Editing Turner's Arena (section)


{{short description|Arena in Washington DC, United States}}
'''Turner's Arena'''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ferrell |first1=John |title=Washington, D.C. Joe Turner's arena |url=https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2017764288/ |website=Prints & Photographs Online Catalog |publisher=Library of Congress |accessdate=August 8, 2019 |location=Washington, D.C. |language=en |date=1942}}</ref> was the name given to a 1,800 seat arena, located at 1341 W Street, near the northeast corner of 14th and W Streets, NW in [[Washington, DC]], and originally owned by local [[wrestling]] promoter [[Joe Turner (wrestler)|Joe Turner]]. One of the popular events were bouts featuring local wrestler Swift Eagle and Chief Thunderbird as detailed in the House History Man blog.  A photograph and advertisement for the arena appears on page 69 of the book Greater U Street by Paul K. Williams.<ref>Williams, Paul K.  Greater U Street.  Arcadia Publishing, 2002.</ref>  This venue was an early home to the [[Capitol Wrestling Corporation]], a precursor to [[WWE]], which was started by [[Vincent J. McMahon]] in January 1953. McMahon took over the territory from Gabe Menendez, who had succeeded Turner after his death in 1947.<ref name="Capitol Arena">{{cite news |last1=Gildea |first1=William |title=All lights go out at Capitol Arena |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/vincesrdc.html |accessdate=August 8, 2019 |work=Washington Post |publisher=via Wrestling-Titles.com |date=June 27, 1965 |language=en}}</ref> In addition, the arena hosted top professional [[boxing]] matches promoted by [[Goldie Ahearn]] featuring fighters such as [[Lou Gevinson]], [[Lew Hanbury]], and [[Jimmy Cooper (boxer)|Jimmy Cooper]]. It was also the birthplace of the [[Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association]] annual basketball tournament, as well as the host to top [[country music]] acts and [[Carlene Begnaud|Jazz]] performances. It was renamed [[Capitol Arena]] in 1956 once Capitol Wrestling Corporation began broadcasting a syndicated weekly wrestling show from the arena every Thursday night.<ref name="Capitol Arena"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hornbaker |first1=Tim |title=Washington, D.C. Wrestling Television History |url=http://legacyofwrestling.com/WashingtonDCTV.html |website=Legacy of Wrestling |accessdate=August 8, 2019 |date=n.d.}}</ref> The arena was closed and demolished in 1965.<ref name="Capitol Arena"/>