After a short delay, I'm back to
reviewing! This time, I've got something slightly different.
Today, I'm looking at Detroit's
Olympia Stadium,
and Remembering Detroit's Olympia Stadium,
both by Robert Wimmer.
Together,
these two books cover the history of one of the “Original Six”
arenas, the home of the Red Wings. While hockey was very much a part
of this arena for several decades, starting on October 22, 1927, so
many other events have taken place in the building.
The
first book, Detroit's Olympia Stadium
spends more time looking at the Detroit Red Wings and hockey history
in general in the Olympia. The great players over the decades, rare
behind-the-scenes pictures of places like the press box, or the inner
offices. Still, there are plenty of other acts pictured, such as
professional wrestling, and concerts. There are several pictures of
The Beatles playing the Olympia.
The
second book, Remembering Detroit's
Olympia
takes a somewhat broader look at the arena, and those that performed
inside. There are a lot more pictures of concerts, such as KISS, a
rare picture of Elvis, the Globetrotters, and so many more.
This
second book, by the same author as the first, shows many faces who
kept the building going; those who sold concessions, cleaned the ice,
took tickets, the ushers, the people that we tend to take for granted
at many events. They are well represented in this work.
Finally,
there are pictures of the sad days of the demolition. Ironically, the
Olympia was so well constructed, demolition was not possible, and it
had to be torn down from the inside out.
For
the long time Red Wings fan who remembers the Olympia, to the newer
fans who never set foot inside, these two books will superbly serve
as a reminder of one of hockey's golden buildings, and an arena that
should never be forgotten.
Special
thanks to Arcadia Publishing for making both of these books available
for reviewing purposes!
Link
to Arcadia Publishing:
http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9780738507873/Detroits-Olympia-Stadium
Link
to Powell's City of Books:
http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9780738507873-0
Link
to Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/detroits-olympia-stadium-michigan-robert-wimmer/1100570319?ean=9780738507873
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