Customer Reviews

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (CA) (Images of America)

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1923 was a signal year in American sports. Three famous sports venues opened that year. Besides the Los Angeles Coliseum, Rasadena's Rose Bowl and Yankee Stadium in New York also opened. While many books have been published about The House That Ruth Built and what took place there, this book fills a void. And even the stadium in the Bronx would be hard-pressed to match the variety of events that took place in LA's mammoth saucer (O. K., there were many more World Series, boxing matches, and masses conducted by TWO Popes). But the Los Angeles Coliseum has hosted two NFL teams, two Super Bowls, both historic in their own way, two Olympics, Evel Kneivel, an acceptance speech from a President-to-be, record-breaking attendance figures for the Dodgers and The Reverend Billy Graham, fireworks shows, rock concerts and one of the biggest rivalries in college football. Concerning the latter, I remember the days when both USC and UCLA played their home games here. And when they met in their annual clash, which often carried national championship and Rose Bowl implications, both teams wore their home jerseys (powder blue and gold for UCLA, cardinal and gold for USC). A separate section of this book is devoted to the nearby Sports Arena, which hosted the Lakers during the era of Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. Some excellent archival photos are included, including pics of the original construction and 1932 expansion (these inner and outer rings were separated during the 1994 Northridge earthquake).

My main qualm about this book is the fact that I did not see any photos of the Mass that the late Pope John Paul II celebrated on his visit to California in 1987 (he also held Mass at Dodger Stadium). This was the first visit ever by a Pontiff to the Western United States.

This book provides an incredible amount of historical background and hundreds of pictures of the Los Angeles Coliseum. We grew up seeing fireworks, rodeos, baseball games (even a World Series), football, Olympics, motocross and more at this landmark. I especially liked all of the photos of the stadium being built. A wonderful book about one of the world's great stadiums.

One of my favorite places on earth is the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and this book nearly does it justice.

The first time I walked through the tunnel and out into the sunlight and saw the beautiful green playing field, I knew I was home. There are lots of great memories in the Coliseum and much rich tradition and history in the book.

It is a must-have.