OFFICIAL PROGRAM. FIRST ANNUAL WORLD LABOR ATHLETIC CARNIVAL SANCTIONED BY METROPOLITAN ASSOCIATION, A.A.U. - SAT. AUG 15, SUN AUG. 16 - RANDALL'S ISLAND MUNICIPAL STADIUM.
New York: New York Labor Committee / Signal Press, 1936. Item #41160
1st edition. Original illustrated wrappers, 4to (large) , 34 pages. Loaded with illustrations. Event program. Striking cover illustration and one text illustration by Mitchell Loeb. Includes illustrations in text (halftones) and a section of ads. The World Labor Athletic Carnival was organized to directly oppose U. S. Athletes' participation in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, which were viewd as providing both legitimacy and a prime propaganda opportunity to Hitler's Nazi government. Put together in 1936 by a coalition of New York left-wing political organizations and labor unions including the heavily Jewish International Ladies' Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) , the Socialist and Communist Parties, the Jewish Labor Committee, and others, the Carnival took place over two days, coinciding with the two final days of the Berlin Games, and involved an array of high-profile American, Canadian, and a few international competitors including high-jumper Walter Marty, sprinters Eulace Peacock and Perrin Walker, and pole vaulter George Varoff. In the end, the Carnival proved something of a disappointment from both an attendance and an athletic perspective. Aside from Varoff's world-record setting performance in the pole vault, "... The New York Herald Tribune described the athletic performances as 'mediocre' and noted that the spectators were unenthusiastic'" (for a detailed account of the event, see Edward S. Shapiro, "The World Labor Athletic Carnival of 1936: an American Anti-Nazi Protest, " in American Jewish History v.74, no.3 (Mar 1985) , pp.255-273) . No copies anywhere in OCLC. Exceedlingly rare, we have never seen a copy offered for sale. Slightly stained and creased, but Very Good. A few event results have been supplied by the original owner in pencil. (holo2-149-1).
Price: $1,500.00