When you think of live theater, opera, and stage acts in the late 19th century, the Holyoke Opera House stands out. Today's presentation tells the story of another similar venue: the Empire Theater.
Construction of the Empire Theater at 419-433 High Street, opposite the Hotel LaFrance (later the Essex Hotel), began during the summer of 1893. Work continued into mid-autumn, and the building was ready for performances in late October.
Several organizations such as the Knights of Pythius and the St. Jerome Temperance Society rented the theater for their events months before it opened.
Booking entertainment for the opening began in July, and George W. Collins, the theater's manager, booked Alexander Salvini for the opening two nights. Professor R. E. Hildreth directed and led the orchestra.
The theater opened on November 2, 1893, with Mr. Salvini and experienced cast members starring in Don Caesar de Bazan, a dramatic presentation. Regarding the play, the Holyoke Transcript reported, "Picturesque, exciting, and dealing in action rather than words, they should prove a welcome change from talky, talky society play and the barren horse-play comedy." The following evening, the cast returned to present The Three Guardsmen.
The theater was rather large, even compared to theaters in Holyoke that opened between 1908 and 1912. The Empire Theater seated 951 patrons. The floor accommodated 360, the balcony 271, the gallery 270, and the boxes 50.
The Graphic Publishing Company in the Dexter block was contracted to print the show programs. During its first season, which ran into June 1894, the theater had only 6 weekdays without entertainment. The theater was closed during the hot summer months and reopened in mid-September for the new season.
The nearby G. C. Frissel's Confectionary Shop at 413 High Street sold tickets to forthcoming events up to 3 days before the scheduled shows.
In November 1896, the Edison Vitascope Company opened a three-night engagement at the Empire Theater. Vitascope was an early film projector that was first shown in April 1895.
The Empire Theater continued to present first-rate stage performances, including opera, orchestral concerts, stage plays, and comedy. When "A Hot Old Time" was advertised as a coming attraction, it would be performed at only three theater venues. The other two were Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut.
I have included a healthy sampling of the attractions presented at the Empire leading into 1902. The final chapter presents further history, including a major fire that destroyed the theater.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript -Telegram; publication dates and pages shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Genealogy Records and Price & Lee, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
Wikipedia, "Vitascope"
1895 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Holyoke, Massachusetts
1911 Richards Atlas of Holyoke, Massachusetts
