Vincent Maragliotti Murals

Mural preservation & restoration by EverGreene Architectural Arts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE RESTORATION IS COMPLETE

THE VICTORY THEATRE MURALS ARE IN HOLYOKE

HOLYOKE, MA - MIFA Victory Theatre is excited to announce the Victory Theatre’s historic murals restoration project is complete. Expert restorationists Evergreene Architectural Arts of New York City fully restored the two 23-feet-tall Vincent Maragliotti WPA murals on April 8, 2024. Evergreen’s team moved the murals back to Holyoke masterfully implementing and overseeing their protective storage where they will await reinstallation. The mural's completion is a key step in bringing us closer to a reopened theater. A future public exhibition of the completed murals is in development, stay tuned.

“What a wonderful achievement for MIFA and the City of Holyoke. A significant piece of the city’s history has been preserved for future generations. The mural restoration represents a terrific cooperation between MIFA and the Community Preservation Act Committee, among other donors, and a special shoutout should go to Kip Foley and Meagan Magrath (CPA Committee Chairs), and their committees, and to Michael J. Sullivan for making this happen.”

- Don Sanders, MIFA Executive Artistic Director

Photo by Don Treeger, Victory Theatre restored mural panel on display at Wistariahurst Museum

2023 Victory Theatre Mural Exhibit at Wistariahurst Museum

This muralist lifted Holyoke’s spirits during World War II; the fight today is to bring his works back to life, By Dennis Hohenberger | Special to The Republican, Updated: Mar. 10, 2023, 11:31 a.m. | Published: Mar. 08, 2023, 6:41 p.m., Masslive.com

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The Victory Theatre Murals (1942) - Approx. 10ft wide x 21ft tall, painted by Vincent Maragliotti of Maragliotti Studios, Grand Central Terminal Building, NYC.

Photo of the Victory Theatre murals flanking the stage. circa late 90s early 2000s

"The murals are the work of the noted New York artist, Vincent Maragliotti, who supervised the decorative treatment of the Victory Theatre’s interior after the January 26, 1942 fire. Maragliotti explained that the descriptive representation of the murals is purely symbolic:

Photo of the water damaged Left Maragliotti mural panel

The panel on the left

"Depicts war and was inspired by the biblical story of Lucifer, cast out of heaven, venting his vengeance and evil upon mankind. It suggests that the horrible turmoil of the present-day throughout the world marks the approach of the climax, which can result only in either complete victory or complete defeat. Mars, the symbol of war, directs with sword in hand, employing his destructive agents of hate and insinuation. A crouching old figure represents the force that incites discord. The planet Mars, abode of its symbolized king, resembles an erupting volcano. The gigantic picture illustrates the doom that will be his unless he experiences a spiritual awakening.

The panel on the right

"Represents Victory. Man has broken his bonds and has been made free by the spirit of Justice. Lucifer is banished into oblivion. Peace has brought her blessings and Liberty once more reigns. The blessings of Liberty, Peace, and Justice are again bestowed upon humanity." –Holyoke Transcript-Telegram, Aug. 13, 1941.

Photo of a intact Right Maragliotti Mural

Vincent Maragliotti

Born in Italy and emigrated to the U.S. at age seventeen, Vincent Maragliotti studied at the National Academy of Design, NY, and the Cooper Union Art College in NY.

Part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA)/ Federal Art Project (FAP) under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, Maragliotti’s first commission was of the main entrance lobby of the Pennsylvania Education Building, which he completed in 1934.

Other works

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Roxy Theater, NY

Majestic, NY

Shubert, NY

Strand, NY

Hotels

Waldorf‐Astoria, NY

Biltmore, NY

Sherry-Netherland, NY

The Lexington, NY

Copley Plaza Hotel, MA