Plagued by several fires, at least one of which was from suspected arson, as well as a decline in attendance with the emergence of television, the venue was closed following the 3rd such fire on May 12, 1960.[1][14] After considerable delay, the building was ultimately demolished in August 1964.[15]
Today the space where it once stood is occupied by the Valley Arena Park, a small recreational green space managed by the city.[16]
History
Front facade of the Arena at its opening, January 1926
Prior to its permanent home in the gashouse, the Valley Arena was first established in a space at 560-66 Main Street in 1916 by Homer Rainault, and his business partner Amedee F. Goulet, as a gym. The two had previously run a cigar counter and billiard academy for 23 years in the same neighborhood, and by the time they opened the Valley Arena, Rainault was a promoter who had previously organized fights in Hartford, Troy, and West Springfield.[17] Rainault's career as a promoter would really begin after 1920, when the Commonwealth officially legalized boxing, theretofore an underground sport.[9] On August 11, 1925, Valley Arena, Inc. was formally incorporated,[18] and by October 23, 1925, the company had purchased an old brick gasholder house from the City of Holyoke's municipal gas works.[18][19][20] The sale at the time was listed in the register of deeds as a land sale as the gasholder house had been previously decommissioned in 1915, was briefly considered as a site for a new public bathhouse, but had remained unoccupied since.[16] After 3 months of construction, the new converted Valley Arena Gardens debuted with their first fight on February 8, 1926 with a match between one "Petey" Mack and Leo "Kid" Roy.[21]
On June 13, 1943, at approximately 2am, the first of three fires in the Arena's history broke out. An hour after owner Homer Rainault left the building, local patrolmen reported seeing flames billowing out of the building. Starting on the first floor and filling all reaches, the fire caused between an estimated $150,000–$200,000 in damage (approx. $2.1 to 2.5 million in 2017 USD).[22] The building was insured however, but only for $100,000; in the weeks following the fire, owner Homer Rainault expressed doubts over rebuilding.[23][24] Ultimately Rainault decided to rebuild, and used the Holyoke War Memorial Building as a music venue for the remainder of the year, hosting a number of artists, including The Ink Spots, during this time.[25] Fights continued at a local club in Springfield and by August of that year, Rainault had put everything in place to rebuild.[26][27] Eight months after the devastating fire, the venue reopened on February 28, 1944 with a 10 round match between bantamweight champion Louis Salica and one Mario Colon, a rising star from Mexico.[28]
In 1944, the Arena's founder Homer Rainault died unexpectedly from a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 58; by that time he had gained a reputation as a promoter for giving many nationally famous boxers their start in the Connecticut Valley.[9] The board of directors ultimately voted for his nephew, Oreal D. Rainault to take his place. Rainault would eventually sell the venue in 1952 to two businessmen, Jack and Ralph Kane of Norfolk, Virginia; making it clear that this sale was only partial as he retained stock in the company.[29]
Even before the second fire, the venue had begun to see a decline in its attendance for boxing matches as television gained popularity while stage shows and events that relied on audience attendance saw shrinking numbers across the country.[1] On November 11, 1952, the boxing matchmaker, Joe Di Maria, resigned due to dwindling crowds that season.[30] In contrast with its boxing, by the end of 1952, concerns had been raised by Holyoke police and fire departments about overcrowding at the venue's night club. On December 23, the police and fire chiefs held a conference stating that maximum capacities would be discussed with and enforced by the Arena's management, denying rumors that the venue was being given a pass.[31]
Mosaics of boxers can be seen above the doors of the inner entrance, as the building's burnt-out ruins were razed.
Only three days after that press conference, on December 26, 1952, the second started in the Circus Lounge of that building in the early hours of the morning. Future Holyoke fire chief William W. Mahoney, then a member of one of the companies which fought the fire, later went on to describe it as "one of the most vicious fires for smoke conditions [he'd] ever seen," severe enough that an eye doctor had to set up a first aid station at the scene.[32] The three-alarm fire quickly spread, and led to tenants across South Holyoke being roused from their beds in case of a possible evacuation.[33] In total the fire caused an estimated $250,000 of damages (approx. $2.3 million in 2018 USD),[22] and injured 6 firefighters.[34] The fire had begun in the basement, and with the premises flooded for several days, firefighters were not immediately able to determine its cause. While formal inquests were made and hours of testimony given by the owners and multiple employees under oath,[35] conflicting accounts were found and the fire was deemed "of unknown but suspicious origin" by the state police captain tasked with its investigation.[36]
While the city had allowed boxing to continue in the Holyoke War Memorial building during the previous fire, this was not the case the second time. Before Jack Kane or anyone else associated with the arena could approach the War Memorial Commission, their chairman Thomas Epstein introduced a motion, passed unanimously, opposing the use of the hall for wrestling or boxing matches.[37] The venue would reopen following its last reconstruction, on September 28, 1953.[38]
After the final fire on May 12, 1960, Oreal Rainault elected not to not attempt rebuilding the venue.[14] Following a prolonged period where the burnt-out ruins of the building sat vacant, the Valley Arena Gardens were demolished throughout the month of August, 1964.[15]
Within a decade of opening, the Arena had gained such prominence in the national boxing scene by the 1930s that Holyoke news held a regular column in the boxing magazine The Ring.[41] More than two decades after the venue had burnt down, World Featherweight Champion Willie Pep was quoted as saying "it was a breeding place...anybody who was anybody boxed there."[1] One Mike Cipriano, a New York promoter who managed Jake LaMotta and Harry LaSane, described it as "a little Madison Square Garden...the arena was known from coast to coast—they'd sell out almost every week...it was nothing for a bunch of us to pile into a car and head for Holyoke...If you didn't fight in Holyoke, you weren't a fighter"[1][42] The venue was known for having raucous crowds, notably on April 26, 1954, when a boxer, Howard Saligny of New York, made low blows against one Gerry Tessier of Springfield, within minutes the ringside spectators had poured into the ring punching and kicking Saligny to the ground; police eventually restored order.[43]
The Arena hosted the first match in the continental United States of Sixto Escobar, the first Puerto Rican to win a world title. On May 7, 1934, Escobar, a bantamweight, defeated bantamweight contender and Canadian flyweight champion Bobby Leitham, in a fight that made headlines in local papers and was described as a "dramatic upset".[44] The match of 10 rounds was ended abruptly in the seventh, when a referee realized the extent to which Leitham's left eye had been hemorrhaged by a sharp right overhand which had also left a gash across his cheek. Escobar was declared winner of the match by technical knockout.[45]
The Arena hosted Rocky Marciano's professional debut in the ring, as a 4-round opener against Holyoke native Lee (real name Leslie V.) Epperson on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1947. In the first professional bout of his career the Brockton native, then stationed in the air force at Westover, was billed as "Rocky Mackianno of Westover Field" or "Rocky Mac" for short.[46][47] Having been set up for the opening fight by a friend who had known Rainault, Marciano managed to hold on for the first two rounds as Epperson landed several blows as his own missed. The match came to an abrupt end however, 42 seconds into the third round when Marciano landed a sharp right uppercut, knocking his opponent through the ropes and out of the ring. Because the fight predated Marciano's continuous professional career by about a year, and he had been billed under a slightly different name, it remained entirely obscure until later in the heavyweight's career.[47][48] After retiring, Marciano would make a second appearance at the venue a decade later, serving as a referee. Brought on at the invitation of boxing promoter Sam Silverman, it would be billed as his "Eastern Debut" in such a capacity- his only previous referee role being at a venue in New Orleans.[48]
Music
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The Indian Pine Room at the Valley Arena Gardens, c. 1944-1950Even as its boxing lineups struggled to draw crowds in the 1950s, the venue continued to promote weekly music performances drawing from stars who'd gained popularity through the growing mediums of radio and television; with this one featuring Frances Langford, Cab Calloway, Tommy Reynolds.
The venue was known both as a regular stop for big band musicians, and an especially arduous gig for them other among acts. In his memoirs, Gene Bockey, a saxophonist in Tommy Dorsey's band called it "the hell-hole of all name bands".[52] In a 1986 interview, Woody Herman alumni Jack E. DuLong, another saxophonist, described it as "that infamous job that all bands hated, that all-day thing at the Holyoke Arena...It was Sunday, and you'd get in early in the morning, and rehearse perhaps a dozen acts and play three shows; one in the afternoon and two in the evening. You would start rehearsing in the morning without even an hour's sleep. It was a theater-in-the-round type thing, an 'institution' for big bands. After there we went into Brooklyn, New York, for a theater engagement."[13]
This was a common theme for bands that played the Arena. In his 2008 memoir, Don't Bury Me in My Tuxedo, Daryl "Flea" Campbell, best known as one of the earliest trumpet players to tour with Tommy Dorsey's act, expanded on this, describing his time there with Charlie Spivak's band:[53][54]
"Whenever we played a string of one-nighters in New England, we always seemed to wind up at the Holyoke arena... after traveling all night to get there. We never checked in a hotel in Holyoke but always continued to New York after the job...After driving all night, we would have a 10:00 a.m. rehearsal...The shows started about noon and wound up around 11:00 p.m. It was a long day. The balcony ran around the arena in a complete circle...The show better be good, or you became a target! There were four bars in the arena, which we visited between each show, so by 11:00 p.m., we were feeling pretty good. It was 150 miles from Holyoke to New York City, and as I said before, there were no interstates or thruways, just two-lane roads. We got the bus packed by eleven thirty..."
Other
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2018)
The Arena also served as a venue for regular vaudeville shows as well, and several known stage actors including noted impersonator Larry Blake, and Bela Lugosi, of Dracula fame.[10][55] In 1942, the venue found itself at the center of a political controversy when the mayor of Holyoke at that time, Henry J. Toepfert instituted a ban on all vaudeville acts on Sundays, building on previous Massachusetts blue laws that prevented dancing or the use of "grotesque" costumes on Sundays. The Arena had however already booked several such acts for Sundays from prior contracts, and was allowed by the city to continue them, despite protest from other venues in the city.[55][56]
The Arena was also host to a number of well-known comedians. On three occasions, October 5, 1947, November 23, 1947 and April 30, 1950, The Three Stooges, Moe, Larry, and Shemp, gave performances at the venue.[11] On an unknown date in the summer of 1950, comedian Lenny Bruce reportedly did a set.[57] Comic Jerry Colonna would also perform at the Arena in 1946 and briefly made news when Oreal Rainault sued him for a second show at Riverside Park in Agawam. A prior contract had stipulated he not perform at any venue within 21 miles for 21 days before or after their booked show. While a temporary injunction was granted, it was ultimately dismissed.[58]
Among other early sporting events hosted at the Arena, the venue also served as the home for the local amateur basketball league's "All-Valley Team", which included at least two players who had been invited to play in the American Basketball League.[59][60] Wrestling was also a common event at the venue, with such names as Arnold Skaaland, Angelo Savoldi, Chief Don Eagle, and Bull Curry.[61][62]The Fabulous Moolah made her New England debut at the Arena under the name June Ellison on June 25, 1949.[63]Hans Mortier, billed as Tarzan Zorro, made his New England debut at the Arena on October 8, 1952.[64]
Valley Arena Park
The land where the venue once stood was sold to the city by the Rainault family in 1968[65] and was converted initially into space for a playground[66] Within a year's time these plans were expanded into a playground and wading pool with bathhouse, with construction beginning in 1969. The park reopened in 1970.[67] Despite being the site of a former gasworks, a comprehensive environmental assessment taken from 2004 through 2005 of the soils at the site found no contamination of the site inconsistent with background noise typically found in urban soils.[16]
↑ Accounts vary; a 1957 Sports Illustrated account describes it as a club seating only 1,600 persons, whereas the highest number given by the Republican in 1926 places it at 2900 seats; with standing room accommodating an estimated 4000 attendants. It is unclear if the difference was due to the subsequent reconstruction of the stadium or changes in building code after the first two fires.
↑ Designer of arena as gasholder conversion; 1884 architect of original gasholder unknown, subsequent architects designing modifications of 1944, 1953 rebuilds unknown.
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References
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Imelio, Carlo (April 4, 1982). "The Valley Arena (1923 – 1960)". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass.
↑ Collins, E.J. (January 24, 1926). "Valley Arena Holyoke's New Indoor Sport Home To Be Ready for Boxing Shows Early Next Month". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. p.1.
↑ Kane, Martin (1957). "Sad Samuel". Sports Illustrated. Vol.VI. p.82. Thirty-one of Rocky Marciano's 49 fights were promoted by Sad Sam, he recalls. The other night Sam Silverman was reduced to just one fight club, the Valley Arena in Holyoke, Massachusetts, which seats some 1,600 persons— a club so small that no seat is more than 60 feet from the ring.
↑ "Sports - Boxing". Creating Holyoke. PassportHolyoke. 2009. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
↑ "Board Questions Extra Costs on Demolition Job". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. December 3, 1964. p.73.
↑ "Deaths- Orcar Beauchemin [sic]; Well Known Architect and Designer Dies at Pearl St. Home; Was Member of Bowling Team That Established World's Record 25 Years Ago". Holyoke Transcript-Telegram. January 17, 1938. p.10. In drawing the plans for the Valley Arena, Mr. Beauchemin remodeled the old gas holder, formerly the property of the Municipal Gas & Electric department, into a perfect indoor sports center. Regarded as one of the most model boxing plants in the country the building was praised by Jack Dempsey, former world's heavyweight champion, on a recent visit here as one of the finest he had ever seen.
1 2 3 "Homer Rainault Dies Suddenly in Holyoke Hospital; Sports Promoter, President of Valley Arena, Succumbs to Cerebral Hemorrhage at Paper City". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. December 15, 1944. p.1.
1 2 "Duke Ellington and Sarah Vaughn; Arena". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. October 21, 1950. p.24. Two star attractions will be offered at the Valley Arena Gardens tomorrow in Duke Ellington, occupying the bandsland with his world famous orchestra, and Sarah Vaughan, recording artist and star of radio and television...
1 2 "Firemen Fight Final Round at Valley Arena". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. May 13, 1960. p.36.
1 2 "Valley Arena Awaits Final KO". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. August 22, 1964. p.12. Holyoke's former sports palace, the Valley Arena, is shown as demolition work continued on Friday. Still left standing is a front entrance with mosaics of boxers, shown in the above photo. The demolition of the fire-wrecked building was ordered by city officials after several years of standing vacant.
↑ Richards Standard Atlas of the City of Holyoke, Massachusetts. Springfield, Mass.: Richards Map Company. 1911.
↑ "Holyoke Land Deal". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. October 24, 1925. p.4. Papers were recorded in registry of deeds yesterday concluding the transfer to Valley Arena, inc., of Holyoke of 19,066 square feet of land on the east side of Bridge street, 100 feet south of Hamilton street, Holyoke. The property was conveyed first by the city of Holyoke to George J. Attinger, who thereupon conveyed it to the Valley Arena, inc. In each case the indicated consideration, as shown by the revenue stamps, is $17,000.
1 2 "Rainault Gave Many Boxers Their Starts in Pro Ranks; Death of Valley Arena Chief Last Week Takes Energetic Figure From Sports Scene; Kept Boxing Alive in Dull Times". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. December 21, 1944. p.12.
↑ "200G Fire Destroys Holyoke Night Club". Billboard. Cincinnati: The Billboard Publishing Co. June 26, 1943. p.14. Valley Arena, local nitery, was completely gutted by flames Sunday (13) morning. Fire, which broke out on the first floor, swept thru the building, and a reconditioned illuminating gas storage tank, causing damage set at $150,000 to $200,000, with a replacement cost of well over $300,000, according to Homer Rainault, manager...Rainault said he had no idea if rebuilding would be attempted, especially at present. He said, however, that while the building was covered by insurance that it was entirely inadequate to cover the cost of rebuilding
↑ Kelleher, George (June 14, 1943). "Cause of Holyoke Arena Fire Not Determined". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. pp.1, 11.
↑ "Jan Savitt and His Band at War Memorial, Holyoke". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. June 20, 1943. p.5C.
↑ "Rainault Hints Outdoor Matches; Valley Arena Mogul Considering Holyoke, Chicopee, West Side Sites". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. August 3, 1943. p.10.
↑ Kelleher, George B. (January 2, 1944). "Despite Burning of Arena, Boxing Soared; Valley Arena Hard Hit by No-Pleasure Driving Edict and Then Was Destroyed by Flames on June 13; West Side Club Drew 33,000 Fans in 16 Shows". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. p.21.
↑ Kelleher, George B. (February 27, 1944). "Valley Arena Reopens Its Doors Tomorrow; Lou Salica and Mario Colon to Meet in Feature 10-Round Bout of First Boxing Show There Since Fire Leveled Club Last June - Four Preliminary Bouts". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. p.10.
↑ "Virginia Men Buy Share in Valley Arena; Deal Not Final Says Rainault, Who Retains Interest in Plant". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. March 25, 1952. p.1."
↑ "Matchmaker Quits". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 12, 1952. p.49.
↑ "[Police Chief] Grady Denies Arena is Given 'White Wash'". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. December 23, 1952. p.5.
↑ "Needs No Warmup-Fire Chief Treads in Family's Path". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. April 16, 1969. p.9. Possessing an apparent photographic memory for places and dates, Mahoney said the worst fire he remembered started in the Circus Lounge of the Valley Arena, Dec. 26, 1952. 'It was one of the most vicious fires for smoke conditions I've ever seen,' he said. 'There were a lot of men injured, principally eye injuries, and an eye doctor had to set up a first aid station right at the scene.'
↑ "Fire Sweeps Sports Arena in Holyoke". Boston Traveler. Boston. December 26, 1952. p.17.
↑ "Holyoke Arena Burns; 6 Felled". Boston Daily Record. December 27, 1952. p.6.
↑ "Valley Arena Fire Inquest Listed Today; Employees, Owners Reported Summoned to Review Dec. 26 Blaze". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. March 5, 1953. p.13.
↑ "Arena Fire Cause Seen Suspicious". Boston Daily Record. March 17, 1953. p.19. State Police Capt. Daniel A. Murphy said in an inquest report that the Valley Arena fire in Holyoke on Christmas Day was of unknown but suspicious origin. Murphy asked that the report be sent to Dist. Atty. Stephen A. Moynahan for investigation. He said there was conflicting testimony given under oath at the inquest March 5
↑ "War Memorial Vetoes Boxing; Holyoke Commission Opposes Use of Building for Such Events". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. January 8, 1953. p.8.
↑ Heinz, Harold (September 16, 1953). "Valley Arena Reopens for Boxing On Sept. 28". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. p.33.
↑ "Schaaf Awarded Easy Decision Over Sandwina". The Daily Colonist. Victoria, BC. April 27, 1932. p.10. Ernie Schaaf, Boston heavyweight, coasted to a decision over Ted Sandwina, of New York, in the Valley Arena's ten-round feature bout here last night.
↑ "Contents". The Ring. Vol.XVI, no.2. New York: The Ring Inc. March 1937. p.1. Michigan, Texas, Maine and Holyoke
"Contents". The Ring. Vol.XVI, no.5. New York: The Ring Inc. June 1937. p.1. In the New Jersey Corner, Holyoke News, Boxing in Cuba
"Contents". The Ring. Vol.XVI, no.11. New York: The Ring Inc. December 1937. p.1. Cleveland Chatter, In Syracuse Rings, Holyoke News
"Contents". The Ring. Vol.XVI, no.12. New York: The Ring Inc. January 1938. p.1. News and Gossip from Boston, Holyoke News, Conn. News
↑ "LaMotta". The Scribner encyclopedia of American lives: Sports figures. Vol.II. New York: C. Scribner's Sons. 2001. p.8. Distrustful of everyone, [LaMotta] fired his manager, Mike Cipriano, and assumed control of his career.
1 2 "New England Title Bout- Retired, Undefeated Heavyweight King Officiates Light Heavyweight Championship Match Between Doncaster and Demars at Holyoke". Springfield Union. January 6, 1957. p.5B.
↑ "The Final Curtain". Billboard. Cincinnati: The Billboard Publishing Co. January 9, 1943. p.31. Mayurowski-Bergeron — Chester J. Mayurowski, member of the Valley Arena night club orchestra, Holyoke, Mass., and Mary C. Bergeron, nonpro, in that city December 26.
↑ "More Holyoke Vaude". Billboard. Cincinnati: The Billboard Publishing Co. September 5, 1942. The Valley Arena Gardens started a new three-day policy August 21, presenting The Victory Parade Revue, featuring Elaine Seidler Dancing Girls, Ann Dupont and orchestra, and Roy Rogers
↑ "Band Bookings". Variety. Vol.148, no.9. Variety, Inc. November 4, 1942. p.40.
1 2 "Book Raps Blue Law". Billboard. Cincinnati: The Billboard Publishing Co. July 25, 1942. p.17. Frisco claimed that the mayor, [Mayor Henry J. Toepfert] turned down his application for a Sunday license for vaude at Mountain Park but permitted the Valley Arena's Sunday show featuring the Emerald Sisters and Larry Blake, both of which acts are vaude attractions, Frisco said.
"Protests Appearance of Jerry Colonna; Valley Arena Acts to Bar Him From Riverside Engagement". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. June 15, 1946. p.11.
↑ "Jimmy and 'Kisky' in Old Home Town; Malcolm and Feldman Turn Down Offers to Play in American League". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. November 26, 1925. p.14. Jimmy Malcolm and George Feldman, the greatest forecourt combination developed in the amateur basketball game in this city, have rejected offers to play with an American Basketball league team. They will center their activities with the Holyoke quintet that has been formed and which will consist of those two stars along with Jerry Conway, Willie Walkov, Nel Crowley, George 'Babe' Donaghue and Ray Marchinik...The first game will be played in the Holyoke High gym next week when they meet the Dixie Speed boys of Hartford. When the new Valley arena is completed the locals will play all their home games there.
↑ "Valley Quintet Ready to Open". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. December 1, 1925. p.13. The opening contest for the newly formed basketball team of this city, composed of Malcolm, Feldman, Conway, Crowley, Donoghue, Walkov and Marchinik, will be played Thursday night on the Holyoke High surface with the Endees of Meriden, Ct., as the opposition. The locals, named the All-Valley team, are considered one of the best aggregations of local stars ever brought together. They should furnish Holyoke with some of the fastest basketball seen here in the last five years. This game and perhaps one or two others will be played at the high school gym until the new valley arena is ready.
↑ "Wrestling Tonight Valley Arena Gardens- Holyoke [advertisement]". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. May 14, 1952. p.31. Main Bout- Arnold Skaaland vs. Angelo Savoldi
↑ "Wrestling Tonight Valley Arena Gardens- Holyoke [advertisement]". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. June 4, 1952. p.26. Main Event- Chief Don Eagle vs. Bull Curry
↑ "Women Wrestling Stars at Holyoke". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. p.31.
↑ "Jonathan Gains Draw at Arena". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. October 9, 1952. p.34.
↑ "Something Old Going, Coming, Something New". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. July 17, 1968. p.47. The something new being added to Ward 2 is a tots playground on land formerly occupied by the Valley Arena, once famous as the local center for boxing and wrestling matches. Wood chips were spread over the ground Tuesday and new playground equipment is scheduled to be set in place today.
↑ "Wading Pool Nears Completion". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. November 4, 1969. p.24.
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