Opening Day Auction Closing May 9th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/10/2015
Due to the Great Depression, only one city offered to host the X Olympic Games in 1932 - Los Angeles. LA's city leaders were wise enough to realize that hosting the games would bring a flow of visitors and much needed revenue along with worldwide publicity for the city. The preparations were beneficial to the local economy since the construction of the facilities (including the very first "Olympic Village") employed thousands in the months before the Games began. By the time the X Olympic Games opened on July 31, 1932, the residents of Los Angeles had been caught up by Olympic spirit. The public's desire for news of the Games led to the Los Angeles Times printing a special supplement each day to bring the latest news of winners and special interest stories about the athletes. Within its pages the Times reported on Babe Didrikson's two Gold Medals, Gold Medalist sprinter Stella Walsh (who years later was found to actually be intersex!) and Japan's Baron Nishi, equestrian Gold Medalist who would be the main character in Clint Eastwood's film "Letters from Iwo Jima". This stunning archive was carefully saved by one of those fans caught up by the excitement surrounding LA's first Olympic Games.
There are 14 complete "Olympic Games Section" removed from the daily editions of the Los Angeles Times. Dating from the Opening Ceremonies on July 31st to the day after the closing ceremonies on August 15th, the sections document the events that were run each day and the results. Each day has 4 to 8 pages of articles ranging from participating nations to the athletes competing, making it possible to follow the games as they happened through contemporary reporting. Along with the "Olympic Games Sections" is a complete edition of the August 14, 1932 LA Times with the Sunday Times Magazine and Sunday Farm and Garden Magazine and a laminated front page of the July 31st supplement showing the Opening Ceremonies. The pieces are complete though brittle with toning from age. A very unique time capsule allowing a play-by-play following of the X Olympic Games.