Pastor Chauncey Brown, who grew up near 31st Street and College Avenue, often traveled to the Rally’s at 38th and College just to see Snow dance.
“(He) would dance to his music and not have a care in the world,” said Brown. “As a child, I wondered who he was. As an adult, I wondered why he did what he did.”
Years later, Brown sat down with Snow to hear his story. “He shared how bad this world had gotten… all while he smiled and said, ‘But God’s still blessing me, so I come out here to get my exercise.’”
In late 2024, artist Kwazar Martin created a mural of Snow, to honor the neighborhood icon. It’s on an exterior wall of The Toy Pit, 3827 N. College Ave.
The vibrant artwork features Snow with angel wings, arms lifted in joy, and musical notes swirling around him. His image now appears alongside murals of Batman and Bruce Lee—a fitting tribute to someone many considered a local superhero.
“It brings a little bit of joy to people to see somebody who’s now passed away but is going to be remembered and get some credit—because he deserves it,” said Marc Church, an employee at The Toy Pit. “He was just out there doing his thing to make people happy.”
You can visit the Museum of Fabulosity June 6-Sept. 21. Admission is free.
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Dawn Mitchell is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor.
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