Hollywood Legion Stadium

On October 18, 1922, the @HollywoodPost43 band played at Grauman's Egyptian Theater, at 6706 Hollywood Boulevard, during the world premiere of the Douglas Fairbanks film, "Robin Hood." The photo below, from Exhibitors Weekly, shows Hollywood Post American Legion Band (dressed in their WWI uniforms) as they stand in the forecourt and give a band concert on opening night. It would be another seven years before the bandmembers--who also performed at Hollywood Legion Stadium befo...re the boxing and wrestling matches--would get formal band uniforms for the opening of the Memorial Clubhouse, 2035 North Highland Ave. The premiere filled all 1,742 seats of the theater. Author/director Robert Hughes and Charlie Chaplin appeared as surprise speakers, and "handsome souvenir programs in brochure form were given to every first night patron." At the time, Post 43 was located on the 1600 block of El Centro Boulevard and the Post was given two prop swords from the production of "Robin Hood"--one sword was stolen in the 1980s, and the other is still on display in the Museum. Details on the premiere can be found here: https://losangelestheatres.blogspot.com//egyptian-forecour

From "Exhibitors Herald-World - July 20, 1929" - "The association rented the Hollywood American Legion Stadium and drew a pretty good gate, but there were many seats vacant."

The 1927 green-tinted arcade card advertising American Legion Post 43 - Hollywood, CA member Monte Blue in "One-Round Hogan," with boxing legend Jim Jeffries.

Another boxing film from the 1930s--"Catch as Catch Can" (1931)--which may or may not have been filmed at Hollywood Legion Stadium. The call sheet from Hal Roach Studios reads "CC Stadium," which could have simply stood for "Catch Can," as there were no boxing stadiums with the initials C.C. More information can be found at http://www.lordheath.com (/menu1_1391.html)

"My Encounters With Freddie Steele" by J. Smith Bennett, from "Tacoma: Voices of the Past."

March 29, 1958: "Earl (The Menace) Dennis, New York welterweight, makes Hollywood Legion ring bow tonight against Willie Morton of San Jose."

"Going into the Fites Friday Nite at the Hollywood Legion... The American Legion presented Marshall Duffield, Trojan Grid star, with a watch this Nite..." - "Inside Stage and Screen," November 8, 1930. Six years earlier, USC's 1930 team coach Knute Rockne was also given a wristwatch by the Hollywood American Legion, which was on Rockne's wrist during his plane crash and which stopped "at the exact moment of the crash" on March 31, 1931: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodLegionStadium/posts/2656426997751345

The book, "Japanese American relocation in World War II: A reconsideration" by Roger W. Lotchin, has a chapter on "The Ballad of Frankie Seto"--which covers boxer Frank Seto's appearance at Hollywood Legion Stadium in 1941, and addresses the racism that existed towards Asian-Americans at the time. The preview is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-American-Reloc//1108410391

A blurb in "Motion Picture" magazine from October 1936 mentions Al Jolson and Ruby Keeler's fondness for live boxing matches.

From the Glendale Evening News, Tuesday, February 10, 1925. British actor Victor McLaghlin met director Frank Lloyd at Hollywood Legion Stadium; the director noted his "unusual physique" and thereafter began his film career. In 1937, American Legion Post 43 - Hollywood, CA presented a Community Service Award to McLaghlin: https://www.facebook.com//photos/a.12098/10152313038567242

Before Hollywood Legion Stadium opened in 1921 and started hosting boxing matches, high-profile fans of the sport like Al Jolson would travel to Vernon, California to attend boxing matches and be a part of American boxing culture.

"Broadcasting" Magazine (1950): "WRESTLER STRIKE - Halts Hollywood Arena - WITH wrestlers refusing to perform before TV cameras, wrestling at Hollywood (Calif.) Legion Stadium has been discontinued and the house will remain dark until termination of the present telecasting contract with Don Lee Television on May 26..."

From "Modern Screen," April 1932: "Bill Hart's appearance at the Hollywood American Legion Stadium for the weekly boxing bouts caused a lot of excitement. It's the first time the veteran actor has made a public appearance in years... 'This is the first fight I've been to for two years--and if that's the kind of decisions they hand out--it'll be the last for a long time.'"

"Pictures and the Picturegoer," September 1925: "Every Friday night, the Hollywood Legion Stadium is packed with ardent devotees of the manly art of boxing. Conway Tearle, Richard Dix, Harrison Ford, Creighton Hale, always have ringside seats when they are in town, and Viola Dana and Shirley Mason are heard but not seen--if they know in advance when the flashlight is going to be taken! After Chaplin's fistic encounter with Mr. Julien, the oil magnate, he was given a tremendous ovation when he entered the Stadium."

"The Daily Columnist," December 17, 1940. "Jack Patterson, Victoria (British Columbia) heavyweight, in forms us that the dressing rooms in the Hollywood Stadium, Los Angeles, are equipped with periscopes, making it possible for the boxers to 'look up' at th bouts while preparing to go into action themselves..."

"Victoria Times," Wednesday, June 28, 1922. "The big Kansas boxer is training at the Hollywood stadium of the American Legion, where Manager Roy Mitchell of the stadium has installed equipment required by Willard... the former champion had planned to begin work Monday, but was forced to postpone his programme a day because his gymnasium togs were not ready. He is so large that his gym suit was knit especially for him..."

A little nugget from "Movie Classic Magazine," 1936.

"The Journal of Electrical Workers and Operators," October 1929. "The gatherings are now held in the American Legion Stadium, the scene of Hollywood fights of another character, and are attended by 5,000 to 7,000 people. The hall is flooded with light. In the center the fight arena, with its padded floor, is roped off. At one end of the stadium is a stage and upon this appears President Gillmore and leaders in the Equity case, the faces changing from week to week, though some... of the "regulars" are nearly always there. "Here is George Arliss, one of the staunchest of the staunch, with Mrs. Arliss at his side. There is Nance O'Neil, always at hand. As one's eye roves over the audience or the stage it lights perhaps upon Reginald Denny, Chester Conklin, the James Gleasons, Joseph Schildkraut, Robert Edeson, Jetta Goudal, Joe E. Brown, Ann Harding, George Fawcett, Ben Lyon, Helen Ware, Tom Moore, James Kirkwood, Clarke Silvernail, Sam Hardy, Ned Sparks, Leo Carillo, and many more whose names and faces are widely known." See more

Here's a toy that you won't find in a Cracker Jack box again... a 3/4" long lead toy from the 1920s, designed to be worn in the button hole of a shirt. It had remarkable detail on the stitching and the laces.

"Hollywood Host to War Heroes," as printed in "Holly Leaves," July 8, 1922. The photo of Jess Willard was from a photo shoot/boxing demonstration on July 2, 1922. "By special arrangement of the Hollywood Post, members of the Disabled Veterans of the World War and Veterans of Foreign Wars were given a day's entertainment here."