In advance of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board reviewing a landmark nomination for Seattle High School Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, a special episode of CASCADE OF HISTORY was broadcast live on SPACE 101.1 FM from the Memorial Wall at the stadium on the 78th anniversary of "VJ Day" - when WWII hostilities ceased on August 14, 1945.
This broadcast was made as a public service to the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board, because the landmark nomination they will review on August 16 is sorely lacking in some of the most important history of Seattle High School Memorial Stadium.
The landmark nomination - which is supposed to tell the story and provide relevant historical context for the stadium - is missing so many key details about the role that Seattle High School Memorial Stadium has played in the community since 1947. Joining host Feliks Banel for this live broadcast (to remedy these deficiencies) was series of knowledgeable guests who spoke out to help the Landmarks Preservation Board - and anyone else listening in to the live show or later to the podcast - to better understand the history of sports, 1962 Seattle World's Fair events, and notable musical performances that took place at Memorial Stadium over the past 76 years.
Guests included World's Fair staffer Albert Fisher, who helped produce opening ceremonies for the fair at Memorial Stadium; Northwest sports historian David Eskenazi on the many sports milestones and legendary events that took place at Memorial Stadium; music historian and tour guide Eric Magnuson on the many concerts of local and national acts that took place at Memorial Stadium; and 98-year-old former World's Fair executive Louis Larsen (whose Class of '42 friends from Ballard High School - Christy Jull and Bill Knudtson - are listed on the Memorial Wall; both made the ultimate sacrifice in WWII).
This LIVE broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY was originally presented at 7pm Pacific Time on Monday, August 14, 2023 via SPACE 101.1 FM and streaming live via space101fm.org from the Memorial Wall at Seattle High School Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center.
We stand in deep respect for both the 1947 stadium and the 1951 wall, both of which honor the 800 Seattle Public Schools' alums who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in WWII, and whose names are listed at that sacred spot.
Special thanks to our guests, to producer Laura Scott, and to SPACE 101.1 FM program director Eric Zappa.