Rivoli Theater

Interior was still intact in 2016.Photos were taken then by Matt Lambros.

The Theatre Historical Society archive in IL has the MGM Theatre Report for the Rivoli. Located on Springfield St., Good condition, 1261 seats; has been showing MGM Product for 10 years. There is an exterior photo taken in May 1941. Competing theater is the Victoria.

The Rivoli in Chicopee is listed under Western Massachusetts Theatres inc., 101 Bridge St., Springfield (Nathan Goldstein) in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac. It was apparently too new (as the Elms Theatre) to appear in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook, but there was a Playhouse in Chicopee listed there, with 900 seats.

According to a newspaper article written today by Stephen R. Jendrysik, Chicopee Historian, in the Springfield, MA Republican, the Rivoli opened as the Elms Theater in 1927. Became the Rivoli in 1932. Originally ran silent movies but was the first Chicopee Theater to be equipped for sound. Theater screened MGM, Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros. and RKO Radio pictures usually about a week after their showings in Springfield. The ceiling had stars and clouds. Ushers in their brass-buttoned uniforms escorted well-dressed patrons to their seats. Rich purple drapes surrounded the screen. Organ music was provided by Miss Rene Breglio prior to movie showings and the occasional silent picture. Mr. Jendrysik also mentions that the Exchange, Midway, Willow, Pastime, Wernick and Royal were other theaters operating from time to time in Chicopee.

The 2/6 Marr and Colton, initally installed in the Rivoli, is now being installed in the Grand in East Greenville Pa (www.TheGrandTheater.org).

Thanks to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Propst, we hope to have the instument playing Christmas 2006.

I stopped by the Rivoli the other day. The place is still closed, with neat, large piles of seat standards and armrests in the lobby. It does not look like much has gone on there recently. I recall seeing films there in the 80’s. On the faux balcony in the rear of the theatre there were two huge air conditioner units that pumped cool air in the house (See the excellent pics on Cinematour.com). Their sound was loud and disturbing to the movie. I also remember looking into the orchestra pit and seeing piles and piles of empty cardboard boxes and other junk. A lot of the seats were broken.
I frequently sought to go to Western Massachusetts Company locations as they were all extremely run down and I couldn’t believe they were allowed to remain in operation. Around that time (mid 80’s) they were operating the Palace and Showplace in Pittsfield, the Showplace and Garden in Greenfield, the Casino in Ware, the Bing in Springfield, the Calvin in Northampton, and the Amherst Cinema. Some of their closed locations included the fabulous Paramount in Downtown Springfield, the Capitol in Pittsfield, and the Victory in Holyoke.

Over a year after renovations have begun the building’s exterior looks no different. Even the marquee lettering advertising movies and their admission prices has not changed.

The Rivoli was a place I used to walk to as a kid. Back then the Saturday matinee was just 25 cents. I was in shock when it jumped to 35 cents. In a silent protest I collected ticket stubs off the floor and perfected a way of gluing 2 halves together to make a new ticket. The bond was so good that the attendant never caught on. Back in the early 60’s these Saturday matinees were jam packed with kids. The older kids were always in the back left section making out. The Rivoli was never known for its comforts. It had uncomfortable wooden-backed chairs and not much space for 6 footers. I don’t remember when they gave up the kiddie matinees but they became a discount theater for second run films by the late 70’s. The place was famous for it’s sticky floors and the occasional bat that flew in front screen casting shadows. In those last years one of the projectors was always out of focus. It seemed to be a downward spiral. Not enough money coming in to make repairs, yet watching movies there was hardly a bargain if every other reel was fuzzy. None the less I miss the place. Some work continues on the nightclub. Old theater seats have been removed and now can be seen piled up in the old lobby.

Konrad Wargulewski bought the theatre this fall. He has sent me photos of it since they started to renovate it. All seats and equipment have been removed at this point. He is going to run it as a nightclub.

Any information on Springfield Theatres-Arcade, Bijou, Capital, Loew’s Poli….