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’18th & Grand’ Filmmaker on the Rollicking History of L.A.’s Olympic Auditorium and the Powerful Woman Behind a Boxing Empire
Pat Saperstein Deputy EditorStephen DeBro’s new documentary “18th & Grand” weaves together boxing, wrestling, punk rock, roller derby and local history with an “only in L.A.” perspective that firmly situates the historic auditorium in the city’s culture.As the filmmaker was researching the history of the Downtown Los Angeles building and its many lives, one aspect stood out: the formidable presence of Aileen Eaton, who became a powerful figure in the sporting world and in Los Angeles business over nearly four decades.Eaton, a hard-headed businesswoman who rose from secretary to boxing commissioner and successful promoter, forms the centerpiece of the documentary that premieres Thursday at the Vineland Drive-In as the closing night of the