Suffolk Theatre
11 Suffolk Street,
Holyoke,
MA
01040
11 Suffolk Street,
Holyoke,
MA
01040
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Opened around 1912, the Suffolk Theatre was operated for years by Herman Rifkin Theatres as a first-run movie house. In the days when theaters in smaller cities "split" film product by studios, the Suffolk Theatre ran the films released by Universal, Columbia, United Artists and Monogram.
In the 1950’s the Suffolk Theatre was leased to Western Mass Theatres Inc. and continued in operation until the late-1960’s when it finally closed. The Suffolk Theatre was demolished in the 1970’s.
Contributed by
Dr. Russ Durocher
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
The Suffolk Theatre was located at 11 Suffolk Street and it seated 880 people.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Suffolk Theatre at 11 Suffolk St. in Holyoke has an exterior photo dated March 1941. The theatre’s entrance was on a corner and it had a small but elaborate marquee. Attractions are Charlie Chaplin in “The Great Dictator”, plus a “Co-Hit!”. The Report states that the Suffolk is not playing MGM product, that it is over 20 years old; that it’s in Fair condition, and has 620 seats on the main floor and 300 in the balcony, total: 920 seats. Competing theaters are listed as Strand, Victory, Globe, Bijou, Majestic and Holyoke. The theatre entrance was located at the corner of a large commercial building.
1986 Photo
In Lost’s 1986 photo, the Suffolk Th. looks the same as in the photo taken in March 1941 for the MGM Theatre Report. Even the marquee appears to be the same.
The Suffolk theatre re-opens after renovation. Item in Boxoffice magazine, August 31, 1946:
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the Suffolk is listed in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook as having 1100 seats and open daily.
Of the 9 movie theaters listed under Holyoke in the 1927 FDY, I found all but 2 here in CT. Those 2 are the Royal with 385 seats, open daily; and the Three Star, 350 seats, open daily.
The Saturday, November 8, 1913, issue of The Moving Picture World had this item about the Suffolk Theatre: “Charlie Higginbotham opened his beautiful new photoplay theater at Holyoke, Mass., last Monday, to a crowded house. The new Suffolk Theater is the name and the theater is distinctly superior to most in every way. It is fireproof and modern. Vaudeville and pictures form the programs.”