HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/21/18 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION SPECIALA.
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CITY OF BAKERSFIELD CITY OF BAKERSFIELD
AUG 16 2018 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MEETING OF AUGUST 21, 2018
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AGENDA
SPECIAL MEETING 4:OOpm
City Hall North, 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield California
First Floor, Conference Room A
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC STATEMENTS
APPROVAL Of MINUTES
1. Minutes of the June 19, 2018, meeting for approval.
CLOSED SESSION
None
CORRESPONDENCE
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
REPORTS
None
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
1. The Dome (2201 V Street)
Recommendation: For Commission discussion.
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J. COMMISSIONER STATEMENTS
K. ADJOURNMENT
Respectfully submitted,
Ja luelyn R. Kit en
Development Services Director
If anyone wants more information on any of these agenda items, call Cecelia Griego, Principal
Planner of Economic Development, City of Bakersfield, Development Services Department at
(661) 326.3788
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CITY OF BAKERSFIELD
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MEETING OF June 19, 2018
MINUTES
Vice Chair Montgomery called the regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to
order on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. at Conference Room B, 1600 Truxtun Avenue. Roll
call was as follows:
MEMBERS PRESENT: Stephen Montgomery
Susan Stussy
Cathy Butler
Ellie Hight
MEMBERS ABSENT: Scott Fieber
STAFF PRESENT: Cecelia Griego
Christine Gutierrez
Joshua Rudnick
VW King
Nicholas Vu
PUBLIC STATEMENTS:
Introduction of new staff member, Nicholas Vu, Associate Planner, by Cecelia Griego
A round table introduction of each Commissioner to Nicholas Vu.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion to approve minutes from the May 15, 2018 meeting as corrected. Correction to Goal 5
mentioned by Commissioner Stussy. Commissioner Stussy stated that Goal 5 has not been
completed. One plaque still needs to be installed on the Moronet Building.
(MCS Butler/ Hight)
CLOSED SESSION:
None
CORRESPONDENCE:
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
None
REPORTS:
None
OLD BUSINESS:
Review of final goals by Commissioners and staff.
Approval of final goals, with one correction to Goal 5.
)MCS Stussy as presented/Butler)
2. Mills Act Program Update:
Cecelia presented a to-do list for the progress of the Mills Act Program:
• Programming needed internally
• Appointment with County Assessor's office to work out details of a timing schedule
for their office
• Review by City management
• Presentation to the Legislative and Litigation committee
• Once all is completed, a possible approval by late August.
3. Commissioner Montgomery stated that he will be contacting the City of Pasadena for
information on their adopted Mills Act.
NEW BUSINESS
None
COMMISSION STATEMENTS:
Commissioner Stussy: mentioned the progress of the survey on East Bakersfield. 161
properties currently working. Ken Hooper is currently working on putting together a
student team to assist with the survey.
Perhaps there could be protocol in place for City staff to follow for future new
Commissioners.
Inquired about the status of the Tegeler Hotel. Staff informed commission that it is in the
process of being refurbished with HOME funds provided by the City and low income tax
credits. It will be presented at the June 20, 2018 Council meeting. _
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 4:48 p.m. by Commissioner Montgomery.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Meeting Date: August 21, 2018 Agenda Section: New Business Agenda
TO:
Historic Preservation Commission
FROM:
Development Services Department
DATE:
July 27, 2018
SUBJECT:
The Dome (2201 V Street)
Background: This item was placed on today's Agenda at the request of your Commission, and
concerns "The Dome" entertainment facility located at 2201 V Street.
Kern County Assessor records indicate that the Dome is an existing structure that was built in 1940.
The Dome appears to have been constructed of reinforced concrete, with a circular shell
domed roof.
According to Gilbert Gia, a local researcher and historian and past president of the Kern County
Historical Society, the Dome has served as the home for many wrestling, boxing and
entertainment events. Originally known as Strelich Stadium, it was constructed by Henry Eissler
and operated by Steve Strelich, a professional wrestler and promoter who also ran a health club
on K Street after relocating to Bakersfield in 1939. Steve Strelich was also known for his fundraising
and philanthropic efforts. In September 1962 Steve and Loretta Strelich sold the stadium to
William J. Griffiths, Jerry Hill, and Jules Strongbow, who had a 38 -year association with Los Angeles
Olympic Auditorium as wrestler, announcer, and matchmaker. The buyers renamed the building
Strongbow Stadium.
Historical/Cuffural Designation Process. Structures and places can be designated as a resource in
the following ways:
1. Local Cultural Resource Designation. The process for designation as a cultural resource on the
Bakersfield Register of Historic Places requires an application process at the request of the
property owner or by City Council with the requirement of the City to purchase the property.
All designated cultural resources must first seek approval from the Historic Preservation
Commission before any permits for alteration, demolition, or relocation can be issued by the
City. Per Bakersfield Municipal Code Section 15.72.050, one of following criteria must be met
for a site to be considered a cultural resource:
• Exemplifies or reflects special elements of the City's or a community or neighborhood's
historical, archaeological, cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering,
or architectural development; or
• Identified with persons or events significant in local, state, or national history;
Embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period, or method of construction,
or a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship; or
• Representative of the notable work of a builder, designer, architect, engineer,
landscape architect, interior designer, artist or craftsman; or
• Unique location or a singular physical characteristics(s) represents an established and
familiar visual feature of a neighborhood community or the City; or
• Considered an archeological or paleontological site which has the potential of
yielding information of scientific value.
2. Local Area of Historic Interest. Under the same criteria as cultural resources, the Historic
Preservation Commission, City Council or the owners of the property may initiate a request for
the designation of an area of historic interest. All applications for designation of an area of
historic interest require a petition setting forth the request for an area of historic interest
designation signed by the owners of no fewer than two-thirds of the parcels within the
proposed area of historic interest. This designation does not require approval from the
Commission before any alteration, construction, or relocation of a structure within an area of
historic interest but are encouraged to do so with respect to the overall look and feel of the
area of historic interest. The proposed work should not adversely affect the architectural
features of the structure, where specified in the designation; nor should the proposed work
adversely affect the special character or special historical, architectural or aesthetic interest
or the relationship and congruity between the subject structure or feature and its neighboring
structures and surroundings.
3. State or National Register of Historic Places. The City Council may nominate a site for inclusion
on the State or National Register of Historic Places in the same manner as and following the
procedure for the designation of cultural resources. The California State Office of Historic
Preservation administers the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of
Historical Resources, the California Historical Landmarks, and the California Points of Historical
Interest programs. Each program has different eligibility criteria and procedural requirements;
all register nominations must be submitted to the State Historical Resources Commission for
review and approval.
RECOMMENDATION
For Commission Discussion.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005, Gilbert P. Gia interview with Chencho at The Dome
John Strelich told Chencho that the Dome was first built in 1939 and that the first match was held January 5,
1940. The Dome is one of five such buildings erected by the same architect/contractor. One was in San
Bernardino. The current Dome as constructed originally had a 12 x 12 ring that was constructed at floor
level, resulting in a hole so to speak in the floor.
"After Strelich, the Strongbow family, a group of wrestlers, bought from Strelich. They sold it to a church
called Victory Outreach. Victory Outreach had the building for seven or eight years, and then leased it to
Youth Impact. James Gamer was associated with Youth Impact." Chencho bought the building about seven
or eight years ago, which would place the date he bought it at about 1998.
"Steve Strelich started his gym in a tin building which has now been tom down on the comer of 20th and the
street to the southeast of the Dome."
'I saved this place. When I got it needed a lot of tender loving cam."
"Chuck Wiggins was a man who came with the building. Chuck had been at the building for 14 or 15 years
and he came with it. I knew Chuck 10 years earlier, and we became friends. We had to remodel the building
[Dome], and I told Chuck you don't have to go but I have to shut the building down for a while to do the fixing
up. Come back and you can do the same thing you're doing before. Chuck had been working with kids in the
gym that we have in the back of the building."
[From interview with Ron Jones, Jan 2004]: "Many of the trainers interviewed spoke of Chuck
Wiggins—now 72 and a former owner [7] of The Dome and long-time fight trainer here in Bako.
Wiggins was critically III with lymphoma cancer at a hospital In Los Angeles at the time of the
November 1st Toughmen Fight. It was dedicated to him and his 35 years promoting boxing in
Bakersfield."]
[email from Larry Press: "I knew Chuck Wiggins. He was a good guy."
"The thing is Chuck had been practically living at the gym off and on and helping kids in managing the gym,
so to speak. He was not somebody I paid. One day is sister called me and said Chuck had died. They asked
me to take over the arrangements for his funeral. So, my wife and I made the telephone calls, and Chuck's
sister and family got busy with the food for a wake. And we notified about 150 people who we thought would
like to pay their final respects to Chuck. We got 10 people to act as pallbearers. The day of the wake there
were 400 people that showed up. During the service each of the pallbearers came up and rang the bell one
time, and that way they gave Chuck a 10 count.
We still have the gym and it's in operation, but not for making any money. We have a couple dozen kids that
show up to work out, and I have an experienced manager who comes in to work with and supervise the gym
area. We want to keep this operation clean and wholesome."
(Chencho filled in that ring and installed seating which later had to be removed in order to accommodate
more space for events.) "I got to know some people with the AMC Theater Company. There had been an
AMC theater out on Stockdale, and the whole group of the theaters shutdown in California. They offered me
the seating and most of the concession -stand fixtures that I wanted. We made several tops to San Diago
and brought back cushioned seats, Coke machines dispensers, and stainless-steel countertops. Some
stainless-steel refrigerators, and warming ovens. We installed the seating on top of the floor area that I filled
in where the ring used to be and where the ramps went under. We brought in sand and cemented the whole
thing over. Turned out that was not such a good idea because they later had to pull all the seats out in order
to expand the floor space. Just wasn't economically profitable use of the floor space for just seating.
We try to bring in as much business as we can within reason. I'm trying to help out with the community. I
know that kids today are getting into some things that are not good for them, and I see this happening
sometimes when we have certain youth groups in here for music. We have a lot of music videos and music
groups ask here from time to time, and we have sports events, boxing and wrestling too. We also can host
private parties. We have a small, rather a large, bar area inside with tables and pool tables. And we have
plans for expanding that area into the back part of the building. This place, the Dome, is advertised
everywhere right now. We advertise in EI Popular and several television and radio stations in the area.
Chencho's property extends west to the fence along the side of the prison structure just to the west of the
Dome, and he has some ideas about how to use this property for outside events at the Dome."
<O>
Historic Bakersfield & Kem County, California
www.gilbertgia.com
Steve Strelich and his Stadium
(V 10)
by Gilbert P. Gia
Copyright @ Gilbert P. Gia, Bakersfield, California, 2011
This work is free to public school teachers for use in their classrooms.
Others contact ggiaggia@gmaii.com
In late 1940 heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey
toured a new sports arena on V Street and announced it was
the best little stadium he'd ever seen. Henry Eisslerl built the
stadium adjacent to Highway 99, which in those days curved around the
northern part of town.
But Bakersfield was not Eissler's first home. Back in 1900 the
Indianan moved to San Francisco to establish a law practice, but after great
earthquake he returned to Indiana and there married Mary Sargent. By
1909 the couple was living in Bakersfield, and there Eissler was erecting oil
derricks for Fred Gribble Construction on the Kern River Field. In 1911
Eissler was vice-president of Bakersfield Mutual Building and Loan
Association, and by 1915 he had his own construction business. Eissler was
also a joiner. In 1917 he was chosen as Worshipful Master, Bakersfield
Lodge No. 224, F. & A.M. He later became a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite
Mason.
' B. 1878, Evansville, Indiana
w .gilbertgiarxom Page 1
Over the next 25 years Eissler built several schools and hundreds of
homes in Kern County, and his name appears on more than 700 documents
at the Kern County Hall of Records. In 1926 when Charles Bigger designed a
new building on Eye Street for the Bakersfield Californian, Henry Eissler was
the contractor. In 1927 Eissler built Iastro Memorial Bandstand at Iastro
Park.
Eissler partnered with professional wrestler Steve Strelich, made him
manager of Eissler's stadium, and a few months after the grand opening the
sign read "Strelich Stadium."
Steve Strelich was born in Colorado in 1903. His mother died when he
was about ten, and shortly after that he and his father moved to Croatia .2
Within a few years the senior Strelich returned to America, but he left Steve
with relatives. WWI broke out, eight years passed, and in 1921 a young man
named Stipan Strilic arrived at New York harbor on Ship Aquitania carrying
200 other passengers from the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.3
The ship's manifest described Stipan Strilic as a Yougoslave Croatian from
Zagrelb, five -foot -six, fair-haired, and blue-eyed. Strilic's ticket had been
paid by his parents, who the young man's papers said lived at Bingham
Canyon, Utah. The documents also stated that Strilic had once resided in the
United States but now planned to become a permanent resident. The last
B. Nov 27, 1903
3 Sep 30, 1921. Strilic is usually spelled Strelich in the US, and
it is usually pronounced STREL-ich, but sometimes STREL-ick. During
Steve Stralich's sports career his surname was occasionally spelled
Strilich by newspapers.
w .gilbertgiacom Page 2
column in the papers stated that Stipan Strilic was born at "Bingham,
U.S.A.i4 That eighteen year-old would soon be called Steve Strelich.
In the early 1900s wrestling in the US was still a traditional sport, but
wrestling promoters by then had to compete for ticket sales with the boxing
and baseball promoters. To boost sales they rigged matches to enhance the
excitement and attract spectators.
No single point marks wrestling's change to professional
showmanship, but there are several early examples. Between 1905 and
1908 an Iowa giant named Frank Gotch was an ever -frequent winner, so
frequent in fact that his promoters decided to fix matches so Gotch
occasionally would lose. In 1906, 28 year-old Gotch "staged a work" against
Fred Beall, and after Gotch lost, his ticket sales improved. The public was
not fooled for very long. In October 1909 several New York wrestlers, a Jack
Carroll among them, were accused of "acting," which could mark the point
at which popular wrestling was becoming a different kind of sport. Earlier
wrestling matches could last hours, so to hold public interest promoters
shortened matches, and new faces were rotated -in from time -to -time, but
after WWI most fans wore crooked smiles when they talked about
wrestling.
Steve had wrestled at county fairs in Croatia, but in 1928 at Salt Lake
City he boxed as lightweight. Still, according to wrestling historian J.
Michael Kenyon, even by then Strelich's name was recognized in the
California wrestling circuit. In fact, Steve prefered the theatrical world of
professional wrestling. At Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium on January 24,
Bingham is near Midvale, Utah, which is where Strelich's sisters
Mary and Annie lived in the 1990s.
w .gilbertgiaxam Page 3
1930, 185 -Ib Steve Strelich, billed as the "Terrible Swede,' wrestled A.D.
Hermann before a packed house of 10,000 ticket holders. [Strelich's early
years in wrestling and boxing have been detailed in the book Peaseant in a
Paper Suit, noted at the end of this paper.]
As the Depression deepened Steve accepted boxing jobs. In May 1930
in Salt Lake City he was a sparing partner with the six -foot -six Italian,
Primo Carnera, the 240 -Ib "Ambling Alp."s Some accounts say that Camera
KO'd Strelich in round one.
In 1931 the public got a look inside the wrestling game when the
New York State Athletic Commission barred promoters from advertising
wrestling as a contest. But its popularity grew anyway, and by 1934
promoters were managing stables of wrestlers in a coast-to-coast
consortium. Promoters knew months in advance who would win and who
would lose.
In 1930 Primo Carnera held the World Heavyweight boxing belt, and
"Cyclone Steve" Strelich held the California Light Heavyweight wrestling
title. 1933 saw a second Strelich name on Southland wrestling cards when
Steve's brother Mike entered the game, and a few years later their little
brother Johnny also wrestled around Southern California.°
Weeks earlier, the New York Athletic Commissioners had suspended
Carnera from boxing competition, which might explain why the match at
Salt Lake was billed an exhibition.
6 According to wrestling historian Kenyon, Mike's career continued
until about 1940. "During that span he traveled coast-to-coast and had
an extended run in the major mat centers of the Midwest, East and
South. John [Johnny) Strelich, sometimes known as Jack, youngest of the
lot, saw action at the Olympic a few times in 1936-37, and spent a
season, 1937-38, working for the light heavyweight booking office in
Tulsa, Oklahoma." (Email to the author.)
w .gilbertgiaxom Page 4
Local wrestling promoter Jack Pfeffer found himself elbowed out of
that consortium. In January 1934, he told reporters that back in August
1929 certain wrestling managers had "staged a work" between Dick Shikat
and Jim Londos so that Londos would win the world's title. Of course Pfeffer
was merely telling the public what they already knew, but it was the way he
told it that hurt: Wrestling fans were bumpkins, and so were the reporters
who covered the matches.
Another black -eye to the wrestling game came in October
when General John J. Phelan of the New York State Athletic Commission
called it a fraud. The Los Angeles Times noted sarcastically that Phelan was
once again ordering "a relentless investigation" of wrestling, which signaled
the official start of the "annual fall silly season."
The Times reminded readers that a State wrestling ruling of 1931
already required professional wrestling matches to be billed as exhibitions,
which, the Times said, proved that "in the eyes of the law wrestling was
nothing but the old Phonous-Solonous-Malarkey-Malloy; that bouts were to
be taken no more seriously than puppet shows and other items manipulated
by the pulling of strings."7 The Times story probably hurt New York
wrestling promoters already seeing drops in ticket sales, but in the rest of
the country, and particularly in Los Angeles, wrestling was still drawing
large, appreciative crowds. On November 21, 1934, all 11,000 seats at
Olympic Auditorium sold -out for a wrestling match.
Steve Strelich had been a regular in 1927 at Santa Monica's Muscle
Beach, and his name appeared in stories about long-distance swimming and
7 Los Angeles Times, Oct 25, 1939
w .gilbertgiacom Page 5
marathon dancing. His physique, good looks, and engaging personality
landed him stunt work in movies, and in 1936 and 1938 he did walk-on
parts in three Hollywood films. In November 1936, James Cagney and the
cast of Tough Guy showed up at the Eastside Arena to support Steve Strelich
who also was working on the movie with them. That night the featured main
event was Steve Strelich vs. Louie Miller, and further down the card were
the matches of Steve's brothers Mike and Johnny.$
Another brother, George Strelich, recalled that Steve had been a
bodyguard for actress Mae West $ Her catch line Why don't you come up and
see me sometime and her 5-5, 120 -Ib, 36-26-36 figure suggest she needed
a bodyguard. But maybe not. Time Magazine wrote, "In vaudeville, Mae
West developed her figure with an acrobatic act in which she lifted a 500 -Ib.
weight, supported by three 1S0 -Ib. male assistants."1$ The Strelich-West
connection came up again in 1966 when Bakersfield welterweight boxer
(1961-1962) Don Crider helped Steve Strelich remove personal items from
Strelich Stadium. Crider remembered that he carrying out a Mae West movie
placard.31
In December 1935, disgruntled sports promoter lack Ganson
threatened to hand over the dope on wrestling to the California State
Athletic Commission. True to Ganson's promoter's instinct, he hooked a
newspaper into printing his challenge to the Commission to subpoena him
and force him to testify under oath. The Commissioners were unimpressed.
Sacramento wrestling promoter Pete Visser had been making similar noises,
Los Angeles Times, Nov 17, 1936
Interview with the author George Strelich served in WWII. He
later joined the Bakersfield Police Department (Author's interview with
Kathryn Giovannetti).
10 Oct 16, 1933
11 Interview with the author
w .gilbertgiaxom Page 6
too, and said the Commissioners, and Visser was "blowing hot and cold so
far." They didn't expect much more out of Ganson, either."
Talk about staged wrestling bouts had no affect on ticket sales. Jack
Miley of the Detroit Free Press explained the apparent phenomenon in April
1936 when he quoted New York wrestling promoter Jack Curley:
" 'I am merely a purveyor of entertainment,' the bland, inscrutable
Curley replies when somebody asks if his dodge is on the square. In
all the years I've known him, I've never heard him say his pitch was a
phony, nor have I heard him claim it was the McCoy. Probably half the
folk who attend the Curley carnivals are hep to them. The other 50
per cent of the spectators - the foreign -born, the confirmed rassiing
addicts and such - are equally certain they are witnessing the genuine
article. That has been the secret of Curley's success. He satisfies the
scoffers and the believers, too. He has made rassling a state of mind.
It is everybody to his own opinion, and nobody gets hurt - including
the athletes. 1113
In the early to mid -Thirties, the Strelich brothers traveled around the
West Coast for wrestling jobs. Steve wrestled in Los Angeles, Ventura,
Fresno, and even as far east as Utah and Colorado. J. Michael Kenyon
elaborated, "All three Strelich brothers -- at least they billed themselves as
such -- worked, from time to time, in the Pacific Northwest (i.e., Oregon,
Washington and British Columbia).i 14 Wrestling statistics show that
between 1934 and 1937 Steve - but more so his brother Mike - performed
frequently in Victoria and Vancouver.
1x Los Angeles Times, Dec 10, 1935
13 Apr 27, 1936
14 Email to the author
w .gilbertgiaxom Page 7
Steve Strelich was usually a mid -card wrestler, but Kenyon added,
"He still had enough pulling -power to be featured regularly in main events.
And his skills on the mat, despite his advancing years, enabled him to hold
down occasional feature bouts at the Hollywood Legion Stadium, including
at least one against world light heavyweight champion LeRoy McGuirk.
Steve also conducted at least one, fairly lengthy tour of the Arizona -New
Mexico -West Texas territory in the late'30s.'.1s
Continued Kenyon, "Along the way, I suspect, Strelich earned the
friendship of Ed 'Strangler' Lewis because in the waning days of Strelich's
pro -grappling career he always seemed to have a place on the undercard
when Lewis worked the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. There are at
least fifteen such occasions in the record. The last wrestling match I saw
Steve Strelich in, at least according to my sketchy records, was at Fresno in
early 1941 at Ryan's Auditorium. The wrestling careers of all the Strelich
cIan seemed to evaporate just prior to World War II.i16
The Bakersfield Californian said Steve Strelich wrestled for the first
time in Bakersfield in 1931, and an article about him appeared on March 10,
1932 in the Blue and White, which was Kern County Union High School's
student newspaper. The story said that a few days earlier Steve the
"Terrible Swede" Strelich had shown some of his wrestling moves to the
High School's wrestling team and class member Chet Wenton had "taken
the punishment." Strelich told the boys he wanted to start a professional
San Joaquin Valley football club made up of local players. The story also
1B Email to the author
16 Email to the author
w .gilbertgiacom Page 8
noted that Steve's brother Mike had enrolled at Bakersfield Junior College,
which then was on the High School's campus.
Bakersfield Californian, January 2, 1935
w .gilber[giacom Page 9
In November 1936 Steve and Mike Strelich wrestled at Bakersfield
Arena on 19th at V Street,' and in April 1938 Steve Strelich promoted his
first wrestling show there to an audience which Bakersfield Californian
columnist Jax Smith said "filled the shaky gladiators' shed from the ringside
to the back row of the gallery."18 The second match of the evening was
noteworthy when the referee disqualified wrestler Bob Montgomery. "Bobby
was plenty mad at the referee's decision," wrote Smith, "and sank his
molars into the ropes just to show it." Smith devoted most of his article to
the main event, describing it as a "battle royal" and a "six -man rumpus that
started out like a guerrilla war." Smith wrote that one "boy" after another
was pinned, leaving wrestler Pat O'Brien the last man standing and
champion.19
George Strelich recalled that his brother Johnny was working in Los
Angeles at the time he and Steve relocated to Bakersfield. In 1939 they
opened a storefront at 1708 K Street under a sign that read "Strelich
Brothers Conditioning Club --Steve and John Strelich." 10 Because the club
was just east of Hotel EI Tejon and kitty-corner from the six -story
Haberfelde office building, it attracted a lot of walk-in customers. In July,
Bakersfield's Dante Alighieri Lodge held their annual picnic at EI Tejon Park
on the grounds of the hotel, and while Charles "The Barbecue King" Castro
roasted the beeves and Don's Melody Boys tuned -up, Steve Strelich and Pat
r, The building was a sports venue after WWI. The name Bakersfield
Athletic Club Stadium first appeared in the Bakersfield City Directory
in 1920 but without an address. In 1928 it was listed at 1920 V Street,
at 20'h
1B Bakersfield Californian, Apr 20, 1938
r, As if the male melodramatists of the square ring didn't provide
action enough for Bakersfield audiences, in Apr 1939 Strelich brought
in women's wrestling.
10 Interview with the author
w Agilbertgiaxrnn Page 10
O'Brien gave a wrestling demonstration for the benefit of the Italian -
American club.
Steve Strelich was operating a health club and promoting boxing and
wrestling matches, but he also was still in the ring. In October 1938 he
mixed it up with Abe Goldberg at Hollywood Legion Stadium, and in March
1940 he faced -off against Johnny Demchuk at the Coliseum. Strelich also
fed Bakersfield's cravings for boxing and wrestling, but the tin walls of old
Athletic Club Stadium were cold in the winter, hot in the summer, and its
wood -plank benches were getting more and more splintery and out of date.
Fans didn't have to go far to see a wrestling show. In 1939 the
California State Athletic Commission authorized eight wrestling licenses in
Los Angeles, five in San Francisco, two each for the cities of Oakland,
Sacramento, and Fresno, and one each for San Diego, Santa Barbara,
Visalia, Modesto, Stockton, Chico, San Jose, Vallejo, and Redwood City. In
1940, new applications for permits were filed for Eureka, Ukiah, Redding,
Petaluma, Grass Valley, Hanford, and Bakersfield, and to explain why
Bakersfield was on the list, one first has to know about George Haberfelde.
In 1940 George Karl Haberfelde was 68 and had been in business in
Bakersfield for 43 years. He'd started out as a door-to-door salesman for
the Singer Sewing Machine Company, but by 1940 he owned a ranch on
Highway 65, a furniture store, a rooming house, the Ford dealership, the
six -story Haberfelde Office Building and probably was an investor in the
Hotel El Tejon. Haberfelde also had been Mayor of Bakersfield. In 1940 he
lived on a two -acre estate facing prestigious Oleander Street just south of
Kern County Union High School.
w .gilbertgia.com Page 11
In 1940 Haberfelde took out a $35,000 building permit for a new ice
skating rink at 425 Golden State Avenue.11 When Steve Strelich heard about
that he could see a professional ice hockey team for Bakersfield, and
because his health club was across the street from the Haberfelde Building,
Strelich was well-positioned to meet Haberfelde and present the hockey
team idea. But when they finally met there was no electricity. Maybe the
difference in age and personality between the German and the Slav was just
too great.
The ice rink went up slowly. Meanwhile, the careers of Henry Eissler
and Steve Strelich were in change. Sixty-three year-old Henry Eissler and
his son Sargent incorporated as Henry Eissler & Son, and Mr, and Mrs. Henry
Eissler left on vacation to explore Mayan ruins and visit Havana and Miami .22
Upon their return, Eissler found out that Strelich's dream for a hockey team
was out, and Haberfelde's ice skating rink at the bend of Highway 99 just
east of Garces Circle was still under construction. Eissler also heard that
Strelich had other ideas.
E.L. Solomon who owned a glass shop on 19th Street was a member
of the Strelich Brothers Conditioning Club. After Solomon talked to Strelich
about the need for a new sports stadium, Solomon introduced Steve Strelich
and Henry Eissler.33 Popularity of wrestling convinced Eissler that a new
sports stadium would be a money-maker. After all, Strelich was already a
proven, successful manger, and Eissler trusted lodge member E.L.
1� Feb 3, 1940
u Daily (Bakersfield) Record, Apr 18, 1940
z3 Interview with the author
w .gilbertgia.com Page 12
Solomon's recommendation s4 The result was Eissler would build the
stadium, and Strelich would manage it.
�.sr,wr
'xauns+m...acueun
Strelich \Ixlrlc Center
Francis W. Nimble
Bakersfield Californian, January 7, 1941
In October 1940 Eissler filed a $20,000 building permit for a sports
center on 20th at 2201 V Street, which was exactly two blocks north of the
old stadium' and on one of Eissler's vacant lots. Perhaps coincidentally,
that location was a stone's throw across Mill Creek canal from Haberfelde's
unfinished skating rink.
Eissler commenced to build, and Strelich continued the boxing and
wrestling shows at the old stadium where Bakersfield enjoyed LeRoy
McGuirk, "the world junior heavy -weight title holder,' as he hit the mat with
local wrestling favorite Billie Weidner.
24 In February 1955 when Strelich applied for membership in
Bakersfield Masonic Lodge, his sponsors were Henry Eissler and
Strelich's optometrist George C. Poloynis.
05 Daily (Bakersfield) Report, Oct 1940
w .gilbertgiaxom Page 13
The new stadium was a reinforced concrete, circular shell with a
domed roof. Its architect is unknown today, but the dome's laminated,
"Arch -Rib," wood trusses were from the materials company of Civil Engineer
Francis W. Kimble. Eissler's arena was not unique, as it had a strong
resemblance to the Calexico Club, a sports arena in the Imperial Valley that
was built in 1928-29 and demolished in the mid 1960s. Today, Mettler's
arena, called The Dome today, is probably the last existing small stadium of
its kind in the country.
Leh to right, Steve Strelich, Jack Dempsey, Henry Eissier
Bakersfield Californian, January y, 1941
Haberfelde's Skate Palace Ice Arena was under construction for 12
months; Eissler's arena took two months to build. Nearly every day before
its grand opening the Californian followed the progress. In one article
observed that Steve Strelich "was running around like a big blond bear in a
w .gllbertgiacom Page 14
mobile trance" and that fans "will find a card of grunt -and -grimace aces
that has never before been equaled."
On January 8, 1941 a howling wind was blowing outside the stadium,
but inside the grand opening was like a Hollywood premiere. At 8:30 pm
Master of Ceremonies, and veteran motion -picture comedian, Slim
Summerville strolled to the center of the mat, welcomed the audience and
made introductions. Sitting in the first row at ringside was owner and
builder Henry Eissler, State Athletic Commissioner Harry Saunders, Roy
Rogers the singing cowboy (who later borrowed a banjo and sang,) and
Jack Earle of Texas, called the world's tallest man. His 7 -ft, 6 -1/2 -in frame
barely fit the seat.
High in the press box was announcer Bill Powers, and below him sat
the capacity crowd of 2,000. Tickets were $1.10 for ringside, seventy-five
cents balcony, and fifty -cent gallery. To the surprise of all, Summerville
pulled off his coat, removed his tie, and "in the mannerisms of the
professional brethren of the bruise" started wrestling the beaming Steve
Strelich.
Opening matches on the bottom of the card were Gus Johnson vs. Ace
Freeman, and Dave Lavine (former heavyweight champion) vs. Gene Blacky.
Strelich's "Four Main Events," in order, were (1) Whitey Wahlberg of
Minnesota and Jesse "The Greek Adonis" James; (2) two red-headed
wrestlers, Wild Red Berry of Kansas and Red Lyons of Texas; (3)
"Bakersfield's own" Dick Raines vs. Rowdy Rudy "The Villainous Hungarian"
LaDitzi; and (4) a four -corner team event, which the Californian deemed
"always a great comedy attraction." They were Dude Chick and Danny
w .gilbertgia.cam Page 15
Savage vs. Mike Nazarian and Tiger "The Bad Boy Bulgarian" Taskoff.
Strelich's old friend Ed "Strangler" Lewis refereed one bout 2` At the end of
the night, Strelich sent his congratulatory flowers to local hospitals.
A week later Strelich switched the show to four -round amateur
boxing with a "quadruple main event.- On the first night, local boxer Eddie
Sierras touched gloves with Al Robinson, a tough, black boxer from Fresno
who'd driven to Bakersfield with five other fighters from the northern
valley. Twenty -year-old Sierras, Strelich's California Golden Gloves
protegee, was a man on his way up in the boxing game. Californian sports
reporter Jim Day wrote that Sierras, under Strelich's banner, had "battered
his way" to the California Golden Gloves lightweight championship in
Hollywood and had gone on to win the Pacific Coast Golden Gloves.
Other bouts that night were Jimmy Kidd of Fresno vs. Julio Franco of
Bakersfield, who also fought California Golden Gloves; Ray Chavez of Fresno
vs. Rito Barajas, who held the San Joaquin Valley amateur bantamweight
crown; Johnny Mendoza of Visalia vs. George Dosier of Bakersfield; Rubber
Rowan of Wasco vs. Sam Nagel of Fresno; Dusty Rhoads of Old River vs.
Marion Roberts of Fresno; and Johnny Rodriques vs. Sandy Mendoza, both
fighters from Bakersfield.
A week later Strelich brought back wrestling, and that show repeated
many of the first -night's players with their "hundreds of pounds of grunting
and grimacing beef on the hoof," as Jim Day phrased it. To keep crowds
enthralled, Strelich pitted Danny Savage against Silent Rattah, who the
26 Few present knew that Lewis was fighting his own personal battle
against blindness.
w .gilbertgia.cam Page 16
paper said was "a deaf and dumb rasseler." By this time, Bakersfield fans
knew exactly where to go for boxing and professional wrestling.
The new sports arena crept into Bakersfield's language and into its
collective memory. In the mid to late -Forties, a high school boy might
remark about an athletic -looking girl, "She's Strelich material," or "She
goes to the Strelich school of charm." Californian sports writer Larry Press
recalled Strelich's stadium, "My acquaintance with the good-hearted
character dates only to 1953, when I came to Bakersfield and -- would you
believe -- I actually covered the weekly 'rassling' matches at Strelich
Stadium, that most perfect, virtually art deco example of sports theater in
the round. The blend of odors of beer, popcorn, hotdogs, onions, etc., is
difficult to forget "2'
In 1949, Johnny E. Loustalot, Kern County Sheriff spoke at the
Lamont Lions' Club where he presented Steve Strelich with the club's
humanitarian award. Loustalot pointed to Strelich and said, "He is a man
who could have been very wealthy, but has always elected to help his fellow
man. Steve is a swell guy and a real asset to our community. I am deeply
grateful for the privilege of being allowed to help honor so fine a person."
Everyone present knew what Loustalot was talking about. Eleven months
after the stadium opened, America had declared war, and Steve Strelich's
contribution on the home front was exemplary.
Steve's brothers were in the armed services. Here in Bakersfield, 40
year-old Steve Strelich's boxing and wrestling shows generated millions in
war bonds. During one seven -week period in February and March of
" Email to the author
w .gilbertgia.com Page 17
1942, Strelich's Wednesday night wresting cards featured Kenny Ackles,
Paul Bozzel, Wes Crothers, George Dusette, Yukon Jake, Sammy Kohen,
Charley Laye, Mike London, Jimmy Lott, Danny McShain, Milt Olson, Prince
Omar, Gorilla Ramos, George Saleem, Billy Varga, George Wagner, and Billy
Weidner. The shows brought in fans and money.
Bakersfield Californian, June 1, 1944
Four of Strelich's shows sold $4,000,000 in war bonds, which is
equivalent today to about $50,000,000. In 1970 Californian reporter Cec
Wilder recalled, "The price of a seat was a $1,000 war bond. I remember
once S.L. Camp coughed up $50,000 for a pair of ringside seats. Bakersfield
people were always quick to respond." During the war Kern County opened
its wallet so many times and handed over so much money that in 1944 Los
Angeles Times editor graven Dyer challenged sports promoters there to
match what Steve Strelich was doing in Bakersfield.28
ze Los Angeles Times, Jun 15, 1944. During WWI, Kern County residents
bought more bonds per capata than citizens of any other area.
w .glibertgia.com Page 18
Some of Strelich's wrestling shows were beyond outlandish. "Max
Mayhem" a Bakersfield Californian sports writer who almost certainly was
Jim Day having a little fun describing this match in 1942.
"For downright action, underhanded buffoonery and athletic
promenading, there is nothing like a tag -team match... There was no
wrestling to it but a great deal of shenanigans in the corners and a
complete disregard for decorum or referee Allen's authority. Sergeant
Bob Kenniston won both falls of the main event over Wild Red Berry
in less than 15 minutes, due to the careful deliberation and almost as
deliberate myopia of Mr. Allen. The crowd stood on the benches and
howled for nearly 30 minutes about it but Steve Strelich, the genial
and heartwarming promoter, promised to protest to the State
Commission and thus mollified them somewhat. ,29
After the war Strelich continued raising funds, but this time it was for
March of Dimes. In support of polio research Strelich auctioned off a ham
for $640 and sold turkeys for $150 each. Not limited to philanthropy at
home, he also sent boxing and wresting supplies to war-torn
Yugoslavia. For all of those things he received the Americanism Award of
the American Legion, the Humanitarian Award of the Lamont Lions Club, an
Outstanding Sportsman trophy from the Kern Wildlife Federation, and in
1971 Steve Strelich was elected to the Bob Elias Hall of Fame.
J. Michael Kenyon recalled meeting Strelich. "We became close when
he came down to ask me to put on a few boxing shows at his arena. What a
character! Steve, in his prime, had often boxed in one bout and wrestled in
" Bakersfield Californian Max 26, 1942
w .gilbertgiacom Page 19
another on the same showl And he did a great improv of old actor Will
Rogers, hair -over -one -eye and all. I really liked the man. He was honest,
generous, and could have been mayor in Bakersfield, as he was very
popular. 1130
In September 1962 Steve and Loretta Strelich sold the stadium for
$100,000 to William J. Griffiths, Jerry Hill, and Jules Strongbow, who had a
38 -year association with Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium as wrestler,
announcer, and matchmaker. The buyers renamed the building Strongbow
Stadium.
Steve
Steve Strelich -- swimmer, boxer, wrestler, bullfighter, movie actor,
promoter, fund raiser, good -will ambassador, (possibly also sky diver and
race car driver), and who played Santa Claus for handicapped youngsters --
died of cancer on Saturday morning, June 26, 1971. Monsignor Patrick
Leddy read the Rosary, and Mayor Don Hart delivered a eulogy.
30 Email to
the
author
w .gilbertl ia.com
Page 20
In the process of researching Strelich's story, I contacted former
Californian sports writer Larry Press. He wrote, "One of Steve's special gifts
was the ability to meet people and establish an informal rapport in
moments, ranging from government and business leaders to the 'common
folk.' Steve didn't ask any sympathy. When he realized his condition, he
kept telling his friends that he had lived a long, full, interesting and exciting
life. That he certainly did. But when a good man goes, it always seems too
short. And a good man has gone."
The author is grateful to Don Crider, Kathryn Giovanetti, J. Michael
Kenyon, Eddie Lopez, Millie Munding, John Edward Powell, Larry Press,
George Strelich, Don Suverkrop, Fred Valentich, and Dean VanZant for their
generous help in gathering information for this story.
Subsequently ...
Some years after I wrote this story about Steve and his stadium,
writer Gerry Haslam told me that his friend Eddie Lopez, former sports
writer for the Bakersfield Californian, had met Steve Strelich and wrote his
life story. I wrote Lopez and learned he had 200 typewritten pages of
Steve's memories. Those included stories about Croatia, Steve's youth in the
Twenties and Thirties in Utah and California, his promoting years in
Bakersfield, and his visits with Marshall Tito of Yugoslavia. In 2007 Lopez
and I set about reworking the interviews into a book -length manuscript,
and in 2011 the Strelich family published it in paperback as Peasant In A
Paper Suit. The Life of Steve Strelich Athlete, Actor and Ambassador of
Goodwill (1903-1971.) Strelich's memories define Bakersfield, and his first -
w .giibertgia.com Page 21
person narrative makes it unique among local biographies. The book is
available at
http://www amazon com/Peasant-Paper-Suit-Ambassador-1903-
1971/do/1466464941
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https://www.bakersfield.com/news/busineWno-place-like-dome/article_a3b7751 c-e628-5fda-857c-
8cf855974050.html
No place like Dome
By OLIVIA REYES GARCIA, Californian staff writer e-mail: ogarcia@bakersfield.com Feb 10, 2006
A morning walk through the landmark Strelich Stadium reminded Inocencio Madera of his
childhood, when he and his friends would go to the domelike arena to sit and watch wrestling
and boxing matches.
"This used to be our seating area," said Madera as he stood a few feet away from the center
boxing ring.
Today, Madera doesn't have to look for a seat anymore.
The 50 -year-old businessman owns it.
"I've been in the fixer -upper business all my life, and I thought this was a business worth
saving," Madera said. "It's a community landmark that has been abandoned."
Madera renamed the 1,650 -seat sports arena, which sits on the corner of V and 22nd streets in
Bakersfield, The Dome for its structural features and the word's similarity to the Spanish slang
for "Dome" -- EI Dome.
Madera, who moved from Puerto Rico to Kern County as a child, is eyeing both English- and
Spanish-speaking crowds for events.
Madera was drawn to the stadium for its rich sports past, uniqueness and potential to grow.
"This is the only one in Bakersfield," Madera said. "I see a future here.
Madera bought the building for $235,000 about 21/2 years ago with a vision to breathe new life
into it.
Progress has been slow, but he's been trying to spread the word through fliers and working with
some local promoters.
This year, he has opened the doors to some events, including wrestling and the Battle of the
Badges, a fund-raising event held by local law enforcement agencies.
For many years, the stadium was a smoky sportsman's haven, serving as a popular boxing and
wrestling venue.
Rich history
The building first opened as Strelich Stadium on Jan. 7, 1941. The owner, Steve Strelich, paid
$40,000 for it.
Strelich brought amateur boxing to a new level in town, and was known to take care of the
amateur boxers who were responsible for filling his stadium.
As a teen, Chuck Wiggins remembers going to the Strelich to watch amateur boxing.
"I was here in 1949," Wiggins said. "People loved amateur boxing on Mondays.
"We're going to try to bring it back."
An Army amateur fighter, Wiggins now offers boxing lessons to teens and young adults at The
Dome from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
"Right now, I am training amateurs," Wiggins said. "Hopefully, we'll get a couple of pros out of
here."
Strelich sold his stadium to Jules Strongbow, Bill Griffiths and Jerry Hill on Oct. 26, 1962, for
$100,000.
Strelich died in 1971.
The stadium bore Strelich's name until Dec. 11, 1976, when owner Ramona Strongbow renamed
it after her late husband, Jules, who, like Strelich, was a wrestler.
Through the years, the stadium was graced by some of the greatest such as Sugar Ray
Robinson and Jack Dempsey.
Strongbow Stadium, however, began having some problems in the late '70s and early '80s. It
was a frequent victim of vandalism, and prostitutes began to hang out there.
The spot would eventually become a place of worship for Victory Outreach before the church
uT,a=M =Me
Family attractions
Madera said he's renovated the building by putting in new floor tile, carpet and paint, among
other things.
Boxing and wrestling matches will continue to be one of the key attractions, he said. But he
hopes to draw in families, too.
"We're trying to bring 'old -school' wrestling to Bakersfield," he said.
In addition, Madera said he wants to open his doors to music concerts, religious conventions
and residents who need a place for company celebrations, weddings or other events.
A dream, so far, is to hold a salsa dancing festival, he said.
On Saturday, classic rock group The Skinny Little Twits, will perform there.
Just before Thanksgiving, Madera and other businesses will hold a food giveaway at The Dome.
"I want to balance my building out," he said. "I don't want it to become a big of bar."
Madera said he is working with the city so that he can pave the front area of the stadium with
sidewalks. He is also trying to convince the city to repair the facing streets, he said.
"I've been struggling here, but I know this will work," Madera said. "This is the only one in town
set up this way."