Los Angeles 1932: The City of Angels makes its Olympic debut
Los Angeles’ first Olympic Games – only the second to be staged outside Europe – proved to be a resounding success.
In the midst of the Great Depression, the Games of the X Olympiad were profitable, generating a USD 1 million surplus, thanks to a financially prudent approach. Revenue was generated from ticket sales, bank interest, the sale of equipment following the Games and initiatives such as state bond issues and concessions. The bottom line was further boosted by the fact that all but two of the competition venues were already in place, and by the savings made during the construction of the Olympic Village.
At just 16 days long, Los Angeles 1932 came to be the shortest Games held up to that point. Far from being an exception, this competition format has since remained relatively unchanged, with the Summer Games spread over 15 and 18 days ever since.
The Organising Committee drew in a wide range of local leaders from diverse industries, including newspaper owners, real estate developers and Hollywood film studio moguls. This helped to capitalise on the Games to promote the city and region's development. Together, they ensured the Games reached a wider audience. The fusion of sport and the city’s burgeoning entertainment industry added to the prestige of the Olympic Games. Athletes were courted by Hollywood producers, with five-time Olympic champion swimmer Johnny Weissmuller signing for MGM Studios and starring in Tarzan the Ape Man, released just weeks before the Games began.
The Games of the X Olympiad helped establish Los Angeles on both the national and international stage, shaping the city's image as a hub of health, leisure, glamour and sport. This contributed to the birth of the "Californian lifestyle" and attracted visitors to the city. The local fashion industry gained global recognition for its sport-inspired clothing, while the city's iconic palm trees – 30,000 of which were planted along its wide avenues and boulevards in preparation for the Games – became a lasting legacy.
Olympic culture became deeply embedded in the city. In 1939, the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games (SCCOG) was formed by civic leaders William May Garland and Paul Helms, at the request of the body now known as the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). Since its formation, the SCCOG has been instrumental in preserving Olympic heritage and institutionalising bidding for the Olympic Games. Following the success of the 1932 Games, the SCCOG, in partnership with the city of LA, mounted 10 bids to host the Olympic Games in the years following the Second World War. The valuable know-how acquired from these successive bids eventually paid off when LA was awarded the 1984 Olympic Games. The SCCOG again played a supporting role in securing Los Angeles’ third Games, to be held in 2028.
The 1932 Olympic Games were also instrumental in popularising sport among the city’s residents, who flocked to its venues to both take part in and watch sporting events. The Olympic Stadium and Olympic Auditorium became integral parts of the city’s sporting fabric, while venues such as the Rowing Stadium, which was handed over to the City of Long Beach after the Games, gained protection as historical landmarks.