Bloch Arena | Images of Old Hawaiʻi

“The ultimate completion of the USS Arizona Memorial will be a constant reminder of the heroes’ deeds performed by our armed forces on Dec. 7, 1941.” (Rear Adm Roy S Benson, Cincinnati Enquirer, Dec 8, 1960)

President Dwight D Eisenhower had approved the creation of Arizona Memorial in 1958. $500,000 was needed for its construction. (Ho‘okele)

The public law stipulated that the monument would be built without federal funding. Several organizations and individuals helped in the effort to raise the required amount. In 1958, the Territory of Hawaii contributed the initial $50,000.

On December 3, 1958 the popular television series, ‘This is Your Life’ hosted by Ralph Edwards kicked off the public fundraising campaign. The program featured Samuel Fuqua, Medal of Honor recipient and the senior surviving officer from the USS Arizona.

Over $95,000 was raised for the new permanent structure. However, within a couple of years, donations slowed and the memorial fund was in dire need of cash. USS Arizona Memorial historian Dan Martinez credits newspapers for keeping the memorial concept alive.

“Editors of daily newspapers across the country were connected in their profession, that was how they kept the story going. … The total already raised at that time was $250,000, which was only half of what they needed.” (Martinez; Star Bulletin)

George Chaplin of the Honolulu Advertiser mailed something like 1,500 letters, asking for articles or editorials about the Arizona Memorial. (Star Bulletin)

The Los Angeles Examiner responded with an editorial on December 4, 1960 … “and a very fine gentleman read an editorial in one of the California newspapers.”

“That man (Colonel Tom Parker) called George Chaplin and said: ‘I know a young man whose services can be a big help.’” (Advertiser, March 26, 1961)

Parker, Elvis Presley’s manager, thought this would be a good publicity for the new film ‘Waikiki Beach Boy’ (later renamed to ‘Blue Hawai‘i’ that was filmed in Hawai‘i.)

Parker offered a benefit concert with Elvis. Parker came to Hawai‘i and set up the show and stipulated that every cent would go toward the War Memorial fund.

“‘Forty eight hours ago we met in this very room and we were $10,000 short,’ said H Tucker Gratz chairman of the memorial fund commission. “We made an agreement with Parker that he and Elvis would raise $5,000 if the War Memorial Commission would raise the other $5,000…” (Advertiser, March 26, 1961)

Rear Adm. Robert L Campbell introduced Elvis, saying, “He is a fine American. He has had many starring roles, not the least of these has been as a soldier in the US Army.”

(Elvis was drafted into the Army at Memphis, Tennessee, on March 24, 1958; his overseas service took place in Germany from October 1, 1958, until March 2, 1960, as a member of the 1st Medium Tank Battalion. He left active duty at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on March 5, 1960.) (Army)

March 25, 1961, during his hour on stage, Elvis sang 15 songs: ‘Heartbreak Hotel,’ ‘All Shook Up,’ ‘A Fool Such As I,’ ‘I Got a Woman,’ ‘Love Me,’ ‘Such a Night,’ ‘Reconsider Baby,’ ‘I Need Your Love Tonight,’ ‘That’s All Right,’ ‘Don’t Be Cruel,’ ‘One Night,’ ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight,’ ‘It’s Now or Never,’ ‘Swing Down Sweet Chariot’ and ‘Hound Dog.’

The show was “fastpaced and slick. It jumped. When Elvis came on the teenagers screamed for 2 ½ minutes without let-up. Elvis was wearing his famous gold jacket with silvery glints like sequins, dark blue trousers and a white shirt and a blue string tie.” (Advertiser, Ho‘olele)

Appearing along with Elvis were Minnie Pearl, The Jordanaires and DJ Fontana and Scotty Moore, two members of Elvis’ original backing band. Sterling Mossman, a local Hawaiian comedian, also served as master of ceremonies and performed.

“It was a crackjack show, a sellout, and the biggest single gate in the history of show business in Hawai‘i.” (Advertiser, March 26, 1961)

All receipts, $54,678.73, were donated to the construction of the Arizona Memorial. The concert accounted for more than ten percent of the $515,728 cost of constructing the memorial. (HABS)

This Bloch Arena performance was Elvis’ last live concert until June 27, 1968 when he recorded two shows in front of a live audience at NBC’s Burbank studios.

The day after the concert, filming began on O‘ahu for the motion picture ‘Blue Hawai‘I,’ starring Elvis and Joan Blackman. (HABS)

In 1960 the construction of the Arizona Memorial began; it was dedicated Memorial Day, May 30, 1962 just over a year after Elvis’s charity concert.

It marks the resting place of 1,102 of the 1,177 Sailors and Marines killed on the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. (Ho‘okele)

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Elvis at Bloch Arena March 25, 1961

Elvis and The Jordanaires

Elvis at Bloch Arena-March 25, 1961

Elvis arriving at HNL airport

1961-march-25-hawaii-uss-arizona-benefit-concert

Elvis at Bloch Arena Poster March 25, 1961

USS_Arizona_(BB-39)_wreck_in_the_1950s

Arizona Memorial-under construction

Arizona Memorial under construction

Blueprint-Arizona Memorial

Arizona Memorial-Missouri

Facility (or building) numbers on military bases are generally assigned during the building planning process. It’s not like an address; the numbers are typically assigned chronologically to buildings as they are built on the base, location doesn’t determine the number.

Facility 161 is located at Pearl Harbor and is classified as a Recreation and Morale facility. It was originally comprised of three main components that were all classified as permanent uses.

It is a uniquely designed building, a sunken amphitheater with recreation facilities in an attached section (originally a portion of which was open-air) that is flanked by two elongated wings. This design utilizes natural ventilation and lighting. There is no other facility in Hawai‘i that shares this same design.

It included the arena, a recreation building (two bowling alley wings topped by a smaller second floor billiard and game room), and a dance floor. The second floor of the recreation building is the only portion of the complex constructed of wood. (Mason; Navy)

The octagonal arena is joined to a long, narrow rectangular structure that was home to two bowling alleys and was connected to an open-sided, nearly circular dance hall.

Although the period of the 1930s saw decreasing expenditures for recreation services for the Pacific fleet, during the final years of that decade “the growth of service and civilian personnel led to the realization that more recreation facilities were needed on base.” (HABS)

Prior to World War II, because Pearl Harbor was still a relatively small naval establishment, minimal funding was allocated for recreational facilities. Personnel were expected to use civilian recreational facilities as well as those at Pearl Harbor.

As late as 1938 the only recreation center at the Navy Yard was a YMCA that showed movies and offered classes to enlisted personnel.

Because of the pre-WW II build-up of permanent facilities at Pearl Harbor, as well as visiting ships bringing large numbers of sailors who needed recreational facilities rather than accommodations, Facility 161 was intended for use by both groups.

After the US entered the war, recreation was recognized as a vital outlet for Navy personnel. The purpose of recreation programs and facilities was to “contribute in some way towards maintaining the fighting spirit of the officers and men who man the ships of the Pacific Fleet.”

Once the war ended, multitudes of men waiting to be discharged relied on recreational facilities to pass their free hours.

According to the original seating plan, there were 6,000 seats for boxing events – 5,000 seats in the bleachers and 1,000 seats ring side (on the main floor.)

The boxing ring was assembled in the center of the main floor, surrounded by seating. Seating was listed as 4,000 for motion pictures – 3,000 in the bleachers and 1,000 in the reserved area on the main floor.

It was the ‘largest single expenditure [$175,000]’ in the 1940 housing and recreation center expansion project of 1940. Other facilities at the time included Hale Moku and Makalapa housing, and Richardson Recreation Center on the Aiea waterfront.

Construction on the project began in October 1940 and the facility was completed in August 1941. (HABS) In 1948, ʻōhiʻa flooring was installed in the arena.

Facility 161’s bowling alleys have been replaced with miscellaneous functions including small offices, and the original dance floor has been enclosed and significantly altered.

The facility is commonly called Bloch Arena, named for Claude Charles Bloch; he was born on July 13, 1878 in Woodbury, Kentucky, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1899 and commissioned in 1901.

He became Admiral in January 1937 and was Commander of Battle Force 1937-1938, Commander in Chief of US Fleet 1938-1940 and Commandant of Eleventh Naval District 1940-1942.

He retired in August 1942 and was recalled to active duty on the General Board in World War II; his decorations included the Navy Cross. Bloch died on October 4, 1967.

On March 25, 1961 Elvis performed a benefit concert at Bloch Arena as a fundraiser to build the Arizona Memorial. That event raised $54,678.73, more than ten percent of the $515,728 cost of constructing the memorial.

Appearing along with Elvis were; Minnie Pearl, The Jordanaires, and DJ Fontana and Scotty Moore, two members of Elvis’ original backing band. Sterling Mossman, a local Hawaiian comedian, also served as master of ceremonies and performed.

The event was the times “biggest single gate in the history of show business in Hawaii.” Bloch Arena has been venue to a number of other events and activities.

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