L-R Jimmy Buffett & Tom Battista
When singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffet, died on September 1, my thoughts went swiftly to community-minded, local businessman, Tom Battista. Battista, an Indy native worked for Buffet, known for his “island escapism” music, as his stage manager for 30 years, retiring last October. Before that he touched rock history when he worked tours for the funk band Parliament and superstar David Bowie.
After reaching out to Battista, we met up at the Brasserie, his restaurant located at the Kan Kan Cinema, the independent movie theatre, he built in the flourishing Windsor Park neighborhood on Indy’s near east side. We met on Monday Sept. 11, which, coincidently was the same date that a special screening of a 1989 film “Twice Under” which starred the late Ron Spencer, founder of the former Theatre on the Square, was held that evening. More about that later.
L- R Tom Battista & Jimmy Buffett s-
My first question to Battista, was, of course, how he felt about Buffet’s untimely death at the age of 76, from an aggressive form of skin cancer which the entertainer kept secret from the public. “I choked up several times.” said Battista, adding “much like I did when I lost my parents and my brother.” About Buffet, best known for his now classic song “Margaritaville,” Battista said. “He was such an unusual human being. He could relate to anybody and wasn’t judgmental about many things. He had a reputation for having the best travelling group on the road. He took care of everybody, and it was a huge fun thing, but hut he was also a thorough professional. He really was a pirate in his own mind,” laughed Battista. As far as the depth of their relationship Battista said “We weren’t close confidants with one another. We were business friends. I visited him at his home in Sag Harbor, N.Y., and was on his boat. I ran the whole “parrot head” circus and flew all over the country with him. He lived a charmed life, and I was a witness to it.”
Battista, 73, a graduate of St. Joan of Arc grade school, Brebeuf High School and Indiana University, worked the summer concert tour when Buffett’s shows were often a week or two apart. It was a schedule that made it possible for Battista to return home to be with his wife Sherry, an art conservator and their two children, Victoria and Ed, between shows. “We never did back-to-back shows so that meant we would also have time when we were in different cities, to check them out. Seeing all those cities over those years, helped me realize that folks didn’t want to live in the suburbs and commute to work. They wanted to walk and not live in cars.” That gave the owner of Bluebeard restaurant and Amelia’s Bread the idea to create bakeries in Indy. “I always hated that our city didn’t have good bread. Many of the cities I visited had great bakeries, but Indy didn’t. The same with independent art movie houses. Kan Kan is the first independent movie house in downtown Indy. Those are things I saw in other places and knew we needed to have here.” Battista said.
L-R Tom Avarez & Tom Battista.
The “Twice Under” film, mentioned previously, directed by local auteur Dean Crowe which was shot in Indy and co-starred Spencer, and which I viewed the evening of my interview with Battista, was my first to the three-screen theatre. I take pride in the fact that as a savvy arts writer, I have my finger on the pulse of the Indy’s culture scene, yet I had not discovered Kan Kan until then. When I expressed my chagrin to Battista, he kiddingly scolded “What took you so damned long?”
When asked the genesis of Kan Kan, formally referred to as the Indianapolis Film Project, a non for profit 501 © 3, Battista described the circumstances that brought the theatre to Windsor Park. “My business partner Sam Sutphin and I looked all over the city for a place to locate the theatre. When they tried to close the neighborhood library, a Andrew Carnegie library, the neighbors organized and marched downtown to the Central Library and protested. We felt if those people were committed enough to support the library, they would do the same and help us, which they did. Initially there was pushback from one influential individual working in city government, but the neighbors prevailed,” said Battista.
When I inquired about the status of Kan Kan in terms of attendance, Battista lamented that “It’s slow. Like others in the movie theater business, we are still recovering from the effects of COVID lockdown when many became accustomed to seeing films on streaming services. But now we are seeing an attendance uptick and audiences are slowly returning,” said Battista who pointed out that there were sold out houses for “Barbie” during two weeks prior to our chat.
Battista’s research conducted during all those visits to cities while on tour with Buffett also resulted in fine dining experience for Indy residents that rival those in many larger markets. Located in historic, restored buildings Battista owns, they included the celebrated R Bistro on Mass Ave., operated by star chef Regina Mahalleck which closed in 2015, Black Market and Milktooth. Today his own restaurants include nationally recognized, award-winning Bluebeard, that he owns with his son Ed, in Fletcher Place and the trendy Brassiere located on the ground floor of Kan Kan.
Regarding the marketing of his restaurants and Kan Kan, Battista, given to being direct, said “We don’t expend a lot of resources. “We just keep serving great food and subsidizing the theatre and we feel like things are getting better and better.”
Concluding our conversation, I asked the unassuming Battista to name his major influences, to which he replied “My father was a first generation American. A Butler graduate, he was a pharmacist who owned and operated Battista Pharmacy at 24th and Illinois. Most of the poor people in the neighborhood called him Dr Joe. He took care of them even when they couldn’t pay. When he closed the store in 1968 after 50 years, he had over 100 unpaid charges. He was always willing to help the less fortunate.”
How does public-spirited Battista wish to be remembered? “Being a person who had his blinders off and wasn’t afraid to try something different.” he emphasized. As to his values, Battista ended our chat with the following sentiments, reflecting one who is eternally optimistic. “I love life. I love our city. I love making a difference. I love to pick up trash. It’s the simplest way to make a difference in any neighborhood.” he declared.
For tickets and information about Kan Kan Cinema films and times visit Kan Kan Indy.
