Victory Theater

Last updated

Victory Theatre
Stage of the Victory Theater, Holyoke, Massachusetts (April 2018).jpg
Stage of the Victory Theater, 2018
Victory Theater
Address81–89 Suffolk Street
Holyoke
United States
Coordinates 42°12′25″N72°36′36″W / 42.20694°N 72.61000°W / 42.20694; -72.61000
OwnerMassachusetts International Festival of the Arts
TypePerforming Arts Center
Capacity 1,680
Construction
Opened1920
Closed1979
Years active1920–1979
ArchitectWilliam Luther Mowll, Roger Glade Rand
BuilderGoldstein Brothers Amusement Company
Website
www.mifafestival.org/

The Victory Theatre [1] [2] (in stone on building, spelled "re") is a theater in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It was built in 1919 and opened in 1920 by the Goldstein Brothers Amusement Company. The architecture is in the Art Deco style and is considered the last of its type between Boston and Albany. [3] The Victory, a 1,600 seat Broadway-style theater has been derelict since 1979. Bought by Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts (MIFA) in 2009, the Victory will be returned by MIFA, to its role as a major performing arts center for the entire region. Fundraising for the 61 million dollar project continues through private, individual, corporate, and foundation donations, public grants, and State and Federal Historic Tax Credits and New Market Tax Credits. [4] Recently the City of Holyoke made a 2 Million commitment in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Victory [5] and that the project anticipates funding of $3.5 Million to be allocated to build on these city funds through Governor Healey's capital spending plan. [6]

Contents

On December 31, 2020, MIFA Victory Theatre celebrated the theater's 100th Birthday with a virtual event featuring a magical digital treat and specially MIFA commissioned centennial fanfare composed by Iván E. Rodríguez.

History

The theater's marquee as it appeared in 1941 Victory Theatre in 1941, Holyoke, Massachusetts.png
The theater's marquee as it appeared in 1941

Samuel and Nathan Goldstein of Western Massachusetts Theatres Incorporated (at that time known as “G.B. Theatres”) were early pioneers in the movie business, having started in the first decade of the 20th century operating what were then known as “nickelodeons” which were storefront movie houses. Along with The Broadway Theatre in Springfield, the Victory represented their expansion into the “major leagues” as they rode the crest of the wave of the movies’ exploding popularity at the end of World War I. The Victory's name itself is a reference to the Allied Victory in the World War the year before on November 11, 1918. The Eagle Medallion at the center of the proscenium ties it all together.

In the 1920s these grand theatres were known as “presentation houses” and offered a combined bill of a silent film and a stage show on the same program and for a single admission price. The performances were often presented on a “continuous show” basis. The Victory Symphony Orchestra provided accompaniment for the film and music for the live show as well. The Grand Organ often substituted for the orchestra during matinee performances. The relatively shallow depth of the Victory's stage suggests that it was designed for “vaudeville” type acts presented along with a film, rather than fully mounted stage productions. The arrival of “talking pictures” in the late 1920s resulted in the eventual elimination of the live portion of the program.

The theater suffered fire damage in 1942. [7]

The Victory continued to operate on a continuous show basis through the early 1970s, opening daily at 1:00 P.M. and running double feature film programs continuously until 11:00 P.M.

Ongoing restoration efforts

Architectural rendering of the Victory Theater, as it appeared in final plans approved by the city planning board Victory Theatre final rendering.jpg
Architectural rendering of the Victory Theater, as it appeared in final plans approved by the city planning board

The theater closed in 1979 and has sat derelict since; in the mid-1980s the city government was able to obtain the property from a landowner delinquent on more than $50,000 in back taxes. A local group of activists, Save the Victory Theater Inc., led by Helen Casey worked with the city to raise funds to restore it, including help through industrialist Armand Hammer who put his private art collection on display for an exhibit to raise money for the project, netting about $450,000 (about $900,000 2017 USD) donated to the city's Victory Theatre Commission. At the time, an evaluation was made by the Massachusetts Historical Commission that building was eligible to be on the National Register of Historic Places; [8] however the property remains unfiled with the Register and the original project, estimated at $4.5 million in restoration costs, never materialized. [9] [10] [11]

However the Holyoke City Council, owners of the theater, agreed to hand ownership of the theater to the non-profit Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts, for $1,500 in 2009. [12] The group hoped to restore and open the theater to performances in 2016, however the most recent announcement places the opening date at December 20, 2020. In 2017 the project was reported to have a $26 million commitment, however the cost of restoration has gone up considerably since 2009, rising from $27 million to $61 million due to deterioration of the building and operating cost estimates for the initial 5 years of its programming. [13] The group received $11 million in state bonds in addition to $2 million earlier authorized on top of $28.2 million in tax credits and donations, bringing the project in at approximately $43 million in commitments. MIFA has maintained it will move forward with construction once all funds are raised to release all funds from the state and feds. Once all funds a raised, construction can begin and will take about 2 years. On November 5, 2019, MIFA acquired a property abutting the theater, 134 Chestnut Street, for $224,000, which is expected to be razed as part of a planned larger complex attached to the Victory. [14] [15]

Phase 1 of the much anticipated Victory Theatre restoration process was completed with the removal of building abutting the theater. The 134 Chestnut St. property on the north side of the Victory will be replaced with a new 14,500sq ft. connecting Annex designed by DBVW Architects. The Annex will house essential service, facilities management, technical, dressing room, office, and loading dock space unable to be accommodated in the theater's historic footprint, but needed to make the Victory a state-of-the-art 21st-century theater. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holyoke, Massachusetts</span> City in Massachusetts, United States

Holyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, that lies between the western bank of the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 38,247. Located 8 miles (13 km) north of Springfield, Holyoke is part of the Springfield Metropolitan Area, one of the two distinct metropolitan areas in Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westfield, Massachusetts</span> City in Massachusetts, United States

Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. Westfield was first settled by Europeans in 1660. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 40,834 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pioneer Valley</span> Massachusetts portion of the Connecticut River Valley, US

The Pioneer Valley is the colloquial and promotional name for the portion of the Connecticut River Valley that is in Massachusetts in the United States. It is generally taken to comprise the three counties of Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin. The lower Pioneer Valley corresponds to the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan area, the region's urban center, and the seat of Hampden County. The upper Pioneer Valley region includes the smaller cities of Northampton and Greenfield, the county seats of Hampshire and Franklin counties, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pioneer Valley Transit Authority</span> Pioneer Valley (Springfield, MA Metro Area & UMASS Amherst) Fixed Bus Route Service

The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) oversees and coordinates public transportation in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, offering fixed-route bus service, paratransit service, and senior van service. PVTA was created by Chapter 161B of the Massachusetts General Laws in 1974. Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, PVTA serves Hampden and Hampshire counties, and provides connecting service to CTtransit in Hartford County, Connecticut, to FRTA in Franklin County, and to WRTA in Worcester County. It is the largest regional transit authority, and second largest public transit system in Massachusetts after the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, providing service to over 11 million riders annually across 24 municipalities in the region, with about 70% of all riders using the system as their primary mode of transit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Massachusetts</span> Region of Massachusetts, United States

Western Massachusetts, known colloquially as "western Mass," is a region in Massachusetts, one of the six U.S. states that make up the New England region of the United States. Western Massachusetts has diverse topography; 22 colleges and universities including UMass in Amherst, MA, with approximately 100,000 students; and such institutions as Tanglewood, the Springfield Armory, and Jacob's Pillow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holyoke Mall at Ingleside</span> Shopping mall in Massachusetts, United States

The Holyoke Mall at Ingleside is a shopping center located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in the city's Ingleside neighborhood. It is owned by The Pyramid Companies. The mall features 135 stores, a large food court, and several restaurants and is 1.6 million square feet, the third-largest in New England by retail space. The mall features the anchor stores Macy's, JCPenney, Target, Best Buy, Burlington, and Hobby Lobby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hartford–Springfield</span> Conurbation in the United States

The greater Hartford–Springfield area is an urban region and surrounding suburban areas that encompasses both north-central Connecticut and the southern Connecticut River Valley in western Massachusetts; its major city centers are Springfield, Massachusetts and Hartford, Connecticut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pioneer Valley Railroad</span> Railroad in Massachusetts

The Pioneer Valley Railroad, founded in 1982, is a Class III short line freight railroad operating the former Conrail trackage in the western part of Massachusetts in towns of Westfield, Holyoke, and Southampton. The railroad has been owned by the Pinsly Railroad Company since its founding, with headquarters in Westfield, Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercy Medical Center (Springfield, Massachusetts)</span> Hospital in Massachusetts, United States

Mercy Medical Center is located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Founded by the Sisters of Providence Health System, Mercy Hospital is a faith-based, non-profit organization serving patients regardless of background or beliefs. Mercy Medical Center is known for its tradition of holistic health care.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramount Theater (Springfield, Massachusetts)</span> United States historic place

The Paramount Theater is an historic theater located at 1676-1708 Main Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. Built in 1926 out of part of the grand Massasoit House hotel at a cost of over $1 million, the Paramount Theater was the most ornate picture palace in Western Massachusetts. As of 2011, The Paramount is in the midst of a $1.725 million renovation to once again become a theater after decades as a disco and concert hall,, when it was the center of Springfield's club scene. In 2018 the building's owners, the New England Farm Workers Council, announced plans to redevelop it in tandem with a new adjacent hotel building. In a push to renovate the Paramount along with Holyoke's Victory Theater, in October 2018, the administration of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced a $2.5 million grant to assist the project, on top of a $4 million federal loan guarantee. Pending finalizing funding for the combined restoration and new hotel, no construction timeline has been presented as of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Morse</span> American politician

Alex Benjamin Morse is an American politician who served as the 44th mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts from 2012 to 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected the youngest mayor of Holyoke at age 22. He was reelected three times, with his final term expiring in January 2022. Morse resigned on March 26, 2021, to accept a position as the town manager of Provincetown, beginning on April 5, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MGM Springfield</span> Casino hotel in Springfield, Massachsuetts, United States

MGM Springfield is a hotel and casino complex situated in the heart of Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. Opening on August 24, 2018 in a block of buildings that are historically or culturally influential to Springfield, it became the first resort casino in the Commonwealth. It is owned by Vici Properties and operated by MGM Resorts International. It was temporarily closed on March 14, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened to the public on July 13, 2020, after nearly 4 months of being closed, with safety precautions and reduced capacity in place. Chris Kelley is the current President and COO of the MGM Springfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar Beauchemin</span> American architect

Oscar Beauchemin was an American architect, and civil engineer based out of Holyoke, Massachusetts who designed a number of tenements and commercial blocks in the Greater Springfield area, and whose work was prominent in the Main Street architectural landscape of the Springdale neighborhood of Holyoke, Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock Valley, Holyoke, Massachusetts</span> Neighborhood of Holyoke in Massachusetts, United States

Rock Valley, sometimes referred to as West Holyoke, is a neighborhood in Holyoke, Massachusetts located to the west of the city center, approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) from downtown, bordering Easthampton, Southampton, Westfield, and West Springfield. Rock Valley is historically Holyoke's second oldest village after Elmwood, with its eponymous burial ground dating to around 1777, and families having settled in the area as early as 1745. Predating the construction of the Hadley Falls Dam, it originated as the western section of the 3rd parish of West Springfield. Today, the neighborhood contains several historic Federal and Colonial homesteads, in addition to many modern developments adjacent to agricultural and wetland tracts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Churchill, Holyoke, Massachusetts</span> Neighborhood of Holyoke in Massachusetts, United States

Churchill is a neighborhood in Holyoke, Massachusetts located to the south of the city center, adjacent to the downtown. Its name is a geographic portmanteau as the area was historically known as the Church Hill district prior to its extensive development in the early twentieth century. Located at the southwestern edge of the downtown grid, the area served as housing for mill workers in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and today contains 166 acres (67 ha) of mixed residential and commercial zoning, including a number of historical brick tenements as well as the headquarters of the Holyoke Housing Authority, Holyoke Senior Center, Churchill Homes public housing, and the Wistariahurst Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holyoke Gas & Electric</span>

Holyoke Gas & Electric (HG&E), formally known as the City of Holyoke Gas & Electric Department (HGED), is a municipal electric, gas, and telecommunications utility primarily serving Holyoke and Southampton, Massachusetts, one of two in Massachusetts which provide all three services. Founded in 1902 with the purchase of gas and electric plants from the Holyoke Water Power Company, the municipal corporation launched its first fiber optics communications services in 1997. On December 14, 2001 the City of Holyoke purchased the majority of the remaining assets and operations of the Holyoke Water Power Company from Northeast Utilities and as a result the municipal utility assumed control of the Holyoke Dam and Canal System and an electric distribution system serving industrial electric customers in the flats neighborhood. The utility discontinued district steam service to conserve energy used in aging infrastructure in September 2010. Using hydroelectric power generation in tandem with a series of solar panel facilities, the utility has among the lowest rates in the Commonwealth, and as of 2016 between 85% and 90% of the city's energy output was carbon neutral, with administrative goals in place to reach 100% in the next decade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whiting Street Reservoir</span> Dam in Holyoke, Massachusetts

Whiting Street Reservoir, often shortened as Whiting Reservoir a Class I hazard reservoir, is an auxiliary drinking supply for the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts. The reservoir has an impound capacity of more than 479 million gallons of water and a safe yield of 1.5 million US gallons (5,700 m3) of water per day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eugene C. Gardner</span> American architect

Eugene C. Gardner (1836–1915) was an American architect and author of Springfield, Massachusetts. Gardner was noted both for the architectural influence of his extensive practice as well as his writings on the American home. Gardner was the most notable architect of Springfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joshua A. Garcia</span> American politician (born 1986)

Joshua A. Garcia is an American politician from Holyoke, Massachusetts. He was elected Mayor of Holyoke in 2021, and is the first Latino to serve as mayor of Holyoke.

References

  1. James Heflin (February 25, 2010). "Arts & Literature – Inside Holyoke's Victory Theatre". The Valley Advocate. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  2. "Holyoke's Victory Theatre becomes canvas for local artists". masslive.com. January 2, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  3. Roessler, Mark (February 25, 2010). "Inside Holyoke's Victory Theatre". Valley Advocate.
  4. Launch, Moonlight. "VICTORY THEATRE". MIFA. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  5. Republican, Dennis Hohenberger | Special to The (June 19, 2023). "Holyoke mayor allots $19M in ARPA funding; Victory Theater gets $2M boost". masslive. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  6. "🌅Those Summer Nights". MIFA. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  7. "Holyoke's Historic Victory Theatre to be Renovated | Urban Ghosts". Urbanghostsmedia.com. January 13, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  8. HLY.361, MACRIS, Massachusetts Historical Commission.
  9. Gonter, Nancy. "Court upholds Holyoke's right to Victory Theater". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. p. 12.
  10. Lauer, Martin J.; Constantine, Sandra E. (January 8, 1988). "Exhibit generated $450,000". Springfield Union-News. Springfield, Mass. p. 15.
  11. "Chicago architects selected to restore Victory Theater". Springfield Union-News. Springfield, Mass. October 8, 1988. p. 3.
  12. "Discover Holyoke tours showcase the Paper City's past, present and future". masslive.com. October 24, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  13. Plaisance, Mike (October 31, 2017). "$43 million latest estimate to renovate Victory Theatre in Holyoke". The Republican. Springfield, Mass.
  14. Tremblay, Hope E. (December 18, 2019). "Arts Beat". The Westfield News. Westfield, Mass. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019.
  15. Parcel 012-06-007 , Holyoke Assessor's Database
  16. Republican, Dennis Hohenberger | Special to The (March 24, 2021). "Holyoke's Victory Theater begins expansion with demolition of former funeral home". masslive. Retrieved August 24, 2023.