Super Bowl I and the Iconic Images

By Matthew Lippe

In 1967, the first ever Super Bowl took place, although it was not technically called the “Super Bowl” back then. It was actually called the Championship Game, which was between the NFL and AFL. The Packers represented the NFL and the Chiefs represented the AFL. The game may not have been the international event it is today, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t iconic moments. Today we’re going to be looking at some of the most famous photos from the first Super Bowl. Let us know in the comments your favorite photo from the Super Bowl.

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Here we have Len Dawson smoking a cigarette with a Fresca. This iconic shot is legendary and even more crazy is that this was during half time! Can you imagine a player today having a soda and cig to help prepare for the second half?!? Thank goodness we got this classic shot while we could.

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This one may be a lesser known picture than the previous Dawson picture, but still just as legendary. Here we see Dawson once again smoking a cigarette, except this is BEFORE THE GAME. So, Dawson smoked pre-game and at half! Crazy. However my favorite part of the picture is the guy in the background with the Mickey Mouse hat. I’m not exactly sure why he is there (or who he is or why he is wearing Mickey Mouse ears), but it makes this picture even better.

Love this photo of the crowd. No phones, no jerseys, no team merchandise. Crazy how dress has changed; looks like they just came home from work. I also love the lady helping her (I presume) husband “focus” on the game by grabbing his face. One final fun detail is that I count at least 3 binoculars.

Next we have a still shot of the LA Memorial Coliseum. The Coliseum is one of my favorite stadiums of all-time, so I had to throw in this great picture.

In this picture we see EJ Holub (55) and Buck Buchanan (86) going after Green Bay QB Bart Starr. A great action shot! I love the different face masks; so different than today’s.

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Vince Lombardi talks with his team on the sideline. Lombardi would lead the Packers to a 35-10 victory. Bart Starr is locked in.

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Two halftime performers prepare for the Half-time show. Robert Courter (AFL) and Bill Suitor (NFL) would help set the tone for Half-time shows to come. The Marching Bands on the field formed two football players and when the formations came to kick two footballs on the field, the two performers exploded out of the footballs. The two flew quickly around and then landed in the middle to shake hands. It was an amazing spectacle. The whole show was put together by Tommy Walker, who worked at Disneyland. To read an in-depth of the show: click here.

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Vince Lombardi with the Championship trophy. In 1970, the NFL would honor Lombardi, by naming the trophy after him. Lombardi won two Super Bowls and 3 NFL Championships in his 9 years with the Packers!

As Jerry Kramer (Guard for the Packers for 11 years) said of Lombardi: “My team, the Green Bay Packers, won the first Super Bowl because of one man, our coach, Vince Lombardi. He molded us from losers into winners—and into men as well. Most of my teammates have enjoyed great success since they stopped playing football. This, too, is because of Lombardi—the principles he urged on us, the dreams he stirred in us…”

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Chiefs and Packers meet mid-field before the game. Wish the NFL would resort to making more creative Super Bowl logos, as they did here.

Final picture. Another great shot of the field, however my favorite part of the picture is the pennants. There’s just something about old pennants that are great. Vibrant colors and well-done logos.