The Strand was open through at least 1975 – 1976, as I managed it for a time, while I was in college. At the time, it was being run by a company called WG Enterprises, owned by a Holyoke native named Walter Gonnet.
I first met Wally when he was a projectionist at the Victory in Holyoke. He was also working at the new 2 screen mall cinema off Northampton St. behind McDonalds. I subsequently worked with him there as well. Later, Wally started to lease some of the old area theaters and run them. These included the Strand in Westfield and the Grand in Indian Orchard.
It was at the Strand, that Wally taught me the basics of how to run the old 1920’s vintage carbon arc projectors that were in the Strand, Grand, Victory and all of the other old movie houses, how to splice film when it broke and all of the other things a projectionist did.
Good thing too, because on more than one occasion, a projectionist would be late or call in sick just before showtime and I ended up in the projection booth either starting or running the entire show. I recall that because of the carbon arc lighting and probably also due to the flammability of the old nitrite film stock (even though long out of use), that projectionists were required to have a special license. So in addition to the nerves of a rookie having to play emergency projectionist, I remember being worried about the possibility of being busted for not being licensed.
At that time, being the projectionsit was a fairly busy job. The Carbon Arc lamps in the projectors were screw fed, but the burn rate was never perfect relative to the feed, so it required monitoring and frequent adjustment to make sure it stayed lit. A break in the film was almost inevitable at any given showing, especially since these were bargain 2nd sub run theaters. The prints usually had quite a bit of milage on them. So at any moment you had to be ready to pull the reels off the projector, splice the film as fast as you could and get it back on and running while the crowd below you got increasingly restless.
I don’t recall when the Strand closed for good, but I do think that it stood vacant for a number of years, probably into the 1980’s. I don’t know what caused it’s ultimate demise, but seem to recall hearing about a fire and it being torn down after that.
I worked at the Victory for a while around 1974, doing box office / ushering / concession, etc. and subsequently worked at several other area movie houses in the area including the Strand in Westfield, the Grand in Indian Orchard and the 2 screen “cineplex” that was in what was then a mall (remember Almy’s and Paysaver?) down in the hole behind McDonalds on Northampton St.
Of course, I also have many fond childhood memories of going to the movies at the Victory, but it was during the time that I worked there that I had opportunity to explore the building a bit and really came to appreciate this theater. Of course by then, the Victory had already suffered significant neglect and was in serious decline, but it was still apparent through the grime, disrepair, patched seats, and worn frayed carpets, that this was a truly magnificent building.
I distinctly remember the marble staircase to the 2nd floor lobby, the beautiful mohogany woodwork, the ornate lighting fixtures and wall tapestries. Even as a teenager, I recall being saddened that this jewel of a theater was falling further and further into disrepair. I seem to remember that in addition to the wonderful sound system that other posters have talked about, that there was a beautiful organ there as well, although at this point I wouldn’t rule out my confusing that with the organ at the Paramount in Springfield.
I applaud those who are working diligently on the effort to restore the Victory. Whether it can be the economic spark that downtown Holyoke needs is debatable, but one need look no farther than a few miles up Rt. 5, to Northampton, to see an example of a vibrant small city with a strong downtown shopping district, world class dining, and an exciting arts and nightlife scene. An active Victory theater, restored to its former glory, may just be the critical piece of the puzzle that brings people to downtown Holyoke and sparks a revival of supporting dining and shopping venues and a general rehabilitation of this proud city’s downtown.
I look forward to the day when there is news about real work going on to refurbish the Victory and will likely find myself volunteering to help, if for no other reason than to get a look at how far the Victory slipped before she begins her “Extreme Makeover”.
The Strand was open through at least 1975 – 1976, as I managed it for a time, while I was in college. At the time, it was being run by a company called WG Enterprises, owned by a Holyoke native named Walter Gonnet.
I first met Wally when he was a projectionist at the Victory in Holyoke. He was also working at the new 2 screen mall cinema off Northampton St. behind McDonalds. I subsequently worked with him there as well. Later, Wally started to lease some of the old area theaters and run them. These included the Strand in Westfield and the Grand in Indian Orchard.
It was at the Strand, that Wally taught me the basics of how to run the old 1920’s vintage carbon arc projectors that were in the Strand, Grand, Victory and all of the other old movie houses, how to splice film when it broke and all of the other things a projectionist did.
Good thing too, because on more than one occasion, a projectionist would be late or call in sick just before showtime and I ended up in the projection booth either starting or running the entire show. I recall that because of the carbon arc lighting and probably also due to the flammability of the old nitrite film stock (even though long out of use), that projectionists were required to have a special license. So in addition to the nerves of a rookie having to play emergency projectionist, I remember being worried about the possibility of being busted for not being licensed.
At that time, being the projectionsit was a fairly busy job. The Carbon Arc lamps in the projectors were screw fed, but the burn rate was never perfect relative to the feed, so it required monitoring and frequent adjustment to make sure it stayed lit. A break in the film was almost inevitable at any given showing, especially since these were bargain 2nd sub run theaters. The prints usually had quite a bit of milage on them. So at any moment you had to be ready to pull the reels off the projector, splice the film as fast as you could and get it back on and running while the crowd below you got increasingly restless.
I don’t recall when the Strand closed for good, but I do think that it stood vacant for a number of years, probably into the 1980’s. I don’t know what caused it’s ultimate demise, but seem to recall hearing about a fire and it being torn down after that.
I worked at the Victory for a while around 1974, doing box office / ushering / concession, etc. and subsequently worked at several other area movie houses in the area including the Strand in Westfield, the Grand in Indian Orchard and the 2 screen “cineplex” that was in what was then a mall (remember Almy’s and Paysaver?) down in the hole behind McDonalds on Northampton St.
Of course, I also have many fond childhood memories of going to the movies at the Victory, but it was during the time that I worked there that I had opportunity to explore the building a bit and really came to appreciate this theater. Of course by then, the Victory had already suffered significant neglect and was in serious decline, but it was still apparent through the grime, disrepair, patched seats, and worn frayed carpets, that this was a truly magnificent building.
I distinctly remember the marble staircase to the 2nd floor lobby, the beautiful mohogany woodwork, the ornate lighting fixtures and wall tapestries. Even as a teenager, I recall being saddened that this jewel of a theater was falling further and further into disrepair. I seem to remember that in addition to the wonderful sound system that other posters have talked about, that there was a beautiful organ there as well, although at this point I wouldn’t rule out my confusing that with the organ at the Paramount in Springfield.
I applaud those who are working diligently on the effort to restore the Victory. Whether it can be the economic spark that downtown Holyoke needs is debatable, but one need look no farther than a few miles up Rt. 5, to Northampton, to see an example of a vibrant small city with a strong downtown shopping district, world class dining, and an exciting arts and nightlife scene. An active Victory theater, restored to its former glory, may just be the critical piece of the puzzle that brings people to downtown Holyoke and sparks a revival of supporting dining and shopping venues and a general rehabilitation of this proud city’s downtown.
I look forward to the day when there is news about real work going on to refurbish the Victory and will likely find myself volunteering to help, if for no other reason than to get a look at how far the Victory slipped before she begins her “Extreme Makeover”.