The reality of the situation is that if we build it, folks will come, he said. Western Massachusetts Theaters, Architects: And as the project advances, he said the pandemic has made it even more obvious the need for more theater venues across the Pioneer Valley. The firm was also known for the design of the Calvin Theatre in Northampton, Massachusetts. If the file has been modified from its original state, some details such as the . HOLYOKE He kept his promise. Subscribe to our mailing list for news and updates. var photocredit = "'STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS' 'A former funeral home134 Chestnut St. in Holyoke, located next to the Victory Theatre, is targeted for demolition. Its great getting to the 21st century with some of the technology thats out there to protect our citizens, Moriarty said. In December 1969, WMT, Inc. leased the Strand to Irwin Cohen of C. & F. Theatres, Inc. (who was also leasing the Bijou Theatre in Springfield from B. Aaron Vega, the citys director of planning and economic cevelopment, his former Statehouse colleagues to consider the potential impact the Victory can have on the regions economy. It was possible to go to the movies at 1:00 P.M. and remain in the theatres until 11:00 P.M., seeing the two features, cartoon, short subject and newsreel over and over (during the World War II years, the theatres often started the first complete show as early as 9:00 A.M., to accommodate the major increase of workers in Holyokes factories, which were operating on three 8-hour working shifts 24 hours a day, seven days a week during wartime.) Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 7/1/2023). The theatre had an impressive facade with a long rain canopy over the sidewalk above which was a flat triangle marquee with 3 lines of black letters on a white background. 1915-1918. cheap horror and science fiction or motorcycle gang movies what was known as drive-in theatre fare. Count Yorga, the Vampire, The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant, Blackula and Dracula A.D. 1970 with Christopher Lee (actually a fairly well -done British entry from the then-popular Hammer Studios). MIFA recently received all its final approvals from the city Planning Board and Historical Commission to begin demolishing an adjacent former funeral home at 134 Chestnut St which it bought at the end of 2019 in order to build an annex with more dressing rooms, office space and a loading dock. if (photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring2) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring3) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring4) > -1) { Over $1.85 million will go toward municipal technology upgrades and improvements. Victory Theater (1919) - Historic Buildings of Massachusetts The Abandoned Victory Theatre in Holyoke, MA | Abandoned America Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. His son, Peter Wright (was still a film buyer/booker in Boston in the late 1980s) took over the operation of the circuit. MIFA Victory Theater continues efforts to bring compelling artistic Its a Western Massachusetts regional project, Mayor Joshua A. Garcia told a delegation of state legislators who visited the long-shuttered Victory Theater today. As of April 2016 the MIFA has already raised $22,5000,000 out of the $30,000,000 required for its renovation. It's a Western Massachusetts regional project,". Cowboy was followed by a policy of soft-core porn double features which continued until March 1971. Saturday, October 16, 2021, Tours at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3, p.m. Alderman (George Perkins Bissell Alderman. In September 2008, ownership of the Victory Theatre was handed over by the city to the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts, who plan to renovate it as a performing arts center and reopen by the end of 2012. if (photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring2) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring3) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring4) > -1) { HOLYOKE Holyokers may soon see construction work beginning at the Victory Theatre, where the demolition of a nearby building will soon be the first step in the rehabilitation of the century-old Broadway-style theater. Demolishing the adjacent property, which MIFA also owns,will make way for an annex with more dressing rooms, office space and a loading dock. Daily Hampshire Gazette. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. More information about this image. (Don Treeger / The Republican). var sellablestring2 = "STAFF PHOTO"; Other WMT houses involved were the Capitol, Pittsfield (listed on this site) and the Paramount, Springfield (listed on this site as The Hippodrome.). Thats what makes events so important. The Report states that the Strand has been a MGM customer for over 10 years; that its over 15 years old; that it is in Fair condition; and has 1129 seats, all on one floor. January 12, 1893. tag_id.innerHTML = ' Buy this Image'; Gring serves in the German air force as a fighter pilot. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The name Strand was spelled out in small black tiles set into the terrazzo in the center of the lobby floor. I remember however going in the building one last time. At the time it was a playhouse and movie emporium. A former funeral home134 Chestnut St. in Holyoke, located next to the Victory Theatre, is targeted for demolition. It closed in 1978 and was demolished in the early-1980s. At the time of the installation of scope . For decades a lonely concert grand piano sat in the pit, drawing to mind the era of silent movies when the Strand had its own symphony orchestra. Another howl was usually heard moments later, when the line waiting at the Suffolk also slowly started to move ahead. The set-up of the auditorium was simple a long, rectangle with the proscenium/stage/screen at one end, flanked on either side by red velvet draped portals which led to fire exits which opened onto an alleyway behind the theatre. The site is being cleared to make way for an annex for the nearby Victory Theater. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. During the heyday of the downtown Holyoke theatres (40s, 50s and early 60s) on Saturdays, Sundays and rainy weekdays the line waiting to get into the Strand often extended north on Maple Street, from the Strands entry to the corner of Suffolk Street, and then around the corner and up the hill on Suffolk Street past the Victory Theatre (across the street at Suffolk and Chestnut) and again around the corner south down along Chestnut. Of course the Victorys cashier probably didnt have much time to watch the Strands line, she was usually too busy dealing with another equally impressive line of patrons stretching north along Chestnut Street and then east down Dwight Street at the next intersection waiting to enter the Victory itself. That chair is probably still in the lake!!! Ironically, many of the wide-screen epics of the 50s and early to mid 60s played there Around the World in 80 Days (1956), Ben Hur (1959) and Cleopatra (1963), to name just a few. The result was that every film in scope looked like the image was simply floating in the middle area of the screen. The seats will be be refurbished as part of the renovation project which just received $13 million in bonds from the state on Monday, September 17,. Latinx | MIFA It was named in honor of the Allied victory in World War One. MIFAs expertise and established position in the performing arts are critical to developing an arts identity and drawing prestigious theatre companies to Holyoke. Back property taxes were owed to many of the towns where the theatres were located. There was also a gold traveler which opened horizontally. Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis HOLYOKE - Efforts to renovate and reopen Holyoke's Victory Theatre gained a key bonus from Mayor Joshua Garcia and the city of Holyoke as the mayor announced an additional $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding will go toward the project. Above each door was a small sign indicating the aisle number of that particular door Aisle 1 Aisle 2, etc. The wooden floor of the theatre often creaked loudly during the theatres later years, adding to the atmosphere of increasing decrepitude which was rapidly overtaking the theatre at the end of its life. The Strand is listed in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook as having 1175 seats and open daily. Tom Reservation during a fishing/cook-out. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Downtown restaurants. In 2009 MIFA acquired the Victory Theatre located at 81-89 Suffolk Street Holyoke, Massachusetts. The Victory, a 1,600 seat Broadway-style theater opened in 1920 and has been derelict since 1979. 2000 - The more than $60 million project will generate jobs, revenue and restore the century-old theater as an arts venue for future generations, Garcia and project supporters told a dozen members of the regions legislators. The Holyoke Police Department received $336,000 to expand the ShotSpotter system and buy Tasers. Victory Theatre in Holyoke, MA - Cinema Treasures The adjacent building, a former funeral parlor, must be demolished so there can be an annex for additional dressing rooms, office space and a loading dock. There were afternoon prices (and morning prices as well, during the 40s), which increased to evening prices after 5:00 P.M. For certain really major attractions, evening prices often prevailed from opening throughout the day and evening on Sundays and holidays (these were always peak movie-going days in Holyoke). '"; MIFA celebrated the beautiful historic theater with a special virtual event: Victory Theatres 100th Birthday Celebration. Robot vacuums make life easier. This gives us the ability to buy some personal protective equipment and essential firefighting safety equipment that we otherwise wouldnt be able to. The Strand Theatre was unique among Holyokes movie houses in that it had no balcony. He added that projects like the Victory drive local economies, producing a spillover effect for the entire region. Plans for the Victory Theatre in downtown Holyoke have been announced. Ross Melnick. Project recipients have until Dec. 29, 2023, to demonstrate full funding, budget adequacy, project management and federal compliance. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
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