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Building History

Earl Bell Gilmore (1887-1964), the son of family patriarch, Arthur Fremont Gilmore (1850-1918), created this dirt track for midget cars that was located on the Gilmore Farmer's Market property at West Third Street and Fairfax Avenue. Gilmore, the family member who built the Gilmore Oil Company into a West Coast giant, had a deep love for auto racing. The cars, some of which were winners at the Indianapolis 500, served as excellent marketing vehicles for the oil company.Aaround the track, there was seating for 18,000 enclosing a stadium that was used for football games, boxing matches, and other sporting events.

The second and third Pro Bowls staged by the National Football League were held at Gilmore Stadium, 1/14/1940 and 12/29/1940.

A large rally for the Progressive Party presidential candidate, Henry A. Wallace (1888-1965), was staged at Gilmore Stadium in 1948.

Demolition

Gilmore Stadium was razed to make room for CBS Television City, c. 1951.

PCAD id: 4324