The Rex Center was an

arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectato ...

and entertainment center in downtown

Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell () is a city in Massachusetts, in the United States. Alongside Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cambridge, It is one of two traditional county seat, seats of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,5 ...

, existing from 1933 to 1960. Entrepreneur and car dealer Charles Dancause created the Rex, which opened in 1933 in a renovated mill building, the old Prescott Division Plant of Mass Cotton Mills. The architect of the conversion was Harry Prescott Graves."Radio Tower Proves Problem" in ''Lowell Sun'', August 27, 1934, 1. Among the entertainments offered at the Rex was dining (the Rex Grille, which also offered floorshows), bars, a dancing ballroom,

duckpin bowling Duckpin bowling is a variation of the sport of bowling. Duckpin balls are in (12 cm) to 5 in (12.7 cm) in diameter, weigh 3 lb 6 oz (1.5 kg) to 3 lb 12 oz (1.7 kg) each, and lack finger holes. They are thus signific ...

(65 lanes),

roller skating Roller skating is the act of traveling on surfaces with roller skates. It is a recreational activity, a sport, and a form of transportation. Roller rinks and skate parks are built for roller skating, though it also takes place on streets, si ...

pool Pool may refer to: Water pool * Swimming pool, usually an artificial structure containing a large body of water intended for swimming * Reflecting pool, a shallow pool designed to reflect a structure and its surroundings * Tide pool, a rocky pool ...

(30 tables), and

Turkish bath A hammam ( ar, حمّام, translit=ḥammām, tr, hamam) or Turkish bath is a type of steam bath or a place of public bathing associated with the Islamic world. It is a prominent feature in the culture of the Muslim world and was inherite ...

s. There were five banquet halls; banquets, wedding receptions, and other events were held there. The Rex Center constituted an important part of Lowell social life in the mid 20th century; the ''

Lowell Sun ''The Sun'', also known as ''The Lowell Sun'', is a daily newspaper based in Lowell, Massachusetts, United States, serving towns in Massachusetts around the Greater Lowell area and beyond. As of 2011, its average daily circulation was about 42,9 ...

'' described it as "one of Lowell's landmark spots" and "the sports and dining showplace of Lowell". The Rex Arena in the center seated 1,000 or 2,000 and hosted boxing matches, and also wrestling matches (featuring appearances by

Jim Londos Christos Theofilou ( el, Χρήστος Θεοφίλου; January 2, 1894 – August 19, 1975), better known as "The Golden Greek" Jim Londos (Greek: Τζίμ Λόντος), was a Greek American professional wrestler. Londos was one of the most p ...

, Ed "Strangler" Lewis,

The French Angel Maurice Tillet (23 October 1903 – 4 September 1954) was a Russian-born French professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, The French Angel. Tillet was a leading box office draw in the early 1940s and was twice World Heavyweight Cham ...

Man Mountain Dean Frank Simmons Leavitt (June 30, 1891 – May 29, 1953) was an American professional wrestler of the early 1900s, known by the ring name Man Mountain Dean. Early life Leavitt was born in New York City, the son of John McKenney Leavitt and Henriet ...

, Dropkick Murphy,

Bull Curry Fred Thomas Koury Sr. (May 2, 1913 – March 8, 1985) was an American of Lebanese descent who was best known as a professional wrestler under the name ”Wild Bull” Curry. He is recognized as the originator of the hardcore style predating lege ...

and many others), particularly after the older Crescent Rink on Hurd Street burned down. Semi-pro basketball games were played there, and the

Harlem Globetrotters The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team. They combine athleticism, theater, and comedy in their style of play. Created in 1926 by Tommy Brookins in Chicago, Illinois, the team adopted the name '' Harlem'' because of ...

appeared there. The Rex Center burned down on June 25, 1960. The huge fire raged out of control for several hours, and of the more than 300 firefighters from Lowell and 14 other towns, sixteen were injured. The derelict building was torn down in 1971 and replaced with a parking lot.

Wang Laboratories Wang Laboratories was a US computer company founded in 1951 by An Wang and G. Y. Chu. The company was successively headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts (1954–1963), Tewksbury, Massachusetts (1963–1976), and finally in Lowell, Massachuse ...

built a training center at the site in 1984, which in 1990 was purchased by Middlesex Community College and is now used as its Lowell campus.

References

{{reflist, refs= {{cite web , url=http://www.lowellsun.com/sports/ci_2797783 , title=Remembering The Rex , author=David Pevear , date=June 12, 2005 , work=Lowell Sun , accessdate=January 8, 2017 {{cite magazine , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rx8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64 , title=The Billboard Second Annual Auditorium-Arena Review , date=August 9, 1952 , magazine=Billboard , accessdate=January 8, 2017 {{cite book , last=Plomaritis , first=Titus , title=Titus , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U8kD16QgSk4C&pg=PA37 , accessdate=January 8, 2017 , year=2012 , publisher=AuthorHouse , isbn=978-1-4772-7137-7 , page=371 {{cite web , url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/47669896 , url-access=subscription , title=Spectator Sport (Man About Town column) , author=Nick Caraganis , date=November 11, 1971 , work=Lowell Sun , page=11 , accessdate=January 9, 2017 {{cite web , url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/11439358 , url-access=subscription , title=Wrestling Monday (advertisement) , date=October 8, 1938 , work=Lowell Sun , page=5 , accessdate=January 9, 2017 {{cite web , url=http://www.legacyofwrestling.com/Lowell40.html , title=Lowell Wrestling Results - 1940 , author=Don Luce , work=Legacy of Wrestling , accessdate=January 9, 2017 {{cite book , last=Strunk , first=Jason T. , title=Lowell Firefighting , series=Images of America , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jJYWfN7UKA8C&pg=PA95 , accessdate=January 9, 2017 , year=2006 , publisher=Arcadia Publishing , isbn=978-0738545028 , pages=95–96 Sports venues in Lowell, Massachusetts Middlesex Community College (Massachusetts) Defunct indoor arenas in Massachusetts Sports venues completed in 1933 1933 establishments in Massachusetts 1960 disestablishments in Massachusetts Sports venues demolished in 1971 Defunct basketball venues in the United States