Victory Theatre
81-89 Suffolk Street,
Holyoke,
MA
01040
81-89 Suffolk Street,
Holyoke,
MA
01040
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From the Springfield Republican:
Work continues on Victory Theater
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
By DAVID REID
HOLYOKE – From the sidewalk outside the long-shuttered Victory Theater on Suffolk Street, passersby can see no progress in a years-long plan to restore the historic theater to its former grandeur.
But there is plenty of action off-stage and the long delays are nothing to worry about, arts promoter Donald T. Sanders, president of Victory Theatre Inc., said yesterday.
In September 2004, the group signed a $1-a-year lease for the city-owned theater, which allows for a three-year extension. Supporters predict the theater’s eventual renovation will spark an economic ripple effect downtown.
Last fall, Sanders said, the group installed a new roof on the 1,600-seat theater, which opened in 1919 and closed in 1979.
And an Agawam consultant has completed an environmental site assessment and hazardous materials survey, two keys for supporters to obtain historic-project tax credits that are key to the effort, Sanders said.
That report concludes there are few lead paint or asbestos problems inside the building and allows workers to “broom clean” the theater, to remove debris and old equipment, Sanders said. The report, he said, identified water in a basement boiler room that remained after a 1968 fire caused minor damage.
Armed with two $50,000 grants – one approved in 2004 by the state Office of Tourism – Sanders said, Victory Theatre Inc. is hoping more visible work will soon start on the renovations, which estimates have pegged at $10 million.
“It is a long process,” said Sanders, who is also executive director of the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts. Last year, that group – which has brought fine arts productions to the Pioneer Valley since 1993 – moved its headquarters from Northampton to a nearby building on Suffolk Street.
But Sanders said the Victory’s natural assets are well worth the wait: a bountiful backstage facility, beautiful interior details, incredible exterior brickwork and structural integrity. Brazilian mahogany panels, Tiffany stained glass and two 1930s-era murals are among the building’s most treasured touches, he said.
The $16,000 cost to repair the roof and generate the environmental report, Sanders said, was paid for by Save the Victory Theater Inc., a grassroots group that for years kept alive hopes the theater could be saved.
A major fund-raising effort has been quietly gaining momentum but will not kick into gear until the theater’s physical renovations are ready to begin, Sanders said.
Plans for the theater – originally designed as a “Renaissance theater” and converted in 1939 to a movie theater – would allow for a multitude of uses from fine arts to film.
“What will save it is that it can be both,” said Sanders. Possible activities there include ballet and opera, off-Broadway plays, musical concerts, movies and comedy acts, Sanders said.
does anyone have pictures or know how to locate pictures of the inside of the victory? i have the greatest memories of movie watching but i was only 7 in 1977 and being so young i would love to see if my memory serves me correct. i have looked on the net but have come up with nothing re:pictures. i would think somewhere in holyoke there would be pictures,i just don’t know where to look. thank you for any help at all. nancy
There’s the hotel to the right of the Victory that I had mentioned. The ‘hearsay’ does make sense.
Originally, that would have been the stage house, supposedly. During construction it was determined that the stage should be at the opposite end of the building because of a hotel to be constructed to the right of the building. By having the stage end next to the hotel live performers would be more inclined to stay there because of proximity to the stage entrance. This is hearsay, but sort of makes sense.
Looking at the photo above, one thing that is interesting about this theatre is that the main entrance was located right next to the stage-house. I assume that patrons turned right after entering and walked to the rear of the auditorium ??
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Victory on Suffolk St. in Holyoke has a facade photo taken in May 1941. There was a marquee with 3 lines of black letters on a white background, plus a vertical blade sign above. Attractions are “That Night in Rio” and “Sleepers West”. There are several lines of streamer banners (like those in used car lots) running from the top of the marquee to the upper part of the facade. The Report states that the theatre has been showing MGM product for over 10 years; that it’s over 15 years old; that it’s in Good condition, and has 1150 seats in the orchestra and 332 in the balcony, total: 1482 seats. Competing theaters are listed as : Strand, Holyoke, Majestic and Suffolk. 1940 Population was 53,700.
Al I’ll match that buck and toss in an order of fried cheese! How was the sound at the Academy? I understand it was vastly improved a few years ago. The Victory, Calvin, and even the Paramount (when it reopened in 1980) had marvelous “boomy” sound. The Academy tended to sound a bit thin. Loved “Good Night…”, it was great to see black and white on a big screen. Wish more directors would make the artistic choice to film that way.
Steve, the Student Prince still serves the best of everything, not just fried cheese. Rudy Jr. has continued the tradition of Rudy Sr. Love that place and Theodore’s Blues & food. See the Sunday paper? Raymour & Flannigan wants to build on the site of the former Palace Theater. You came to mind over the weekend. I told my lady friend that I’d like to see “Good Night, Good Luck” at the Academy of Music in ‘Hamp. She was surprised, not because of the movie, but because of the venue. I immediately thought of the Victory. What a great house to view this movie because that’s what movie palaces looked like during the early '50’s. I think if Holyoke could develop an entertainment zone first with good night spots and restaurants, ala Kelly’s, Gleasons, etc. drawing people downtown, the Victory with creative support could make it. Ok, ok, I’ll kick in a buck. But it’s your dime!
Hi Lar! I remember Kelly’s (and ‘Pete & Tilly’) quite well actually. And no, I’m not surprised you have Hispanic friends in Holyoke. As to your $1.10, I’d say it’s better in your pocket than going to a major studio for so much of the drek they’ve been serving up the past year. But that boarded up box is the reason we’re on this site, and it deserves a little respect, even a bucks worth. As to your refusal to go to Springfield, that’s unfortunate, the Student Prince still serves the best fried cheese in the valley. Hey, it’s far enough from the Mass Mutual Center, you’ll be fine! Besides, why go there? Like the old civic center all it’s going to end up with is “professional” wrestling.
Hi Ko! I did see a movie at the Victory. ‘Pete & Tilly’ with Walter Matheow and Carol Burnette around 1975. Yes, I’m an old fart. We had dinner at Kelly’s Lobster House and walked at night to the Victory after dinner. Probably before you were born. Would I do that tonight? Well, aside from the fact that Kelly’s burned down 10 years ago, probably. It may surprise you, but I do have Hispanic friends there. Frankly, I wouldn’t feel any safer in dowtown Springfield. Hear about the shootings near the Mass. Mutual Ctr? At least that place was developed with private funds. Hey, $1.10 is better in my pocket than a boarded up box.
Oh good one Mr. Larkin. You come to the site of the Victory Theatre and instead of offering information or a memory of this grand old movie house, you use it to rant about the local government using 50,000 in tax dollars without your approval and then point out that the only thing the people of downtown Holyoke like to do is rob others and take drugs. And when I dare point out your bias, I’m being politically correct. Well sir I don’t like everything they do with my tax dollars either. But with a population of 45,000 (very nice people by the way) in Holyoke, that amounts to just over a dollar and ten cents out of my pocket to study the possibilities for the Victory. As a theatre lover I think the Victory, and for that matter the city of Holyoke, are worth it.
And by the way Mr. Larkin, to call me politically correct shows you know even LESS about me than you know about theatre renovation.
Various editions of Film Daily Yearbook give the Victory Theatre differing seating capacities: in 1941 = 2,067, in 1943 = 2,296, in 1950 = 1,680.
The Victory Theatre was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary N. Goldstein in 1941 and 1943. By 1950 the company was known as United Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary Western Massachusetts Theaters Inc (Samuel Goldstein).
Sorry. I was actually having respect for Mr. Ko’s comments until his ignorance confused prejudice with fiscal responsibility and personal safety. Typical of those poor souls who use political correctness as blinders.
Why should the screen be considered? Because that’s what this theatre was built for, movies, not live shows. Anything else is not a restoration, it’s a conversion, and considering what there is to start with, it would be a poor conversion at that. And is there really that much of a need for more “live” theatres in West Springfield, I mean what with Springfield Symphony Hall just across the river. And if MY tax dollars are going to save a building, I’d like it to have some historical significance. And Mr. Ko feels just as fine in Holyoke as he does in West Springfield, thank you. Perhaps Mr Larkin would too, if he got past his prejudices.
In any case, back to the Victory. The seating capacity for this great old house was actually 1800, not the 2500 listed here.
Interesting points. Why would the 128 degree curved screen even be considered? Aren’t we talking about ‘live’ performing arts? Movies are across the street. A smaller screen would work for occasional viewings. No stage, no storage space, no changing rooms? Ever been to the self supporting, non taxpayer funded, Majectic Theatre Project located about a mile away? That was a small neighborhood movehouse with basically a platform for a stage. I remember working there as a kid. There was room for a row of trash cans behind the screen. They have been doing productions since 1997. I am not denying that the former Palace will need modificaions such as a stage. The auditorium has enough space to be narrowed allowing production facilities occupying the full length of the theater. The mammoth lobby could be modified providing rehearsal halls, classrooms, etc. Like the Majestic, a balcony could be added. Plenty of parking. Decent hotels and restaurants nearby. I can appreciate wanting to revert back to the past, such as the Victory. If part of my tax dollar is going to fund projects I want to see the potential for a sure thing. Just wondering. Who would feel more secure leaving a performance at 10:30pm. Mr. Ko in downtown Holyoke or Mr. Larkin at the Riverdale Shops in West Springfield?
Holyoke has definitely seen better days but it’s downtown is hardly a battle ground of drugs and robbery. Will the Victory renovation even make it off the ground? Who knows? I wish them luck, and I’ll be first in line for a ticket if they pull it off. But reopen the Palace? It has no stage. It has no changing rooms for entertainers/performers. It has no place for storage of any kind of theatrical/live performance equipment. It has no space for growth, which is what the building itself would have to do. And even if you shoehorned a stage into that space you could then forget putting it’s original style 128 degree curved screen back in place for film presentation. You might as well spend the money on a brand new building…….. or maybe even the Victory!
At least the Palace isn’t in deplorable condition in the middle of a blighted area. I am well aware that it was designed for motion pictures only. I feel that the building could be modified for live performances. Consider the location. In a commercially developed area. Plenty of exposure with the amount of traffic. What does the Victory offer? A downtown with plenty of business, drugs and robbery type. I am quite sure the current owner of the Loews would be willing to negotiate a sale or lease of the facility.
The former Loews Palace in West Springfield still belongs to a private business, namely Showcase Cinemas. And as much as I’d love to see the Palace restored to it’s 1968 70mm widescreen glory, it has no facilities for live presentations of ANY kind. The Victory, like all classic movie houses, at least had the ability to present live performances.
50 Grand has been appropriated by our legislators to conduct a study on what to do with this place. I can save the taxpayers $$$$ by publishing my own study, right now. Downtown Holyoke is a lost cause. This structure could be totally reconstructed and it would still stand in the middle of blight. It seems that Massachusetts Federal and State politicians must toss funding for studies of pet renovation projects (pork barrel) in various communities just for the publicity. As previously posted, I feel that those interested in cultural development merge and concentrate on one facility. The former E.M. Loews in West Springfield? I believe that the former Paramount Theater, now Hippodrome in Springfield, was totally refurbished with private funds. Shouldn’t that be the rule?