Victory Theatre
81-89 Suffolk Street,
Holyoke,
MA
01040
81-89 Suffolk Street,
Holyoke,
MA
01040
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Victory Theatre - Holyoke (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Paramount Pictures Inc.
Architects: William Luther Mowll, Roger Glade Rand
Firms: Mowll & Rand
Styles: Baroque
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
413.540.0200
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Aug 12, 2014 — Look Behind the Final Curtain in Massachusetts
The enormous Victory Theatre opened in 1920 and was one of eight theatres that thrived during the days of vaudeville and silent motion pictures. The Victory Theatre, like many other combination houses, switched to an all-movies format in 1931. It suffered damage by a fire in 1942, but re-opened after renovations and it remained a vibrant movie house until it closed in 1979.
In 1983, Helen Casey, organized the Save The Victory Theatre Inc., a non-profit organization, which was created to help reopen the theatre. Despite some great successes at fundraising along the way, little has been done to help rescue the old movie house reopen.
Like Holyoke itself, the Victory Theatre is still struggling to stay alive. The old theatre’s blade sign was removed in 1986 and the marquee was torn down in 1991. Although it has allowed passers-by to better see its sculpted façade, it is a sad reminder that the Victory Theatre has yet to emerge from its doldrums.
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. As of April 2016 the MIFA has already raised $22,5000,000 out of the $30,000,000 required for its renovation. A new deadline for a December 2020 reopening has passed. Restoration still continues in September 2022.
Contributed by
Ross Melnick
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Recent comments (view all 69 comments)
i walk by here every day on my way back from the gym for the past 2 months here and there i have seen workers going in and there is a dumpster outside. the smell of asbestos when you walk by is unreal even in the winter but i really do hope they are doing good things inside. im afraid its to far gone
I’ll be co-hosting a photo workshop at the Victory Theatre in Holyoke, MA on June 27. The last two workshops we held at the theater sold out pretty quickly so if you’re interested get your tickets soon. A portion of the proceeds raised will be donated to the theater to help the restoration effort. We’ve raised over $1,600 so far this year!
For more information and to purchase tickets: The Victory Theatre: An After the Final Curtain Photography Workshop
According to the February 2016 article, they have now raised 22,500,000 out of the $30,000,000 needed for restoration only leaving about 7.5 million left to raise.
Latest update on the renovation effort:
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/10/43_million_latest_estimate_to.html
They now have commitments for approximately $27,000,000 towards the new total cost estimate of $43,000,000. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, the roof was repaired and asbestos removed.
More updates!
MIFA newsletter, February 2020: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Behind-The-Scenes.html?soid=1102402751736&aid=sL7SIC4mW_s
Purchase of 134 Chestnut Street in December 2019, adjacent to stage house - to be used for support space:
https://mifafestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Victory-Theatre-Update-Dec2019.pdf
Update: Victory Theatre actual address is 81-89 Suffolk Street, zip code 01040 per their official website, and street view confirms such. MiFA’s office is offsite at 56 Suffolk Street, Suite 300.
The target date of a December 2020 opening has been delayed. 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. Estimate is now 46 million dollars for the renovation/restoration.
Some updates!
The funereal parlor was demolished in March 2021 and they are continuing fundraising before starting the renovation which would take 18 months to 2 years.
New official webpage link: https://www.mifafestival.org/victorytheatre
In October 2021 the big murals were taken by Evergreene Architectural Arts for restoration.
In July, nearly 500,000 in SBA Grants were awarded to the ZVictory theatre.
Links to more updates!
https://www.mifafestival.org/post/project-updates
Abandoned America link with photos as of April 2022.
https://www.abandonedamerica.us/the-victory-theatre?fbclid=IwAR0uJXJkkL65KHUC1e-vjiSE5SwiXLfFR7OKzkmQd7T1_85-te6aFbA-OOc
During late 2022 and early 2023, the Victory received two grants from the city towards construction and they are continuing to pursue other funding sources, including the state legislature. Progress still being made. Estimated total cost of restoration now sits at $44,000,000, but it is good to see the progress made on raising funds!