Palace Theater (1907-1914)

Around 1913, Main Street had 4 movie theaters operating simultaneously: the Majestic, Bijou, Wonderland, and Palace. A fifth theater, the Three Star, was also within walking distance on Lyman Street, near Bowers. 

Many residents lived in Wards 1 (the Flats) and 2 (South Holyoke or Tigertown), and theaters provided entertainment. This story describes the oldest of the four Main Street theaters: the Palace Theater.

In October 1907, David Murray opened the Palace Theater at 317 Main Street. He had purchased the building from A. M. Potvin, a clothier, in August 1906. The theater was located in a 4-story brick building on the west side of Main Street, near Cabot Street. The theater offered matinees and evening performances. Advertisements promoted "Moving Pictures, Illustrated Songs."

In December 1907, A. M. Potvin bought the building back from Mr. Murray. He planned to rent the upstairs for offices and apartments and lease the theater to a new operator. In 1908, Charles Higginbotham took over the theater. In 1910, Aldege Archambault took over the theater.

In 1911, the small theater had its operating license suspended for three days because of overcrowding, with standing room in the aisles.

In 1912, Mr. Potvin hired architect Oscar Beauchemin to redesign the second floor to accommodate the Demers Photo Studio. Mr. Demers' studio was on Appleton Street and was displaced when the Majestic Theater was built.

For a period of time, theaters were banned from operating on Sundays. In May 1913, an agreement allowed the Bijou and Majestic to operate on an alternating Sunday schedule with the Wonderland and Palace Theaters.

In June 1913, O. J. Mason, the proprietor, oversaw the theater's painting, remodeling, and decorating. Nine films were shown daily. The theater operated until 1914, and the Holyoke City Directory no longer listed this entertainment venue thereafter. 

Venues such as the Palace and Wonderland were small compared to the new, nearby Majestic and Bijou, which seated 1,000 or more patrons and screened first- or second-run movies featuring the day's movie stars.

Citations: 

Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.

Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Genealogy Records and Price & Lee, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories

Massachusetts Cultural Research and Information Center, Boston, MA

Blue Block: Location of the Palace Theatre, 317 Main St. (1907-1914)

A contemporary view of 317 Main Street reflects the narrow 27.5-foot frontage. 

The building was 88 feet deep.

The Palace Theater closed in 1914 and was no longer listed in the Holyoke City Directory.