LYRIC HALL – AN INTIMATE TALK WITH OWNER JOHN CAVALIERE
By Ralph Beauchamp
My wife and I recently attended a performance at the Lyric Hall in the West Rock section of New Haven. We were excited to catch the record release party of Bigger Beast recording artist Stephen Peter Rodgers which included playing with his brother Jonny. Also on the bill was the brilliant singer/songwriter, Kala Farnham.
As soon as we entered the reception hall of the Lyric, Jenn and I were floored. It was like walking into a speakeasy in the 1920’s. The room was adorned with antique pictures and artifacts that gave the room a warm and cozy feel. The small and intimate stage and seating area were just as impressive. It was simply a delight and you could practically feel the mystical aura it emitted. Every crevice of the Lyric felt hallowed.
After all the incredible performances, Jenn and I had the honor of meeting the owner of the Lyric, John Cavaliere. Immediately, we both felt a connection with John. He was affable with a truly bohemian ambiance. He exuded art in it’s truest form. After exchanging pleasantries, he gave us a tour of the venue including his divine old-fashioned applianced kitchen and his gilding workspace in the front of the establishment. Immediately, I knew I had to dig deeper into the Lyric and John. He had Jenn and me riveted with his background story and lifestyle. John is indeed a renaissance man in the purest sense.
The following is an intimate conversation I had with John a few weeks later. We had Chai tea which he made from scratch which was also fascinating to watch. I met his associates Violet Harlow and Andre Marti. They both assist John in his restoration business. I hope I can capture the feel of this artistic gentleman and the essence of the Lyric.
AMP: You’ve led a very interesting life. Can you give our readers a brief history of your past?
JOHN: When I was a young kid, I loved to visit my grandma’s house because there was this carriage house in her backyard. In that house there was a loft that contained a ton of antiques that were all in crates and boxes. When I visited her, I would dive into those containers in order to uncover the untold magnificent treasures they possessed. If I found something I liked, she would tell me, in her thick Italian accent, to just take it home. I would clean up my spoils and then do research to see if anything had value.
My parents thought this was cool. So, they brought me books on antiquing. Then they would take me me to antique shops on Sundays to continue my quest. Here it is approximately 50 year later and I’m still doing it. My parents encouraged me to go into art but I had to be rebellious and I studied finance and economics at Connecticut College. I quickly came to my senses and returned to pursuing my art degree. I studied under Barkley Hendricks which was really cool. Eventually, I realized that I didn’t want to study art out of books. I wanted to study art in the real world.
So, I became a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. I would constantly stare at those amazing painting (as an aside, people constantly touched the exhibits). Suddenly, I realized my utmost fascination with the paintings’ picture frames. To me, they were just as important as the art. I came to discover that at one time, the painter and the frame maker were considered to be equals. I felt this was a sign for me to apprentice with a master gilder, which I did. This went on for a couple of years and I loved every minute of it.
Then I decided to branch off on my own and opened my studio on Chapel Street in New Haven. I moved to a storefront on State Street and I located my bench right in front of the window. It caught the attention of a writer from the New Haven Register named Randall Beach. He wrote a beautiful article that in turn caught the attention of one, Wayne Chorney. He was the prior owner of the Lyric and he told me flat out that he was retiring and he was going to sell the Lyric to me.
I told him I didn’t want a building and I was happy where I was. He gave me his card and said “all I ask is for you to come by and check out the space.” Just to be polite, I visited the space and the first thing he did was to take me to the rear of the building. It felt old and I was not impressed but then he took me up a staircase and on a catwalk.
He proceeded to shine a flashlight and lo and behold there was something spectacular in the darkness. I asked “what is that” and he said “it was the proscenium. This was the West Rock Theater in 1913.” That’s when I knew I had to buy the place. I brought the building and initially I was shelled shocked. I wasn’t sure what I had done. So I decided to set up my restoration business in the front of the building. I figured I’d work on the theater at a later date. Was I mistaken.
The recession of 2007 hit and my restoration business took a bullet. So, I had a lot of free time and I started demoing the theater space. It caught the attention of the artist community in the area and even with it looking like a wreck, they still wanted to host shows here. I got the funds to really make a difference and we started to be a neighborhood venue. We had plays, cabarets and musical artists all perform. Eventually, I got a tavern license and was able to offer wine and beer at our events. About 3-4 years ago, the law changed and we were forced to stop our beverage service.
Shortly afterwards, I put the Lyric up for sale. I’m glad I did because people from all over the country were interested. Really cool people with great ideas. A couple of LA investors wanted it but it all came down to the fact that the building was old. It needed a lot of work. Fortunately, nothing stuck and I took it off the market. Now I’m completely in love with the Lyric. Now I can cherry pick the events that I feel are appropriate as opposed to booking everything that came my way.
It has become a spiritual haven for me. I want it to have a higher purpose. Now I only deal with like minded people who understand the respect the Lyric deserves. This is my labour of love. My largest antique restoration. I only want to work with people who bring good vibes and have the appreciation that is necessary. If they want to book here, I would love to have them. I’m both elated and content when people come here and have a memorable experience. I truly believe the Lyric simply inspires people with its majestic atmosphere.
So that’s the short story. We can hash out the longer version if you are so inclined.
AMP: Now, how about the Lyric Hall? There has to be an amazing background story to the venue.
JOHN: This city is a city of firsts. This section of town was once called Hotchkissville after a prominent family who resided here. What happened is that Eli Whitney Blake, a nephew of Eli Whitney, had a great idea of taking trap rock from West Rock and crushing it with a machine he invented. He would add pitch (tar) in order to create materials such as asphalt. Supposedly, Whalley Avenue in New Haven was the first paved road in America. Then other manufacturers like Singer Sewing Machines started to filter in.
So, a lot of immigrants who worked in these factories lived in this neighborhood. Three Italian-Americans that worked at Winchester brought these three lots. One was a stone mason. Another was a joiner and the third was a roofer. They tore down the houses on the lots and hired an architect to design what would become the Lyric. They built it in 1913 and called it the West Rock Theater. All the workers from these manufacturing establishments would come here to see a nickelodeon or a vaudeville show.
Originally, the theater held 200 people and was one continuous space. When I purchased it, I divided it into three parts. Now, we have a very intimate venue that holds 60. I got it on the National Register of Historic Places. I also got a grant from the city to redo the facade. In addition, with the support from a countless number of family, friends, artists and community members, I was able to refurbish it back to its glory days.
AMP: You’ve had some amazing performances at the Lyric. Are there any that stand out?
JOHN: Oh Boy! One of the more memorable ones was a performance by a student of Miles Davis named Wallace Roney. He was a big guy and very serious. We didn’t talk much as he was loading in. Once he started to play, I knew this was a fabulous musician because I started to regulate my breath. His music just washed over me. I was mesmerized. I never forgot that special feeling. When he was leaving he paid us a lovely compliment. He said the Lyric was the best small stage he ever played.
The event was organized by one of Roney’s students, William Fluker. He and his wife Lisa held a reception before the show. Someone asked me to go outside th meet C C. Up pulls this limousine and this elegant woman steps out and proceeds to take my arm as I lead her into the venue. Little did I know that it was C C Calloway, Cab Calloway’s daughter. That’s the calibre of people who are attracted to the Lyric Hall.
AMP: Do you feel that the Lyric Hall is an asset to the community?
JOHN: Lyric Hall creates a sense of belonging in people. People from all walks of life feel comfortable here. There is this sense of connection. It feels like you are transported to another time. The Lyric is relaxing. It brings everyone together. I feel it’s a sacred space where anyone can have free discussions.
AMP: You have started a relationship with Bigger Beast Records. How did that happen?
JOHN: That happened via Stephen (Steve) Rodgers. Steve and I worked together. He was kind of my apprentice 25 years ago. Steve is a great guy and an awesome musical talent. One thing about Steve is the fact that he is a connector of people. When I started taking guitar lesson with him, he told me about Frank Viele and how he was looking for a venue to showcase his label’s roster. Steve hung aroung while Frank made his first visit to the Lyric. Frank walked in seeming a little skeptical but the more he experienced the space, the more the mystical vibe overtook him.
Frank actually laid down on the rug and I thought this is a very good sign. I felt frank was really channeling the Lyric‘s spirits. He felt both comfortable and inspired and I could see he was impressed with the way we had restored the room. I can’t take all the credit because it is truly a unique space with its own personality. Art, at this level, is never lucrative but I told Frank, think of all the people you will meet and all the experiences you will encounter through the aura of the Lyric. And all that came true.
AMP: After doing a bit of research, It seems the Lyric lies in a profound flood zone. How has that impacted the growth of the venue?
JOHN: It has impacted the growth the same way you prune a shrub. If you let the scrub grow, it keeps getting bigger and bigger but when you clip it back, the roots get deeper and deeper. We’ve been flooded seven times and the last time it rose to over 7 feet of water. It was really scary. Since that time I have been blessed to have a friend who is a stone mason and entrepreneur. Patrick Mansfield, who used to own Anna Liffey’s, built a retaining wall around the building. He was hell bent on saving the space.
Also, after meeting the Governor Ned Lamont at a reception, he was able to procure a grant to study the drainage issues of the neighborhood. Because of this, I see great things on the horizon. Once the area is more secure, I’m thinking of expanding. I want to use the upstairs portion as a practice and rehearsal space for musicians. In addition, it can serve as an art gallery for the local artists. I’m optimistic for the future but those floods really hurt.
AMP: Where do you find the remarkable artifacts and paintings that adorn the walls of the Lyric?
JOHN: My antiquing on the weekends is my ritual. I have my established routes. This has been going on since I was a kid. My family used to pick wild mushrooms and they had their spot. The same goes for me when I hunt for antiques. I go because it’s my meditation. What I love is the fact that when I go out to find new treasures, it’s always a learning experience. When I walk into a shop, I ask “who would like to live in an old vaudeville theater” and usually a painting or a chair will jump out and say “me”.
AMP: WHat’s next for the Lyric Hall?
JOHN: We are having another partnership with Best Video in Hamden. I believe they are one of the last standing video stores in the Northeast. We host movie screenings and it is the perfect partnership. They have a cafe and food licence and they are allowed to utilize them here. So, at the screenings, we have food and beverages available. For now, it’s been once a month but I would love to up the frequency. So far, every screening has been sold out. Again, it’s just another way the Lyric brings people and the community together.
To learn more about Lyric Hall, check out their Website
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Excellent, fresh writing on a really cool space!