Waverly Theatre
690 Burmont Road,
Drexel Hill,
PA
19026
690 Burmont Road,
Drexel Hill,
PA
19026
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Stanley-Warner Theatres, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Architects: Paul J. Henon, Jr., William H. Hoffman
Firms: Hoffman-Henon Co.
Nearby Theaters
The Waverly Theatre was a huge single screener, opened in October 1927 in Drexel Hill, a Delaware County suburb of Philadelphia. As of 1931, the auditorium had 1,562 seats. Philadelphia theatre architects Hoffman-Henon Co. designed it. Stanley Warner operated it. Until the 1960’s or 1970’s, it had coal heat. The coal was in the basement, and a fan would blow the hot air around. It closed in the 1980’s. The restroom suites were lavish.
The building is used as a bar and beer distributorship J.D. Mc Gillicuddys.
Contributed by
Mira626, Howard B. Haas
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
the waverly theatre was built and completed in october 1927 originally was to be called the drexel stanley corporation of america decided waverly.
i have FACEBOOK groups on the BROOKLINE WAVERLY 69TH ST THEATRES. if u have any stories, pics videos or just want to join please join thanku all.
What is the name of the group. I know all these theaters from my childhood
mikeoaklandpark just put in search terminal waverly 69th st ardmore brookline theatres you should have no problem seeing them.
WOW, Awesome picture. My grandfather’s house was up the street, and to the left of the curve in the picture, was a penny candy store called “Dietz”, where a small brown bag was filled to brim with all our old time favorites (1960’s). The theater was beautiful, with velvet like seats, and small, dim lights, running down the aisle. There was a gorgeous popcorn machine…10 cents…clear glass…put your dime in, pulled out a white, small bag, and down center, a metal lid, you pulled up, then placed your bag (opened up), under a metal lip, I think after you placed the bag first, then the dime, the machine would start, and you would watch this buttery fresh popcorn jump around and go down the chute to your little bag…carefully hoping, not to lose one piece! The machine made this loud grinding noise as it made the popping corns. Everything was just so lavish…and there was one fella, dressed like a fine waiter, with a cap, and a flashlight. Guiding people to their seats, or flashing the light into children who were naughty…like throwing popcorn or candy into the air…once I was escorted out. The last movies I saw was in 1969, West Side Story…and Camelot (year???). These memories are embedded in my heart…my dad and grand mom practically lived there from the 30’s to the 50’s!!! We will never see the grand beauty of the good ole days friends. Those old theaters were architectural marvels. Class with a capital “C”. How I wish I could put my little dime just one more time in that machine, and taste the buttery, warm delight. To all the baby boomers, whose hearts and minds savor their past…Much love and blessings to you all 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿 🎭🎭🎭🎭🎭🎥🎥🎥🎥
55 mobydick join my waverly theatre group on FACEBOOK youll love it
Thanks Bob C just asked to join. I have tons of wonderful memories here starting with seeing Batman in the 60’s
I lived there for 40 something years and was lucky enough to visit The Waverly for many years until it closed. Before Cable (and after) this place was a convenient place to kill a couple hours and be entertained. Kiddee matinees on the weekend and Grindhouse films at night. This place WAS a Grindhouse. Ironically in the mid to late 80’s this place was closed due to the VCR. The whole front facade is still there, although it’s now a bar. They can’t remove the facade of the building due to it being a historic monument to the area, which is cool. I was a bartender in the Waverly Lounge next door and I was always amused watching movies that I had seen on the big screen 100 feet away. Great Place.
Hi all! Is anyone still commenting here? I LOVED the Waverly when I was living on Drexel Avenue from 1966 to 1969. My family was the Walshes and we lived next door to the MacDiarmids. We kids watched “Santa Claus Versus the Martians” at the Waverly. The adults saw other films like “Blowup” and “I Am Curious Yellow.” Not for the kiddies! So… Do you recall the Knot Shot next door to Dietz’s candy shop? Does anyone have photos of either of those store fronts? They play an important part of my memories as a 9-year old. I’d love to be in touch with anyone from that era. And I want the recipes for those knots! Maybe some day I can open my own hippie-run snack shop here in Maryland… Thanks all and take care during this pandemic. (And oh, I joined the Waverly group on FB under my pseudonym.)
As a kid I saw many movies there in the 70s. My Grandfathers store Windy’s was nearby. I also use to go to the Penny Candy store there before the movie to buy comics & candy. I forget its name.