Valley Arena (Holyoke, MA) - Revision history

Ric at 00:35, 4 June 2023

2023-06-04T00:35:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:35, 4 June 2023
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	Located on North Bridge Street in Holyoke, MA, USA, the '''Valley Arena''' opened ~~in 1924, when Homer Raineault converted the "Gas House" into a boxing arena~~. ~~He ran it until he died in 1944~~, ~~when his nephew, Oreal Raineault, took over. Shows were on Monday nights~~. (~~In 1936~~, ~~ticket prices were 40 cents~~.~~) It was known as having a great atmosphere~~, ~~with foot-stomping and hand-clapping~~. ~~Big bands appeared there on weekends (including~~ the ~~Dorseys, Glenn Miller, and acts by boxers [[Max Baer]] and [[Maxie Rosenbloom]]~~)~~. The venue also presented wrestling.~~		Located on North Bridge Street in Holyoke, MA, USA, the '''Valley Arena''' opened Oct. 15, 1924 (per linked photos below). (''IBRO Journal'' #89, pp. 106-08, says it opened in 1926. Most of the following information comes from that IBRO article.)

	~~Many well~~-~~known fighters appeared here, including~~ [[~~Rocky Marciano~~]] (~~who made his pro debut here~~), [[~~Willie Pep~~]]~~, [[Sandy Saddler~~]], ~~[[Beau Jack]]~~, ~~[[Sixto Escobar]]~~, [[Lou Salica]], [[Fritzie Zivic]], [[Paddy DeMarco]], [[Tony DeMarco]], and [[Lou Ambers]]. [[Joe Louis]] refereed a wrestling match here, and [[Jersey Joe Walcott]] fought an exhibition. Visiting boxers usually came by train or bus from New York and slept above Kelly's Lobster House.		[[File:Kid Roy-Billie Defoe.jpg\|right\|thumb\|350px\|Opening night with [[Leo (Kid) Roy]] (left) & [[Billie DeFoe]]: 1924]]
			Homer Raineault had converted the old "Gas House" into a then brand-new boxing arena. He ran it until he died in 1944, when his nephew, Oreal Raineault, took over.

	The ~~arena twice~~ burned to the ground (on June 13, 1943, and 1952~~) and~~ was restored (re-opening ~~the second time~~ in May 1953). It closed for good on May 12, 1960, when it was destroyed by a third fire.		Shows were on Monday nights. (In 1936, ticket prices were 40 cents.) It was known as having a great atmosphere, with foot-stomping and hand-clapping. Big bands appeared there on weekends (including the Dorseys, Glenn Miller, and acts by boxers [[Max Baer]] and [[Maxie Rosenbloom]]). The venue eventually also presented wrestling.

			Many well-known fighters appeared here, including: [[Leo (Kid) Roy]], [[Billie DeFoe]], [[Petey Mack]], [[Rocky Marciano]] (who made his pro debut here), [[Willie Pep]], [[Sandy Saddler]], [[Beau Jack]], [[Sixto Escobar]], [[Lou Salica]], [[Fritzie Zivic]], [[Paddy DeMarco]], [[Tony DeMarco]], and [[Lou Ambers]]. [[Joe Louis]] refereed a wrestling match in this venue; and [[Jersey Joe Walcott]] once fought an exhibition here. Visiting boxers usually came by train or bus from New York and slept above ''Kelly's Lobster House''.

			The Arena burned to the ground three times. The first time on June 13, 1943; and then again in 1952. After the second fire it was restored, re-opening in May 1953. It closed for good on May 12, 1960, when it was destroyed by a third fire.

	Photos of the Arena on opening night, Oct. 15, 1924 (from the [[Raoul Godbout]] Collection): [[:File:Kid Roy-Billie Defoe.jpg\|Photo 1]], [[:File:Kid Roy-Ted Cossette.jpg\|Photo 2]]		Photos of the Arena on opening night, Oct. 15, 1924 (from the [[Raoul Godbout]] Collection): [[:File:Kid Roy-Billie Defoe.jpg\|Photo 1]], [[:File:Kid Roy-Ted Cossette.jpg\|Photo 2]]

	[[Category:Massachusetts Venues\|Valley Arena (Holyoke, MA)]]		[[Category:Massachusetts Venues\|Valley Arena (Holyoke, MA)]]

Ric: linked to 2 photos of interior, Oct. 15, 1924 (opened in 1924 or 1926?)

2023-06-04T00:18:17Z

linked to 2 photos of interior, Oct. 15, 1924 (opened in 1924 or 1926?)

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:18, 4 June 2023
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	Located on North Bridge Street in Holyoke, MA, USA, the '''Valley Arena''' opened in ~~1926~~, when Homer Raineault converted the "Gas House" into a boxing arena. He ran it until he died in 1944, when his nephew, Oreal Raineault, took over. Shows were on Monday nights. (In 1936, ticket prices were 40 cents.) It was known as having a great atmosphere, with foot-stomping and hand-clapping. Big bands appeared there on weekends (including the Dorseys, Glenn Miller, and acts by boxers [[Max Baer]] and [[Maxie Rosenbloom]]). The venue also presented wrestling.		Located on North Bridge Street in Holyoke, MA, USA, the '''Valley Arena''' opened in 1924, when Homer Raineault converted the "Gas House" into a boxing arena. He ran it until he died in 1944, when his nephew, Oreal Raineault, took over. Shows were on Monday nights. (In 1936, ticket prices were 40 cents.) It was known as having a great atmosphere, with foot-stomping and hand-clapping. Big bands appeared there on weekends (including the Dorseys, Glenn Miller, and acts by boxers [[Max Baer]] and [[Maxie Rosenbloom]]). The venue also presented wrestling.

	Many well-known fighters appeared here, including [[Rocky Marciano]] (who made his pro debut here), [[Willie Pep]], [[Sandy Saddler]], [[Beau Jack]], [[Sixto Escobar]], [[Lou Salica]], [[Fritzie Zivic]], [[Paddy DeMarco]], [[Tony DeMarco]], and [[Lou Ambers]]. [[Joe Louis]] refereed a wrestling match here, and [[Jersey Joe Walcott]] fought an exhibition. Visiting boxers usually came by train or bus from New York and slept above Kelly's Lobster House.		Many well-known fighters appeared here, including [[Rocky Marciano]] (who made his pro debut here), [[Willie Pep]], [[Sandy Saddler]], [[Beau Jack]], [[Sixto Escobar]], [[Lou Salica]], [[Fritzie Zivic]], [[Paddy DeMarco]], [[Tony DeMarco]], and [[Lou Ambers]]. [[Joe Louis]] refereed a wrestling match here, and [[Jersey Joe Walcott]] fought an exhibition. Visiting boxers usually came by train or bus from New York and slept above Kelly's Lobster House.

	The arena twice burned to the ground (on June 13, 1943, and 1952) and was restored (re-opening the second time in May 1953). It closed for good on May 12, 1960, when it was destroyed by a third fire.		The arena twice burned to the ground (on June 13, 1943, and 1952) and was restored (re-opening the second time in May 1953). It closed for good on May 12, 1960, when it was destroyed by a third fire.

			Photos of the Arena on opening night, Oct. 15, 1924 (from the [[Raoul Godbout]] Collection): [[:File:Kid Roy-Billie Defoe.jpg\|Photo 1]], [[:File:Kid Roy-Ted Cossette.jpg\|Photo 2]]

	[[Category:Massachusetts Venues\|Valley Arena (Holyoke, MA)]]		[[Category:Massachusetts Venues\|Valley Arena (Holyoke, MA)]]

Ric: updated, after visiting each cited boxer's record

2009-04-17T03:02:57Z

updated, after visiting each cited boxer's record

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:02, 17 April 2009
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	Located on North Bridge Street in Holyoke, MA, USA, the '''Valley Arena''' opened in 1926, when Homer Raineault converted the "Gas House" into a boxing arena. He ran it until he died in 1944, when his nephew, Oreal Raineault, took over. Shows were on Monday nights. (In 1936, ticket prices were 40 cents.) It was known as having a great atmosphere, with foot-stomping and hand-clapping. Big bands appeared there on weekends (including the Dorseys, Glenn Miller, [[Max Baer]] and [[Maxie Rosenbloom]])~~, as well as~~ wrestling.		Located on North Bridge Street in Holyoke, MA, USA, the '''Valley Arena''' opened in 1926, when Homer Raineault converted the "Gas House" into a boxing arena. He ran it until he died in 1944, when his nephew, Oreal Raineault, took over. Shows were on Monday nights. (In 1936, ticket prices were 40 cents.) It was known as having a great atmosphere, with foot-stomping and hand-clapping. Big bands appeared there on weekends (including the Dorseys, Glenn Miller, and acts by boxers [[Max Baer]] and [[Maxie Rosenbloom]]). The venue also presented wrestling.

	Many well-known fighters appeared here, including [[Rocky Marciano]]~~, [[Rocky Graziano]]~~, [[Willie Pep]], [[Sandy Saddler]], [[Beau Jack]], [[Sixto Escobar]], [[Lou Salica]], [[Fritzie Zivic]], [[Paddy DeMarco]], [[Tony DeMarco]], and [[Lou Ambers]]. [[Joe Louis]] refereed a wrestling match here, and [[Jersey Joe Walcott]] fought an exhibition. Visiting boxers usually came by train or bus from New York and slept above Kelly's Lobster House.		Many well-known fighters appeared here, including [[Rocky Marciano]] (who made his pro debut here), [[Willie Pep]], [[Sandy Saddler]], [[Beau Jack]], [[Sixto Escobar]], [[Lou Salica]], [[Fritzie Zivic]], [[Paddy DeMarco]], [[Tony DeMarco]], and [[Lou Ambers]]. [[Joe Louis]] refereed a wrestling match here, and [[Jersey Joe Walcott]] fought an exhibition. Visiting boxers usually came by train or bus from New York and slept above Kelly's Lobster House.

	The arena twice burned to the ground (on June 13, 1943, and 1952) and was restored (re-opening the second time in May 1953). It closed for good on May 12, 1960, when it was destroyed by a third fire.		The arena twice burned to the ground (on June 13, 1943, and 1952) and was restored (re-opening the second time in May 1953). It closed for good on May 12, 1960, when it was destroyed by a third fire.

	[[Category:Massachusetts Venues\|Valley Arena (Holyoke, MA)]]		[[Category:Massachusetts Venues\|Valley Arena (Holyoke, MA)]]

Ric: info from IBRO #89, pp. 106-08

2009-04-16T18:39:26Z

info from IBRO #89, pp. 106-08

New page

Located on North Bridge Street in Holyoke, MA, USA, the '''Valley Arena''' opened in 1926, when Homer Raineault converted the "Gas House" into a boxing arena. He ran it until he died in 1944, when his nephew, Oreal Raineault, took over. Shows were on Monday nights. (In 1936, ticket prices were 40 cents.) It was known as having a great atmosphere, with foot-stomping and hand-clapping. Big bands appeared there on weekends (including the Dorseys, Glenn Miller, [[Max Baer]] and [[Maxie Rosenbloom]]), as well as wrestling.

Many well-known fighters appeared here, including [[Rocky Marciano]], [[Rocky Graziano]], [[Willie Pep]], [[Sandy Saddler]], [[Beau Jack]], [[Sixto Escobar]], [[Lou Salica]], [[Fritzie Zivic]], [[Paddy DeMarco]], [[Tony DeMarco]], and [[Lou Ambers]]. [[Joe Louis]] refereed a wrestling match here, and [[Jersey Joe Walcott]] fought an exhibition. Visiting boxers usually came by train or bus from New York and slept above Kelly's Lobster House.

The arena twice burned to the ground (on June 13, 1943, and 1952) and was restored (re-opening the second time in May 1953). It closed for good on May 12, 1960, when it was destroyed by a third fire.

[[Category:Massachusetts Venues|Valley Arena (Holyoke, MA)]]