"18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium" Episode 1 | Hosted by Milena Ortega with guest Steve DeBro

This is episode one of a five-part series of conversations centered on LA Plaza's "18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium" exhibition, produced and hosted by Milena Ortega, a recent UCLA graduate, Summer 2023 LA County Department of Arts & Culture Arts intern.
In this session, she is joined by filmmaker Steve DeBro, director and producer of "18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium Story," the Emmy-nominated documentary that served as inspiration for LA Plaza's exhibition, which runs through May 19, 2024.

[@ricksnoddy1701]

Thank you Milena for hosting Steve DeBro to discuss the making of 18th and Grand and how it came to be. So many fond memories came flooding back when I watched the documentary! I grew up on the CA Central Coast 2 1/2 hours from LA, but thanks to early cable TV, was able to watch boxing, wrestling, and roller derby from the Olympic Auditorium on KCOP and KTLA in the mid 1960’s to mid 1970’s. The Olympic to me at the time was a mystical place, I never got an opportunity to attend an event there, but Steve’s documentary tells the amazing story of the place, the people, and it made me as a viewer feel like I was there during that incredible era. I’m so thankful 18th and Grand forever preserves the rich history of the Olympic and those times in Los Angeles.

[@cmorales932]

Are the Olympic Auditorium and The Coliseum the last remnants of the 1932 Olympics?

[@abelardodlp]

I think the Aquatic Center near the Coliseum was a venue as well

[@cmorales932]

@@abelardodlp Yes, that sounds right!