Whalley Theatre
379 Whalley Avenue,
New Haven,
CT
06511
379 Whalley Avenue,
New Haven,
CT
06511
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Functions: Retail
Previous Names: Whalley Avenue Theatre
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Dec 9, 2012 — Happy 50th, “Lawrence of Arabia”
- Oct 18, 2011 — Happy 50th, "West Side Story"
- Nov 18, 2009 — Happy 50th, "Ben-Hur"
The former Whalley Theatre later became known as the Whalley Cafe Cinema.
The building has now been converted into a natural foods store. However, both the outside and inside still resemble a cinema if you know what to look for. The former lobby area is now a coffee bar, the balcony is now a small cafe, the auditorium which has had the floor levelled is now the food section, and the projection booth is now a manager’s office.
Contributed by
Roger Katz
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
Two memories of “The Whalley”: When “BEN HUR” premiered, it seemed to run here forever. Also, one night about 1069 or 70, I attended a special Halloween showing of “Frankenstein” and “Dracula”. (Ididn’t have a VCR then!)
Make that “1969 or 1970”, as in 1069, NO ONE had VCRS!!!
Does anyone know the whereabouts or what happened to theatre manager Franklin Fergusson?
I was an usher at the Whalley while in high school (Hillhouse). I worked there until I went into the service (Jan. 1953). Mr. Ferguson was the manager and Mr. Tarren was the assistant manager. Mr. Ferguson’s father was the manager of the Whitney. Mr. Ferguson passed away some time ago.
I didn’t know the upstairs was ever open. I went upstairs and there’s a small food court sitting area by the projection booth which is the office. At the other end of the theater is another register (upstairs) and there’s some nice decoration – 2 Ionic columns, one on either end, the color scheme is pink, blue and white with a small arc leading from one column to the other, like a rainbow.
March 24,1970 and Gregory Peck’s Sci-fi Classic “MAROONED” is playing to sell out crowds.
OMG! This brings back memories. I grew up on Stanley St. and went to the Whalley Theater many times. I have no idea why I looked this up today, but it’s interesting to see how things have changed. Wow. I had a friend who was an usher there, Peter Gemmell. I think he’s a fireman now.
In 1980-1981 it was also known as the Whalley Avenue Theater.
Undated and 1960 newspaper photos added courtesy of Joe O'Conner.
This venue’s 70mm presentations history is included in the recently-published article “70mm Presentations in New Haven: A Chronology of 70mm Large Format Exhibition, 1960-Present”.