Wonderland Theater (1909-1915)

The Wonderland Theater was one of two moving-picture theaters on the west side of Main Street, between Spring and Cabot Streets, from 1907 to 1915. The other theater was the Palace Theater, and this blog series also tells its story in another chapter.

Originally called the Wonderland Picture House at 311 Main Street, Joseph Szewczyk, Frank Rogalski, and Arthur Dupont operated the theater in 1909. Their partnership dissolved in October that year, and Arthur Dupont continued as sole proprietor.

Ownership changed quickly: H. D. Langelier took charge in July 1910, and in October W. H. Mayher became the new owner. 

An annual tradition established in 1909 offered free movie admission for children under 14, sponsored by the owner.

The theater featured contemporary silent performances such as Westerns, dramas, and comedies, as well as educational, religious, and current events. In 1911, several of these were related to religious conferences held to benefit local Holyoke churches. That year, the Bricklayers and Plasterers Union also held a charitable fundraising concert. The program included films about cutting redwoods and financial matters.

In 1912, the theater relocated a few doors away to 295 Main Street. Frank Darcy was the theater owner in 1913 and for part of 1914. Max Suher followed, running the theater during the summer of 1914 before closing it. 

Competition from Main Street's much larger Majestic Theater and Globe Theater, which opened during this time, likely impacted Wonderland patronage.

In February 1915, Attorney Edmund D. Ally purchased the theater, which had been closed for some time. He was a partner in the law firm Ally and Masse, which also owned the Maplewood Hotel at the southwest corner of Maple and Essex Streets. The theater continued to show entertaining photoplays through the spring of 1915. Thereafter, no further information about the theater was discovered. The Holyoke City Directory does not list the theater in its 1916 index.

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

1915 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Holyoke, Massachusetts  

Blocked in Blue: Wonderland Theater's initial location 301 Main (1909-1912)

Blocked in Red: Wonderland Theater's second location, 295 Main (1912-1915)

The Wonderland Theater was no longer listed in the Holyoke City Directory after 1915