10 episodes
Larger Than Life Los Angeles Times
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- Society & Culture
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4.2 • 793 Ratings
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In 1960s Los Angeles, after the catastrophic Watts riots, an outsized character emerged — one who found an unexpected way to unite people across race and class. Odds are you’ve never heard of him. From L.A. Times Studios, the team behind “Dirty John” and “Man in the Window,” comes “Larger Than Life,” a docu-series about Big Willie Robinson, a 6-foot-6, muscle-bound street racer who preached peace a quarter-mile at a time. Cops and criminals, movie stars and miscreants, even Crips and Bloods — out at the drag strip, Big Willie could get them all to see eye to eye, easing tensions and making L.A. a safer and more unified place. For a time, he was a celebrated figure in L.A. — but today his legend has faded. What caused him to fall into obscurity? Reported, written and hosted by Daniel Miller from the L.A. Times. Produced by L.A. Times Studios and Neon Hum Media.
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King of the Street | 1
Episode 1: L.A. street racing legend Big Willie Robinson uses cars to heal a city torn apart by racial violence. His larger-than-life exploits touch Hollywood, the Southland’s most notorious gangs and even the Los Angeles Times.
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Becoming Big Willie | 2
Episode 2: In the five years after the 1965 Watts riots, Big Willie Robinson meets the love of his life, gets the car of his dreams, forges ties with the LAPD and starts the Brotherhood of Street Racers.
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Run Whatcha Brung | 3
Episode 3: Banned from street racing in L.A. in the early 1970s, Big Willie Robinson becomes fixated with building a racetrack for the Brotherhood of Street Racers. He wants a place where all are welcome — even cops and criminals — but can he pull it off?
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Fast and Famous | 4
Episode 4: Big Willie Robinson has a surprising career turn in the entertainment industry, working as an actor, rubbing shoulders with A-listers and appearing in some iconic 1970s films. He even has connections to the “The Fast and the Furious” and “Star Wars” film franchises.
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The Lie | 5
Episode 5: A startling revelation about Big Willie Robinson leads to a reappraisal of the street racer and his mission. As members of the Brotherhood of Street Racers try to make sense of his secret, a new truth emerges.
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Shut Down | 6
Episode 6: As the drug trade and gang violence of the 1980s engulf South Los Angeles, Big Willie Robinson finds himself without a racetrack and sees his influence waning. But after the city burns again, he seizes a chance to start anew.
Learn more about the story, sign up for new episode alerts and go behind the scenes at latimes.com/LTL
Customer Reviews
Electrifying and poignant
This show is a fantastic look at a bit of forgotten LA history. Big Willie Robinson was an underground icon, a Black hero when LA needed one. He was flawed sure — that stunning twist in episode 5 floored me — but he made a difference in many people’s lives. This story is told with empathy and grace. You don’t have to love cars to love this story.
All heroes are imperfect
We like to imbue our heroes with all kinds of powers and we like to listen to their heroic stories and build them up.
This however is a story about a legend who was both more and less than he seemed.
Big Willie Robinson was a legend. He had a very positive impact on a segment of society at the time when it was needed.
His flaws were small in comparison to the good he did. But as with a lot of heroes, he faded from memory and ended diminished.
The story is fascinating complex and well told I recommend listening to this podcast for anyone interested in the history of Los Angeles in the 60s and 70s.
Old racer
Great podcast, I was a street racer in the early 90’s after high school. It was great to go back in time.
Now I’m a hazmat trucker Otr and appreciate these story podcast and hope y’all do more
Thank you