This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends
Photograph caption dated June 7, 1963 reads, "There's no telling what some people won't do in order to publicize their product. In this case it involved jumping off the Valley Times TODAY roof (some 24 feet) in order to prove that a new type of plastic filled pole vault and high jumping pit is even good enough to thwart suicides. The photos show Joe Gurlach, former Hungarian star athlete, executing a swan dive into the pit. The pit is filled with Everlon, a premium grade of urethane, and has been used in numerous track meets where new records have been set. It eliminates accidents that often occur in pits filled with sawdust. Called the Port-A-Pit, it is manufactured by Gordon & Roth, Inc., of Baldwin Park. This type of pit will be used in tonight's Compton Relays." See images 00157410 through 00157414 for all photos in this series.
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