80's wrasslin' was OK but the 60s/70s were still the best. This era preceded me (obviously) but always find connections to the past interesting.
In late 1948, Vincent J. McMahon — father of Vince K. McMahon, who later bought World Wrestling Entertainment — was brought on as general manager. A few years later in December 1952, McMahon and his silent partners subleased Turner’s Arena for $60,000 and purchased the rights to hold events in the DC area from Menendez.
The arena was transformed under McMahon’s direction. Now facing competition from television networks, McMahon began shuffling around the event schedule to avoid popular television programs, and added team wrestling.
The lost history of the DC arena that grew a wrestling institution
A humble venue a few blocks off the U Street corridor hosted colorful wrestling and jazz legends and a wide variety of other events from the ‘30s through the ‘60s.
ggwash.org
In late 1948, Vincent J. McMahon — father of Vince K. McMahon, who later bought World Wrestling Entertainment — was brought on as general manager. A few years later in December 1952, McMahon and his silent partners subleased Turner’s Arena for $60,000 and purchased the rights to hold events in the DC area from Menendez.
The arena was transformed under McMahon’s direction. Now facing competition from television networks, McMahon began shuffling around the event schedule to avoid popular television programs, and added team wrestling.
