Since
the last true world heavyweight title fight in Los
Angeles - 44 years, 10 months and 13 days ago (as of
June 21)
for those counting - roughly 4,940 fight cards have
taken place in California. If each show averaged
five-plus bouts, that would make it approximately
25,000 fights between the time Floyd Patterson
retained his crown with a 13th-round TKO over Roy
Harris on Aug. 18, 1958, at Wrigley Field.
Lennox Lewis defends his world heavyweight
belts against Vitali Klitschko on June 21 at STAPLES
Center.
The way it was in 1958, the last time a true
heavyweight champion of the world defended his title
in Los Angeles:
Dwight Eisenhower was the President of the United
States. Norris Poulson was the L.A. Mayor. William H.
Parker was halfway through a tenure in which he would
become the longest serving police chief in L.A. City
history ).
The city's population was approximately 2,400,000 (it
is now more than 3,750,000); the annual consumer price
index was 28.9 (compared to 181.1 in 2002). Earl Sheib
would paint any car for $29.99; four premium whitewall
tires went for $100; a half-pound of barbecue chicken
or ribs sold for $1.10. The Rams, who sent quarterback
Norm Van Brocklin to the Eagles during the preseason,
dominated the local pro sports scene; USC and UCLA the
colleges.
A ticket to a Rams-Redskins preseason game sold for
$3.90 (reserved), $2.50 (general admission) A Haspel
wash 'n wear suit sold for $39.75, a 100 percent silk
coat jacket for $29.95, Gaberdine slacks for $9.95.
The Dodgers were in the fifth month of their first
year in L.A. The Angels were still minor-league; there
were no NBA or NHL teams in L.A.
The
Sports Arena was exactly 11 months away from hosting
its first event. Popular L.A. places to visit included
the Coca-Cola Building (1334 S. Central Ave.), Helms
Hall (8760 Venice Blvd.) and Holiday Bowl (3730
Crenshaw Ave.).
The remnants of the Pacific Electric Railway
(including the Red Cars) were placed under the control
of the newly created Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit
Authority. KTLA introduced the first TV news
helicopter in the nation.
The average price for a gallon of gas was about $.20;
it cost around $.50 to go to a movie; a set of five
golf irons went for $31.95. Elvis got inducted into
the Army” "The
Bridge On the River Kwai'' took the Oscar for Best
Picture. There were no less than four L.A. daily
newspapers. Bob Hope was 55.
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