1960 Winter Olympics torch relay

none 1960 Winter Squaw Valley (now Olympic Valley), United States Norway, Denmark, United States 1,000 km (600 miles) 600 31 January 1960 18 February 1960 John Hench The 1960 Winter Olympics torch relay was held in the leadup to the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley (now Olympic Valley), California, in the United States, from January 31 to February 18, 1960. It was the first torch relay in the Americas, although a flame had previously been lit at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. For the final time, the Olympic flame was not lit in the Greek city of Olympia. The relay instead began in Morgedal, Norway, as had been done for the first Winter Olympics torch relay in 1952. Organization The responsibility for organizing the torch relay, in addition to the opening and closing ceremonies, fell to the Pageantry Committee and its chairman Walt Disney. Disney brought many employees of his company WED Enterprises (now known as Walt Disney Imagineering), who had recently designed and begun operating Disneyland, to organize these events.http://www.waltdisney.org/storyboard/look-closer-olympic-torch Look Closer: The Olympic Torch | the Walt Disney Family Museum https://web.archive.org/web/20140527212929/http://www.waltdisney.org/storyboard/look-closer-olympic-torch May 27, 2014 dead 26 May 2014 The committee intended for the flame to be lit in Olympia, Greece, which was the established tradition for Summer Olympics but had never been done before in the Winter Olympics. However, the Hellenic Olympic Committee, which is responsible for lighting the flame at Olympia and transporting it through Greece before it is handed off to the organizing committee of the current Olympics, was only informed of these plans a few days before the relay was set to begin. With no torches on hand to relay the flame through Greece, no arrangements having been made for the transportation of the flame out of Greece, and winter weather that made the traditional lighting of the flame from the rays of the sun unlikely, the HOC turned down the organizing committee's request on January 28, just four days before the flame was supposed to arrive in Los Angeles. The Games' organizers quickly turned to the Norwegian Olympic Committee, asking them to light the flame at Morgedal, the birthplace of competitive skiing, as had been done for the 1952 relay. Norwegian officials agreed, and the flame was lit at Morgedal on January 31, where it was carried to Sondre Norheim's chalet by skier Olav Nordskog. It was then transported by car through Oslo to Copenhagen, Denmark, from which it was flown to Los Angeles."Abandonnant la tradition... la flamme de Squaw Valley fut allumée eu Norvège et non à Olympie. Pourquoi ?" (in French), Bulletin du comité international olympique no. 70, May 15, 1960, pages 15 and 17."Real Olympic Torch Won't Go To Games", Associated Press, via Los Angeles Mirror-News, January 27, 1960, Part III, page 5. Torch thumb|right|A torch from the relay at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. The torch was designed by Disney artist John Hench, who modeled it after the torches used in 1948 and 1956. The International Olympic Committee credits Ralph Lavers, who created the 1948 torch, as co-designing the 1960 torch with Hench."Torches and torch relays of the Olympic Winter Games from Oslo 1952 to Beijing 2022", Olympic Studies Centre, 2023, pages 14-17. However, Hench found these torches to be too top-heavy and difficult to carry, and produced a smaller model which has influenced the design of later Olympic torches.http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-hench-37978.html John Hench February 12, 2004 The Independent 23 March 2019 The torch bears the inscriptions "VIII Olympic Winter Games 1960" and "Olympia to Squaw Valley", reflecting the canceled plan to light the flame in Greece."Factsheet: The Olympic torch relay", International Olympic Committee, October 6, 2021. Route USA California 450 right Map of the route through California. USA California Los Angeles left Los Angeles, California 12 33.9739 -118.2484 USA California Glendale, California 34.1705 -118.2894 USA California Burbank Burbank, California 12 34.2009 -118.2927 USA California San Fernando, California 34.2866 -118.4350 USA California Newhall, California 34.3681 -118.4890 USA California Castaic, California 33.7865 -118.2986 USA California Gorman left Gorman, California 12 34.7961 -118.8525 USA California Grapevine, California 34.9410 -118.9310 USA California Bakersfield left Bakersfield, California 12 35.3843 -119.0205 USA California Delano, California 35.7795 -119.2008 USA California Earlimart, California 35.8759 -119.2623 USA California Tipton, California 36.0583 -119.313 USA California Porterville, California 35.9737 -118.7035 USA California Tulare left Tulare, California 12 36.1335 -119.2998 USA California Kingsburg, California 36.5138 -119.5540 USA California Selma, California 36.5707 -119.6120 USA California Fresno Fresno, California 12 36.8411 -119.8010 USA California Sanger, California 36.7080 -119.5559 USA California Madera, California 36.9282 -120.1824 USA California Merced Merced, California 12 37.3457 -120.4241 USA California Atwater, California 37.3172 -120.6473 USA California Livingston, California 37.3587 -120.7500 USA California Delhi, California 37.4293 -120.7620 USA California Turlock, California 37.4743 -120.8759 USA California Ceres, California 37.5618 -120.9679 USA California Modesto Modesto, California 12 37.6694 -121.0167 USA California Ripon, California 37.7651 -121.1154 USA California Stockton top Stockton, California 12 37.6721 -121.2987 USA California San Francisco top San Francisco, California 12 37.7766 -122.4174 USA California Oakland, California 37.7860 -122.2237 USA California Thornton, California 38.2260 -121.4246 USA California Sacramento Sacramento, California 12 38.3774 -121.4444 USA California Roseville, California 38.7407 -121.2560 USA California Auburn, California 39.0149 -121.0704 USA California Colfax left Colfax, California 12 39.1264 -120.8637 USA California Emigrant Gap top Emigrant Gap, California 12 39.2968 -120.6727 USA California Blyth Arena Blyth Arena 12 39.1963 -120.2335 The Olympic flame arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on the morning of February 1, 1960. A Scandinavian Airlines jet liner carried it over the North Pole on its way to the United States. From the airport, a helicopter carried the torch to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 Summer Olympics had been held. Shot put champion Parry O'Brien was the first American to carry the torch, handing it to Los Angeles mayor Norris Poulson."Famed Torch on Way to Squaw Site", Los Angeles Times, February 2, 1960, Part IV, page 5. The first segment of the relay was run entirely on foot from Los Angeles to Stockton, with runners carrying the flame for roughly six hours per day and typically stopping in the mid-afternoon.Berry, Bill. "Timetable Is Arranged For Olympic Torch's Trip", Sacramento Bee, January 19, 1960, pages B3 and B4. Note the substantial differences between the planned timetable and what was actually followed. For most of its journey across California, the torch was carried by high school athletes from all around the state. The California Interscholastic Federation organized the selection of torchbearers, with high school coaches allowed to choose one student each. Approximately 600 students participated in the relay, each one carrying the flame for one mile."High school athletes chosen for flame run", The Southwest Wave, January 28, 1960, front page. Renault, a sponsor of the 1960 Winter Olympics, provided pace cars which followed the relay, picked up and dropped off runners, and supplied them with torches and fuel. The cars were driven by officers of the California Highway Patrol."Renault Cars To Aid Winter Olympics In 1960 Torch Run", Los Angeles Independent, January 28, 1960, page 57. On the first day of the relay, the torch was carried from Los Angeles to Glendale and into the San Fernando Valley before stopping for the night in Burbank. Gymnasts from Burbank's John Burroughs High School, including a young Dan Haggerty, formed a human pyramid that lifted the torch up and used it to light a large replica torch in front of City Hall. Similar lighting ceremonies were staged in many of the towns the relay passed through, and these torches continued burning until the Olympics ended."Olympic Flame To Arrive In Southland Mon. On Jet Liner", Valley Times, January 30, 1960, page 3."San Fernando, Burbank To Burn Olympic Fires", Los Angeles Citizen-News, January 28, 1960, page 10. On February 2, the runners passed through San Fernando, Newhall, and Castaic (the latter two now part of Santa Clarita), then following the Ridge Route before stopping for the night in Gorman.Good, Paula. "Four Hart Cross Countrymen Assist Olympic Torch Carrier Through Township", Newhall Signal and Saugus Enterprise, February 4, 1960, front page."Three Local Athletes Carry Olympic Flame", Santa Barbara News-Press, February 2, 1960, page B-6. Entering the San Joaquin Valley, the arrival of the flame coincided with the opening of the first segment of eight-lane freeway that would become Interstate 5 in Grapevine, and the torchbearers and pace cars were the first to use the new roadway. The relay's third day ended in Bakersfield.Lopez, Eddie. "Torch Continues Up Valley", Bakersfield Californian, February 4, 1960, pages 31 and 33. On February 4, the runners passed through Delano, where a flock of doves was released."Olympic Flame Flickers as Runners Trot Through Rain", UPI, Santa Barbara News-Press, February 4, 1960, page B-4. In Earlimart, runners followed the recessed freeway through town, but after an outcry from local residents who had expected the torch to stop, they were given an offshoot of the flame. From Tipton, another offshoot flame was carried eastward to Porterville while the primary flame continued north."Ceremony Marks Arrival Of Olympic Torch Flame; Olympic Torch Seen Twice In Earlimart", Porterville Recorder, February 5, 1960, front page. The relay stopped for the evening in Tulare, with Olympians Bob Mathias and Sim Iness (both of whom grew up in Tulare) carrying the torch into town."Tulare Welcomes Winter Olympic Torch Bearers", Tulare Advance-Register, February 4, 1960, Souvenir Edition, front page. The next day, the relay stopped briefly in Kingsburg"Olympic Fire Leaves Fresno For Merced", Fresno Bee, February 6, 1960, page 11-A. and Selma, where the lighting of the torch coincided with the unveiling of a memorial to local resident Ancel Robinson, who had broken the world record in the low hurdles in 1957."Lighting the torch", Selma Enterprise, February 11, 1960, page 8."IAAF World Record Progression - 2015 Edition", page 125. Runners officially ended the day on the steps of the Memorial Auditorium in Fresno,"Olympic Torch Sets Off Fresno Jubilee", Fresno Bee, February 6, 1960, front page. where the torch was greeted by Olympic athlete and former Fresno mayor Gordon Dunn and Olympic figure skater Carole Ormaca."El Cap Band To Join Torch Ceremony Here", Merced Sun-Star, February 5, 1960, page 2. Another offshoot flame was carried from Fresno to Sanger."200 Watch Olympic Fire Transfer to Sanger Torch", Sanger Herald, February 11, 1960, front page and page 2A. The relay's sixth day had the torch stop in Madera and end its run in Merced. On February 7, the run passed through Atwater, Livingston, and Delhi"Runners Pass Through Atwater, Livingston, Delhi Sunday A. M.", Merced Sun-Star, February 6, 1960, page 8. before a midday stop in Turlock,"Orestimba Runners Participate In Olympic Torch Relay Sunday", West Side Index, February 11, 1960, front page. then proceeded through Ceres before finishing the day in Modesto."Torch Resumes Its Northward Journey", Modesto Bee, February 8, 1960, page B-4. The final day of the first running segment took the torch to Ripon"Olympic Torch Arrival Viewed by Huge Crowd", Ripon Record, February 11, 1960, front page. before it arrived in Stockton at noon on February 8."Olympic Flame Arrives Here After Wet Trip", Stockton Record, February 8, 1960, pages 22 and 24. From Stockton, the torch boarded the motor yacht Adventuress, part of the ceremonial "Great Golden Fleet", and sailed down the San Joaquin River to the Ferry Building in San Francisco. It was then run through the city before ending the day at City Hall."Torch in SF! Misses Raindrops", San Francisco Examiner, February 9, 1960, Section IV, pages 1 and 2. The next day, the Adventuress carried the torch back across the San Francisco Bay for a ceremony at Jack London Square in Oakland, before returning it to Stockton in the evening."Olympics Torch in Oakland", Oakland Tribune, February 9, 1960, front page. The foot relay resumed on February 10, with runners carrying the torch north from Stockton, through Thornton,"Five Lodians Will Help Carry Olympic Torch To Thornton", Lodi News-Sentinel, February 10, 1960, page 8. and into Sacramento, where Governor Pat Brown lit a cauldron on the steps of the California State Capitol.Biggs, Clark. "Olympic Flame Heads For Sierra", Sacramento Bee, February 11, 1960, front page and page A6. The next day, it was run through Roseville and Auburn. While Auburn was the planned stopping point for February 11, runners continued that day to carry the torch all the way to Colfax, before it was driven back to Auburn to spend the night."George Neill, a Placer High School runner, is seen here running the Olympic Torch into Central Square, Auburn...", Auburn Journal, February 18, 1960, page C-3. On February 12, Lincoln's Birthday, the torch was driven to Colfax for the final running leg to Emigrant Gap."Olympic Shirts To Be Delayed For Runners", Auburn Journal, February 18, 1960, page C-3. frame | left | 12 year old Dave Watts of Soda Springs CA carries the torch thru Donner Summit on the way to Squaw Valley From Emigrant Gap, the torch was carried through the Sierra Nevada mountains by cross-country skiers, who brought it to the summit of Little Papoose Peak, just above the resort complex which had been built for the Games."Olympic Flame Travels 9000 Miles From Greece (sic) To Squaw Valley, Cal.", Doylestown Intelligencer, February 8, 1960, front page. While preparing for the final leg of the relay, organizers found that their torches could not withstand the anticipated high winds and would be blown out. As a result, instead of the standard torch design, a souvenir torch capable of holding a road flare was used. This souvenir had been given to a U.S. Olympic Committee member in Tulare, who had to give it back the day before the opening ceremonies."Torch Fails In Wind", Merced Sun-Star, February 18, 1960, page 8. Upon reaching the summit of Little Papoose Peak on the afternoon of February 18, the torch was brought down the ski jump ramp by Andrea Mead Lawrence, accompanied by an honor guard of eight members of the National Ski Patrol. Lawrence entered Blyth Arena, the opening ceremony venue, and passed the flame on to speed skater Ken Henry. Henry circled the ice rink, then lit the cauldron to mark the beginning of the Games. References Torch Relay, 1960 Winter Olympics Category:Winter Olympics torch relays