Mientras los atletas olímpicos de hoy baten récords en Tokio con la ayuda de la ciencia moderna y los métodos de entrenamiento, el evento no es más increíble ni impresionante que los "pequeños juegos que sí pudieron" del verano de 1932 en nuestra querida Los Ángeles. Este hermoso mapa tiene dos caras atractivas: detalla las sedes e imagina la colorida celebración del deporte que salpica la cuenca desde el Océano Pacífico hasta el recién pulcro Estadio Olímpico. Fue un milagro que la pequeña Los Ángeles pudiera capturar los juegos, pero el tenaz representante (y posteriormente presidente del Comité Olímpico), William May Garland, se presentó ante el Comité Olímpico en 1921 y convenció a la ciudad de los ángeles para que alcanzara el éxito. Fue una apuesta arriesgada en medio de la depresión y un desafío para las naciones con problemas económicos llegar a la lejana ciudad de la costa del Pacífico. Al igual que en 1984, los detractores de la prensa criticaron la audaz idea, pero cuando comenzaron los juegos, 105.000 fanáticos delirantes abarrotaron lo que se convertiría en el Coliseo y otros 50.000 se congregaron en el Parque de la Exposición durante la ceremonia inaugural. Treinta y siete naciones llegaron a nuestra bella ciudad y dieciocho récords mundiales fueron igualados o superados. La gran Babe Didrikson Zaharias obtuvo tres medallas de oro y recordó a la nación el poder de las atletas femeninas. En lugar del desastre predicho por los bromistas locales, la ciudad floreció y, durante un mes brillante en los oscuros días de la depresión, Los Ángeles ocupó su lugar entre las grandes ciudades del mundo.
Mary Hall Atwood was a muralist and pictorial mapmaker who had just relocated from Paris and scored two winning cartes. This Olympic map remains very popular and her vision of Long Beach in the following year is beautiful and extremely rare.
1932 Olympic Map, Olympic Games Los Angeles. Cartographer Mary Hall Atwood, Compliments of Union Oil
Nuestra colección de fotos incluye muchas de las ubicaciones de los X Juegos Olímpicos que aparecen en los mapas. También tenemos imágenes de Mildred "Babe" Didrikson y sus carreras ganadoras de medallas.
1932 Olympic Games promotion. On a Los Angeles area beach, sixteen women, each holding up a letter or number, spell out "O-L-Y-M-P-I-C G-A-M-E-S 1-9-3-2.". Eyre Powell Chamber of Commerce Collection
Funds were provided by the City of Los Angeles for the streets to be gaily decorated with Olympic flags and banners. Spring Street, as seen looking north from 5th Street, is shown here in Olympic regalia. Security Pacific National Bank Collection
Exterior of the 1932 Olympic Games ticket and information office, located inside the National City Bank Building at 810 S. Spring Street (lower left corner) in Downtown Los Angeles. Security Pacific National Bank Collection
A woman, joined by musicians, hangs a sign provided by the Automobile Club of Southern California, identifying the location of the Olympic marathon course nearby. Two other signs offer the distances to where other Olympic venues are located. The marathon started and ended at the Olympic Stadium, [1932]. Photo credit: Eyre Powell Chamber of Commerce Collection
Crowds have filled the Olympic Stadium (the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum) for the 1932 Olympic Games; the Los Angeles Swimming Stadium, another Olympic venue, can be seen in the upper left. Security Pacific National Bank Collection
Exposition Park, originally named Agricultural Park, was developed in 1876 as a showground for agricultural and horticultural fairs. Architects John and Donald B. Parkinson designed the 1923 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, located at 3911 S. Figueroa Street, as well as the expansion for the 1932 Olympic Games. In 1984, the Coliseum became the first stadium in the world to host the Olympic games twice. Security Pacific National Bank Collection
Mildred "Babe" Didrikson competed in three events - winning the javelin and hurdles, with a second in the high jump. Here, the 18-year old wins the 80-meter hurdles, setting the world record in 11.7 seconds in a near-dead heat with Evelyne Hall (far right), [1932]. Security Pacific National Bank Collection
Exterior of the Los Angeles Swimming Stadium, built for the aquatic events of the 1932 Olympic Games. Photo credit: Dick Whittington, Security Pacific National Bank Collection
Los Angeles Swimming Stadium, 1932 Olympic Games, [1932]. Security Pacific National Bank Collection
An unidentified Olympian (right of center) has jumped and is about to hit the water at the Long Beach Marine Stadium after a rowing event. Long Beach Marine Stadium, 1932 Olympics. Security Pacific National Bank Collection
Spectators watch as four rowing teams with coxswains from the U.S., Canada, Britain, and Italy compete in the 8 oar rowing event at the Long Beach Marine Stadium during the 1932 Olympic Games. Security Pacific National Bank Collection
Frenchman, Francois Lesage, is seen riding Taine at the Riviera Country Club Olympiad Arena. Olympic equestrian games, [1932]. Herald Examiner Collection
Entrance arches to the polo field of the Riviera Country Club. Polo field will be used in the 1932 Olympic Games. Works Progress Administration Collection
Exterior of the Grand Olympic Auditorium, built specifically for the boxing, weightlifting, and wrestling events of the 1932 Olympic Games. Security Pacific National Bank Collection
Spectators have filled the Grand Olympic Auditorium to watch the Olympic wrestling competitions to be held on the dual platforms seen in the center of the auditorium, [1932]. Security Pacific National Bank Collection
This Olympic Village, made up of several hundred buildings, including post and telegraph offices, an amphitheater, a hospital, a fire department, and a bank, operated from July 30 until August 14, 1932. Security Pacific National Bank Collection
One of the temporary bungalows, erected at the Olympic Village in Baldwin Hills for the 1932 Olympic Games, on display at the Olympic Stadium. Security Pacific National Bank Collection
With the flags of all participating nations flying, athletes, friends, and officials mingle around the main entrance and headquarters of the Olympic Village in Baldwin Hills. Security Pacific National Bank Collection
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