05/30/2018 | 27m 54s | Video has closed captioning.
A visit to the Los Angeles Public Library to see “Play by Play: A Century of L.A. Sports Photography” an exhibit devoted to the role sports played in the history of Los Angeles.
Aired: 05/30/18
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HOWSER.
WE ARE GETTING READY TO TAKE A LOOK AT SPORTS HISTORY HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
YOU WOULD THINK A LOGICAL PLACE FOR US TO AT LEAST BEGIN THIS ADVENTURE WOULD BE HERE AT THE WORLD FAMOUS LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM.
A LOT OF SPORTS HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE HERE AT THE COLISEUM.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, WE'RE NOT SPENDING ANY TIME AT THE COLISEUM AT ALL.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO LEAVE THIS PLACE AND GO A COUPLE OF MILES ACROSS TOWN AND SPEND THE WHOLE DAY INSIDE ANOTHER HISTORIC LOS ANGELES LOCATION.
A PLACE THAT YOU PROBABLY THINK HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SPORTS AT ALL, BUT BELIEVE ME, IT DOES.
AND HERE WE ARE AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY IN DOWNTOWN L.A.
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE WHOLE DAY IN SEARCH OF THE HISTORY OF SPORTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT JUST EXACTLY WHY WE ARE SPENDING THE DAY INSIDE THIS WONDERFUL LIBRARY, HERE TO KIND OF START US OFF IS CARLIN COSO COLE, A FRIEND OF MINE AND CURATOR OF THE COLLECTION HERE AT THE L.A. PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WHY ARE WE HERE?
ALTHOUGH I HAVE A FEELING THIS GIVES IT AWAY RIGHT HERE.
>> IT DOES.
I WANTED YOU TO COME DOWN AND SEE THIS FABULOUS EXHIBIT.
IT HAS NOT BEEN DONE ANYWHERE IN CALIFORNIA LIKE THIS.
IT'S A FIRST AND SOMETHING THAT CONVERTED NONSPORTS PEOPLE INTO SPORTS LOVERS.
>> WHAT IT SAYS HERE, "A CENTURY OF L.A. SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY, 1889 TO 1989."
THESE SPORTS PICTURES CAME OUT OF THIS HUGE COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS.
MOST PEOPLE THINK OF THE LIBRARY AS A PLACE TO GO GET BOOKS, BUT YOU'VE GOT PICTURES HERE, TOO, DON'T YOU?
>> WE HAVE AN AMAZING COLLECTION.
WE HAVE ALMOST THREE MILLION PHOTOGRAPHS, 60,000 OF THEM ON-LINE, SO PEOPLE CAN GET THEM FROM THEIR HOME, WHETHER IT'S IN TIMBUKTU OR HERE.
>> WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?
HOW DID YOU GET THEM?
>> IN THE EARLY 1980'S, THE LIBRARY RECEIVED THE SECURITY PACIFIC COLLECTION, 100,000 TURN OF THE CENTURY OF THE HISTORY OF DOWNTOWN AND THE REST OF EARLY L.A.
IN 1989, RIGHT AFTER THE "HERALD EXAMINER" CLOSED, THEY GAVE US THEIR COLLECTION OF 2.5 MILLION PHOTOGRAPHS.
>> WOW.
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PICTURES HERE IN THE LIBRARY.
THIS IS JUST KIND OF THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, BUT IT'S VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT DEALS EXCLUSIVELY WITH SPORTS.
>> I KEPT STUMBLING OVER SPORTS PHOTOINGS OVER THE YEARS, AFTER DOING SOME OF THE EXHIBITS.
I KEPT THINKING SOME DAY SOMEBODY WILL DO THIS.
A FRIEND INTRODUCED ME TO DAVID.
HE IS A SPORTS WRITER AND A REALLY GOOD ONE.
>> THAT'S A PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO THIS GUY OVER HERE.
HE'S THE GUY -- WE'LL LEAVE YOU BEHIND AND START OUR TOUR.
THANK YOU.
>> ENJOY IT THOUGH.
>> YOU ARE THE GUY WHO LITERALLY -- WHAT DID THEY DO?
HAND YOU 5,000 SHOE BOXES FULL OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND SAY CURATE THIS?
>> BASICALLY.
IT'S A DREAM JOB, WHAT CAN I SAY?
>> REALLY.
YOU DID JUST GET THIS FILE AND BOXES FULL OF -- WERE THEY ALL SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHS?
>> ACTUALLY, NO, THEY WEREN'T.
THEY WERE ALL MIXED TOGETHER.
WAS ABLE TO GO THROUGH THEM BOX BY BOX AND LOOK FOR ALL THE GREAT SPORTS IMAGES AND THEY JUMPED RIGHT OUT AT ME.
>> WOW, LOOK.
WE'VE GOT THIS WHOLE CALGARY UP HERE ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND TWO MORE CALORIES DOWN ON THE FIRST FULL -- FIRST FLOOR FULL OF THIS AMAZING COLLECTION.
THIS WILL BE A HARD DECISION AS TO WHICH ONES WE EVEN TALK ABOUT TODAY.
THERE ARE SOMES THAT JUMP RIGHT OUT AT YOU.
LIKE THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.
>> SURE.
WELL, THERE'S THE BAMBINO, BABE RUTH, OF COURSE, IN THE PRIME OF HIS CAREER.
IT'S JUST A NEAT SHOT.
HERE, AS YOU CAN SEE, HE'S BEING GREETED BY A BEVY OF STARLETS AT UNION STATION.
BABE RUTH WAS SO POPULAR.
PROBABLY IN THE 1920'S NO OTHER ATHLETE WAS PHOTOGRAPHED AS OFTEN AS BABE RUTH WAS.
THE HOLLYWOOD PRODUCERS WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS POPULARITY.
>> SO THIS WAS BABE RUTH IN HOLLYWOOD, COMING OUT HERE TO MAKE IT BIG IN THE MOVIES.
DID HE EVER -- I DON'T REMEMBER EVER SEEING HIM IN A MOVIE.
>> HE MADE SEVERAL FORGETTABLE MOVIES.
HIS PRESENCE WAS THERE, AND HOLLYWOOD MADE A FEW FILMS WITH HIM.
>> AND PROBABLY MADE A BIG TODO OVER HIM WHEN HE CAME OUT HERE THIS WAS IN 1928 GETTING OFF THE TRAIN.
>> EXACTLY.
AT THE TIME, AS YOU WELL KNOW, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DID NOT GO BEYOND, LET'S SAY, ST. LOUIS.
THERE WAS NO TELEVISION, SO THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT JUST IN TERMS OF FILMING THIS MOVIE, BUT HE WOULD SOMETIMES IN THE OFF-SEASON BRING OUT A TEAM AND PLAY IN LOS ANGELES.
OBVIOUSLY, THE FANS WOULD FLOCK TO SEE HIM BECAUSE HE WAS SUCH A BIG ATTRACTION AT THE TIME.
>> HERE'S ANOTHER ONE OF THESE, YOU KNOW, THIS FELLOW IS AN ICON HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
WE'VE GOT FOUR PHOTOGRAPHS OF HIM HERE.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT -- >> WELL, THIS IS JACKIE ROBINSON AS IF HE NEEDED AN INTRODUCTION.
ARGUABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT SPORTS FIGURE IN LOS ANGELES HISTORY.
HE MOVED WITH HIS FAMILY WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 2, FROM GEORGIA TO PASADENA.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE LOWER PHOTOGRAPH, HE IS WITH PASADENA JUNIOR COLLEGE.
HE'S PLAYING BASEBALL IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH.
JACKIE WAS AN AMAZING ALL-AROUND ATHLETE.
HERE HE IS ON THE UCLA FOOTBALL TEAM.
AND ANOTHER GREAT KENNY WASHINGTON IS THE ONE ON THE FAR RIGHT.
HERE IS JACKIE DOWN HERE.
>> EXACTLY.
ARE THESE IN SEQUENCE?
THIS IS HIM AS A BASKETBALL PLAYER HERE.
>> THAT'S HIM AT UCLA AGAIN, AS A BASKETBALL PLAYER.
HE WAS UCLA'S FIRST FOUR LETTERMAN.
HE RAN TRACK AND FIELD, OF COURSE.
VERY FAST RUNNER.
HIS BROTHER WAS MATT ROBINSON COMPETED IN THE 1936 OLYMPICS.
>> HERE HE IS WITH HIS WIFE, OBVIOUSLY.
>> ACTUALLY, NO.
THAT'S HIM WITH RUBY DEE, THE ACTRESS.
AFTER HE MADE IT WITH THE BROOKLYN DODGERS AND INTEGRATED BASEBALL, HOLLYWOOD CAME CALLING AND WANTED HIM TO MAKE HIS MOVIE, THE LIFE STORY, AND THEY PICKED HIM TO BE THE STAR.
>> I AM LOOKING RIGHT OVER HERE.
PRESIDENT NIXON AND GENE AUTRY.
THAT IS A GREAT PICTURE BECAUSE BOTH OF THEM WERE HUGE BASEBALL NUTS, WEREN'T THEY?
>> EXACTLY.
AUTRY IN EARLY 1960'S PURCHASED THE RIGHT TO OWN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE LOS ANGELES ANGELS.
THEY PLAYED IN DODGER STADIUM FOR A WHILE UNTIL HE WAS ABLE TO BUILD THE STADIUM IN ORANGE COUNTY IN ANAHEIM.
THIS IS HIS GOOD BUDDY RICHARD NIXON, WHO AT THAT TIME HAD A LITTLE TIME ON HIS HANDS.
>> NOW, I'VE SEEN THIS PICTURE AND I REMEMBER WHEN IT HAPPENED.
IN 1976.
THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS DODGER BASEBALL PICTURES HERE IN DODGER STADIUM.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
1976, BICENTENNIAL YEAR.
TWO FANS YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT JUMPED ON TO THE OUTFIELD AND STARTED TO LIGHT THE AMERICAN FLAG ON FIRE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT'S EXACTLY CHICAGO CUBS OUTFILEDER RICK MONDAY.
HE SWOOPS IN AND RESCUES THE FLAG.
THE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER FOR "THE HERALD EXAMINER," A GENTLEMAN NAMED JAMES ROURKE SNAPPED THAT EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT.
IT WAS NOMINATED FOR A PULITZER PRIZE.
>> AND IT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF THE 1970'S WITH THE STRONG FEELING OF THIS COUNTRY THEN, THE WAY SPORTS AND POLITICS AND PATRIOTISM ALL KIND OF BLENDED AND MELDED TOGETHER.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT'S TRUE.
THAT'S CERTAINLY COMING OUT OF THE 1960'S WHEN ACTIVISM AND CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTS AND OTHER MOVEMENTS WERE HAPPENING, IT EXTENDED INTO THE 1970'S.
THIS STORY HAS A BITTERSWEET ENDING.
THE SWEET ENDING IS RICK MONDAY WAS EVENTUALLY TRADED TO THE DODGERS AND HE IS NOW ONE OF THEIR BROADCASTERS.
THE BITTER ENDING IS THAT THE PHOTOGRAPHER, UNFORTUNATELY, WAS MURDERED AND IS NO LONGER WITH US.
>> WOW.
EVERY ONE OF THESE PICTURES -- I MEAN, WELL, THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS OF STORIES.
>> EXACTLY.
>> LOOK AT THIS ONE.
THERE HE IS, SINATRA, OLD BLUE EYES WITH TOMMY LASORDA.
>> THERE'S A TWO-SOME.
A COUPLE OF BUDDIES.
YOU CAN SEE THE PHOTOS BEHIND THEM THAT.
WAS LASORDA'S OFFICE WHEN HE WAS MANAGER ALL THOSE YEARS WITH THE DODGERS.
>> LOTS OF CELEBRITY PICTURES ON HIS WALL.
WHAT SINATRA A BASEBALL FAN, OR YOU DO THINK WAYS THERE BECAUSE OF LASORDA?
>> A LITTLE OF BOTH.
HE'S BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED WITH THE DODGER HAT QUITE A BIT.
BECAUSE THEY WERE FRIENDS, HE WOULD SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF LASORDA'S CAREER.
CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING IN DODGER STADIUM AND HEARING FRANK SINATRA SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM?
WHAT A MOMENT.
THAT WOULD BE JUST SO NEAT.
>> FOOTBALL.
HERE IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF A FELLOW WHO HAS A VERY DUBIOUS DISTINCTION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS NICKNAMES IN SPORT.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT WASN'T FOR A GREAT MOMENT.
A VERY FAMOUS MOMENT.
1929 ROSE BOWL.
CAL VERSUS GEORGIA TECH.
HERE YOU SEE ROY REEGLES FROM CAL AND UNFORTUNATELY, HE IS RUNNING THE WRONG WAY WITH THE BALL.
>> HE WAS GIVEN THAT NAME, WRONG WAY LIEGLE.
DID HE SCORE A TOUCHDOWN FOR THE WRONG TEAM?
IS THAT WHAT HE ENDED UP DOING?
>> ACTUALLY, A TEAMMATE TACKLED HIM VERY CLOSE TO THE GOAL LINE ON THE OTHER END, AND YET, THEY NEVER GOT OUT OF THAT HOLE.
CAL LOST THAT GAME.
>> AND YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT THIS IS A GOOD PICTURE, TOO -- THIS IS AN EARLY ACTION SPORTS PHOTOGRAPH.
>> EXACTLY.
CERTAINLY BACK IN 1910, 1920'S, MOST OF THE SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY AROUND WAS PORTRAITS OR POSED SHOTS.
YOU RARELY GOT THAT ACTION SHOT.
I MEAN THE TECHNOLOGY JUST WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH THEN.
HERE YOU HAVE BOTH A BEAUTIFUL IMAGE, BUT ALSO THE KEY PLAY OF THE GAME.
THAT'S THE KEY OF THIS PHOTO.
NOW WE ARE SO USED TO SEEING ALL THE IMAGES OF THE WINNING HOME RUN OR THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN.
VERY RARELY DID IT HAPPEN BACK THEN.
>> UNFORTUNATELY FOR ROY REAGAN ALS, THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS PROBABLY ON THE FRONT PAGE OF EVERY SPORTS PAGE IN AMERICA THAT SUNDAY.
>> EXACTLY.
CERTAINLY IT ALSO TOUCHED WHO HOW IT HELPED MAKE THE ROSE BOWL BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT PLAY, HELPED MAKE THE ROSE BOWL SUCH AN INSTITUTION, NATIONALLY KNOWN.
>> WE ARE LOOKING DOWN HERE.
THIS IS AN INTERESTING PHOTOGRAPH HERE OF THE FEARSOME FOURSOME, 1967.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
THIS WAS THE DEFENSIVE LINE FOR THE LOS ANGELES RAMS.
>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TWO PEOPLE WHO STAND OUT IMMEDIATELY HERE.
>> MERLON OLSON WHO LATER BECAME A TV STAR IN "LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE," AND ROSEY GREER, ANOTHER GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYER.
ALSO KNOWN IN LOS ANGELES HISTORY CIRCLES AS THE BODYGUARD FOR ROBERT KENNEDY ON THE NIGHT HE WAS ASSASSINATED.
>> THE AMBASSADOR.
>> HE HELPED WRESTLE THE GUN AWAY FROM SIRHAN SIRHAN.
>> THIS IS INTERESTING.
THIS IS ONE CHAPTER OF THEIR LIVES AND INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEIR LIVES EVOLVED AND CHANGED LATER ON.
IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THEM BACK IN THIS SNAPSHOT IN TIME.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS INTERESTING.
JUDGE BEINGS EXACTLY.
I THINK LOS ANGELES IS UNIQUE IN THAT WAY.
MERLON OLSON WOULD HAVE A CAREER IN ENTERTAINMENT AND TELEVISION.
YOU WON'T HAVE THAT IF YOU ARE PLAYING IN CLEVELAND OR ST. LOUIS.
IF YOU ARE IN LOS ANGELES AND YOU GET TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE ENTERTAINMENT WORLD YOU CAN BE DISCOVERED.
MERLON CERTAINLY WAS.
ALL THESE GENTLEMEN WERE GREAT PLAYERS.
>> THIS IS AN INTERESTING COMBINATION OF THREE PHOTOGRAPHS .
I GUESS STARTING IN TIME IT GOES BACK HERE TO 1894, LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOL'S FOOTBALL TEAM.
>> YEP.
ONE OF THE FIRST TEAMS IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.
YOU'LL SEE ON THE PROGRESSION OF THESE PHOTOS BOTH THE WAY THE BODIES CHANGED AND THE PADDING CHANGED, THE EQUIPMENT CHANGED.
>> THIS IS THE SECOND ONE.
BELL VARSITY 1940.
THERE IS A FAMOUS L.A.
POLITICAL FIGURE IN THERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IF YOU LOOK RIGHT OVER THERE.
THAT'S JOHN FERRARO, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND INFLUENTIAL POLITICIANS IN LOS ANGELES HISTORY.
>> NOW WHY DO WE HAVE -- NOW, THIS IS VERY INTERESTING.
WE ARE JUXTAPOSITIONING THIS WITH CRENSHAW HIGH 1989.
THERE ARE SOME BIG GUYS THERE.
>> AS THE CAPTION SAYS, THESE ARE FIVE 300-POUNDERS.
IT JUST SHOWS HOW FOOTBALL HAS EVOLVED, BOTH IN EQUIPMENT AND IN BODY TYPE.
OF COURSE, IN TERMS OF RACE.
THESE ARE ALL TWO TEAMS COMPOSED COMPLETELY OF WHITE FELLOWS.
HERE YOU HAVE THE START OF THE INTEGRATION OF LOS ANGELES PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> WHAT A PICTURE FROM THE L.A. MARATHON 1988, BOB WYLAND?
>> A VIETNAM VETERAN.
HE LOST, AS YOU CAN SEE, HE LOST HIS LEGS IN THE WAR IN AN EXPLOSION.
THIS WAS 1988, THE MARATHON STARTED IN 1986 HERE IN LOS ANGELES.
AS YOU CAN SEE WITH HOW HE GOT AROUND -- >> THIS IS HIM BRABING THE FINISH LINE.
HE DID THE WHOLE MARATHON.
>> 26.2 MILES, PROPELED BY HIS ARMS AND JUST HIS SPIRIT.
THERE HAVE BEP A LOT OF INSPIRATIONAL STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE RUN THE L.A. MARATHON, BUT NONE AS INSPIRATIONAL AS THIS ONE.
>> LISA LESLIE, TRIPLE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL.
THIS WAS IN 1989 WHEN SHE WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL.
>> YES.
MORNINGSIDE HIGH, PRACTICING HER JUMP SHOT THAT PROPELED HER TO OLYMPIC GLORY.
SHE PLAYS FOR THE L.A. SPARKS TODAY.
JUST ONE OF THE GREAT ALL-TIME ATHLETES.
ALSO POINTS TO THE FACT LOS ANGELES HAS PRODUCED OVER THE YEARS SOME GREAT FEMALE ATHLETES.
ALL THE WAY BACK TO MAY SUTTON IN TENNIS TO SOME -- BABE GIDRICKS WINNING IN THE OLYMPICS IN 1932.
HERE YOU SEE LISA LESLIE EXTENDING THAT LEGACY.
>> YOU LIKE THE EARLY PICTURES BEFORE THEY WERE FAMOUS, DON'T YOU?
>> EXACTLY.
>> I LIKE THIS ONE, LOU AL CINDOR, 1969 AT HIS GRADUATION OF UCLA.
HE LOVE THIS SHOT.
HE IS 7'2, OTHER PEOPLE IN LINE ARE MUCH SHORTER.
THAT SAYS IT ALL RIGHT THERE, DOESN'T IT?
>> EXACTLY.
OBVIOUSLY, JUST AN AMAZING FIGURE IN LOS ANGELES SPORTS HISTORY, BOTH AT UCLA AND FOR THE LAKERS.
THIS WAS BEFORE HE CHANGED HIS NAME TO HOW WE KNOW HIM TODAY KARIM ABDUL-JABBAR.
>> THIS WAS IN 1925.
YOU KNOW THE REAL STORY BEHIND THIS PICTURE AND IT'S FASCINATING.
THERE'S A LOT MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE HERE.
>> RIGHT.
IT JUST LOOKS LIKE MAYBE A NORMAL PUBLICITY SHOFT AN ACTRESS AND FOOTBALL STAR.
MARION DAVIS WAS WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST LODGE-TIME LOVER.
HOIST IN ALL OF HIS NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZININGS, IN ALL OF HIS NEWSPAPERS, HE WOULD USE PHOTOS OF MARION DAVIS JUST TO PROMOTE HER MOVIES AND PUBLICIZE HER CAREER.
THIS IS A TYPICAL SHOT THAT WOULD HAVE RUN TO PROMOTE HER LATEST PROJECT.
AT THE TIME, RED GRANGE WAS PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN THE NATION.
>> TENNIS.
BOBBY RIGGS AND BILLIE JEAN KING .
UNTIL YOU TOLD ME, WHAT IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE CONNECTION WAS WITH CALIFORNIA.
>> OH, YEAH.
THESE ARE TWO OF THE GREAT ALL-TIME ATHLETES RAISED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
LONG BEACH POLY HIGH GRAD YEAH.
BILLIE JEAN MOFFET AT THE TIME.
BOBBY RIGGS, FRANKLIN HIGH BACK IN THE 1930'S.
OF COURSE, BILLIE JEAN KING A PIONEER ON WOMEN'S TOUR.
BOBBY RIGGS, JUST AN AMAZING PLAYER ON THE MEN'S TOUR.
>> AND THEY BOTH HAD THESE AMAZING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONNECTIONS, WHICH BRINGS TO MIND THE QUESTION THAT WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH THIS COLLECTION, I DON'T THINK ANY OTHER CITY OR REGION OF THE COUNTRY COULD HAVE THIS MANY PHOTOGRAPHS DEALING WITH THIS MANY STARS WHO WERE LITERALLY LOCAL, YOU KNOW, BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE IN THIS AREA.
>> WE ARE UNIQUE IN THAT WAY.
WE'RE SPECIAL.
WE HAVE ATHLETE WHOSE WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE, AS YOU SAY.
ATHLETES WHO MADE THEIR REPUTATION HERE.
SOMEBODY LIKE BABE GIDRICKSON.
WE HAD SOCCER WORLD CUPS.
WE HAD SUPER BOWLS, WORLD SERIES.
NO OTHER CITY CAN MATCH THAT.
>> WERE YOU SURPRISED AT WHAT YOU FOUND IN THIS COLLECTION?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST?
I DON'T MEAN NECESSARILY WHICH PICTURE, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU STARTED GOING THROUGH ALL THIS.
>> I GUESS IT WOULD JUST BE THE BREADTH OF OUR HISTORY HERE.
THE RICH AND DIVERSE HISTORY.
THE FACT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS -- AND THIS IS A TRIBUTE TO THE PHOTOGRAPHERS, THEY CAPTURED THE TIMES.
THEY CAPTURED THESE PEOPLE IN THEIR PRIME.
WE MAY NOT REMEMBER ALL OF THESE PEOPLE, BUT IN THEIR PRIME, THESE PHOTOGRAPHERS WERE RIGHT THERE.
THEY CAUGHT IT AT THE MOMENT, OF THEIR GLORY, THE ATHLETES' GLORY.
>> DID YOU FEEL OBLIGATED TO PUT THIS PICTURE IN THE COLLECTION BECAUSE HE IS OUR GOVERNOR NOW?
>> OF COURSE.
>> HOW MANY PICTURES ARE THERE OF AROUND?
THIS IS A GREAT ONE IN 1975.
>> THIS IS A GREAT ONE.
THIS ENCOMPASSES HIS PUMPING IRON DAYS FROM THAT AMAZING DOCUMENTARY.
>> AND HERE IS ANOTHER ONE.
THIS IS JUST A BODYBUILDER.
YOU JUST PUT THAT IN TO TAKE CARE OF THE WHOLE BODY-BUILDING CULTURE HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
>> EXACTLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE ARNOLD IMAGE POINTS TO THE FACT THAT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS PART OF THIS MUSCLE BEACH CULTURE AND ALL OF THAT.
HE WAS BACKED BY ALL THE PEOPLE HERE.
JOE RIETER AND HIS MAGAZINE AND HIS PEOPLE.
>> HERE IS A MUSCLE BEACH -- I MET HER BEFORE.
THIS IS PUDGY.
>> PUDGY STOCKTON, QUEEN OF THE BARBELLS.
THIS WAS THE EARLY DAYS OF MUSCLE BEACH.
SHE WAS PART OF THAT FIRST CREW WITH JACK LALANE AND ALL THE CREW.
HER HUSBAND LES STOCKTON AND SOME OF THE OTHERS.
>> THAT WAS REALLY BREAKING GROUND, TOO, AT THE TIME, WASN'T IT?
THAT WOMEN WERE INVOLVED IN SOME OF THESE SPORTS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
PUDGY STOCKTON, PIONEER IN TERMS OF FITNESS AND SHE HAD AN ALL WOMEN'S GYM AND SO FORTH.
>> HERE IS ANOTHER PIONEER WHO I WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE HER NAME.
A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE'S NAMES ARE NOT HOUSEHOLD WORDS, BUT THIS LADY RIGHT HERE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SPORTS HISTORY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S EILEE EDEN.
SHE IS CELEBRATING HER BIRTHDAY WITH A COUPLE OF THREE CHAMPS.
EILEEN EATON WITH THE HELP OF HER HUSBAND AND OTHER PEOPLE IN BOXING LANDED THE OLYMPIC AUDITORIUM THAT.
WAS THE CAPITAL OF BOXING AND WRESTLING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR YEARS.
IT STILL EXISTS AND STILL FIGHTS THERE, BUT SHE WAS THE FIGUREHEAD OF THAT.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU THINK WOULD EVEN KNOW HER NAME TODAY?
>> WELL, JUST THE BOXING FANS.
>> SO PART OF THIS COLLECTION ALSO KIND OF OPENS UP SOME HISTORY THAT MAYBE WE WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT UNLESS YOU HAD THE PICTURES HERE.
>> YES.
LONG-FORGOTTEN HISTORY.
SOME OF THESE PHOTOS HAVEN'T SEEN THE LIGHT OF DAY SINCE THEY WERE FIRST PUBLISHED.
>> HERE IS ONE I LIKE, MR. MOTTO IN 1952.
THERE IS A GREAT STORY YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT HIM.
>> SURE.
THIS IS MR. MOTO, A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER IN THE 1950'S.
HE WAS BORN IN HAWAII, WAS A SUMO WRESTLER AFTER WORLD WAR II HE AND SEVERAL OTHERS BECAME PROFESSIONAL WRESTLERS AND THEY WERE THE VILLAINS BECAUSE, OF COURSE, AFTER WORLD WAR II THERE WAS A LOT OF ANTIJAPANESE AND JAPANESE AMERICANS.
>> AND HE PLAYED OFF THAT.
>> EXACTLY.
>> I THINK I REMEMBER WATCHING HIM ON TELEVISION.
>> AIM SURE.
HE FOUGHT ALL OVER.
>> EVERYBODY WOULD HIS AND -- EVERYBODY WOULD HISS AND BOO WHEN MR. MOTO CAME OUT.
>> THE VILLAINS MAKE WRESTLING WHAT IT IS.
GORGEOUS GEORGE.
>> HERE IS GORGEOUS GEORGE, 1948.
I REMEMBER WATCHING HIM ON TELEVISION.
TALK ABOUT BLENDING OF HOLLYWOOD AND THE SPORTS SCENE.
THAT WAS IT.
>> COUNT TAKE YOUR EYES OFF HIM.
HE DIED HIS HAIR PLATINUM BLONDE.
HE HAD HIS VAL ET COME IN THE ROOM AND SPRAY IT WITH CHANEL NUMBER FIVE.
>> HERE IS, BOY, FWALK A SET-UP, WONDERFUL PUBLICIST PICTURE HERE OF ANDRE THE GIANT AND WILLEY SCHUMACHER IN 1982.
WHAT WOULD BE THE THINKING BEHIND PUTTING TOGETHER A PICTURE LIKE THAT?
WAS THAT A NEWSPAPER GIMMICK TO GET READERS?
>> EXACTLY.
EXACTLY.
THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN BY A GENTLEMAN NAMED T.O.
ERRETT WHO IS STILL AROUND IN HIS 80'S, WHO IS THE OLYMPIC AUDITORIUM HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER.
THIS IS A PUBLICITY SHOT FOR ANDRE THE GIANT AND AN UPCOMING WRESTLING SHOW.
SOMEBODY THOUGHT LET'S PUT IN THIS 7'5" GUY WITH A 4'11" GUY, AND THAT WILL BE A FUN SHOT AND EVERYBODY WILL RUN IT.
AND THEY PROBABLY DID.
>> IT WAS IN "THE EXAMINER."
HERE IS A LADY, I HAVE NO IDEA WHO LILLIAN COPELAND CIRCA 1929.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW PLEATING IS FAME.
TODAY WE DON'T KNOW HER NAME.
BACK THEN I AM SURE THIS LADY WAS A STAR, WASN'T SHE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
BIG STAR.
SHE WENT TO L.A. HIGH AND U.S.C.
AT THE TIME, WOMEN ATHLETES WEREN'T ALLOWED TO DO A WHOLE LOT OF WEIGHT AND STRENGTH EXERCISES.
HERE SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST GREAT THROWERS.
SHE SET RECORDS IN THE SHOTPUT, JAVLI AND OLYMPICS.
>> SHE WENT TO L.A. HIGH SCHOOL AND U.S.C.
AND WAS ON THE FIRST WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD EVENTS DECIDED IN OLYMPIC HISTORY.
>> RIGHT.
SHE WON A SILVER MEDAL IN 1928 IN 1932 WHEN THE OLYMPIC WERS HERE IN LOS ANGELES, SHE WON THE GOLD MEDAL.
SHE, INTERESTING, SHE WAS A JEWISH ATHLETE.
IN 1936 WHEN THE OLYMPICS WERE HELD IN BERLIN IN NAZI, GERMANY, SHE REFUSED TO COMPETE.
YOU DON'T KNOW OF HER TODAY, BUT IN HER TIME, BOTH A PIONEER ATHLETE AND SOMEONE WITH JUST A GREAT SPIRIT.
>> SEE, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY POIGNANT DAY.
I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN FASCINATED AND INTRIGUED WHEN I LOOK AT PICTURES OF PEOPLE.
ESPECIALLY PICTURES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LONG GONE WHO ARE NOT EVEN WITH US.
AND HOW FLEETING -- IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE STORIES BEHIND THE PICTURES, THEY'RE FLAT, BUT IF YOU KNOW THE STORIES BEHIND THE PICTURES, THEY COME TO LIFE AND THEY ARE SO RICH AND THEY ARE SO FULL.
WHO WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT HER NOT BEING AT OLYMPICS IN 1936 BECAUSE SHE WAS JEWISH?
>> RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THOSE IMAGES THAT WERE HERE IN THE LIBRARY WAITING TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN.
FORTUNATELY, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEM AND DUST THEM OFF AND BRING THEM OUT SO THE PUBLIC CAN MAYBE GET ANOTHER LOOK AT EVERYBODY ONE MORE TIME.
>> BOY, THERE'S A TREASURE DOWN HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WONDERFUL WORK IN SAVING THESE PICTURES FROM OBSCURITY, FROM THOSE DUSTY OLD FIRE CAB -- FILE CABINETS AND BOXES AND BRINGING THEM BACK HERE TO LIFE FOR ALL OF US TO SEE AND ENJOY AND BE ENRICHED BY SPENDING TIME LOOKING AT THEM.
>> THANKS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> APPRECIATE YOU COMING BY.
>> WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME DOWN HERE AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, LOOKING AT THIS WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS.
THE NAME OF THE COLLECTION IS 0 I- >> "PLAY BY PLAY, CENTURY OF LOS ANGELES SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY, 1889 TO 1989."
>> AND IT'S HERE FOR AWFUL US TO ENJOY.
I SURE HOPE YOU ENJOYED OUR VISIT DOWN HERE TO THE CENTRAL LIBRARY IN DOWNTOWN L.A. AS WE VISITED PLAY BY PLAY, A CENTURY OF L.A. SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY, 1889-1989, FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION OF THE LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE GOOD NEWS IS, THIS ENTIRE COLLECTION UP HERE ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND THEN THERE ARE TWO CALGARIES DOWN ON THE FIRST FLOOR -- THERE ARE TWO GALLERIES DOWN, THEY ARE FILLED WITH AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHS AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR YOU TO SEE UNTIL MARCH 27 OF THIS YEAR.
YOU'VE STILL GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO BRING YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS AND KIDS DOWN HERE TO SEE THESE AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHS FROM OUR PAST.
OF COURSE, WE CAN ALSO GO ON-LINE AND WE ARE PUTTING THAT ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW AND SEE A LOT OF THESE IMAGES AT HOME ON OUR COMPUTERS.
THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS WE CAN TIE IN TO THIS AMAZING PART OF OUR SPORTS HISTORY HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
COME ON DOWN TO THE CENTRAL LIBRARY AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF.
