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| Catalina Casino |
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| Promenade to Catalina Casino |
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| Casino Theatre and Ballroom at Avalon |
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| Grand Architecture |
During our stay at Avalon, we
toured the historic Catalina Casino.
When William Wrigley Jr. (the chewing-gum magnate and owner of the
Chicago Cubs) purchased the majority of Catalina, he built not only a ranch for
himself but built the Sugarloaf Casino which served as a ballroom and Avalon’s
first high-school. It quickly proved to
be too small for the Island's growing population so he had the old building
raised to be replaced with a grander structure. The new Catalina Casino, completed in 1929,
is of the Art Deco and Mediterranean Revival style and was the first to be
designed specifically for movies with sound.
The circular structure is surrounded by sea on three sides and is the
equivalent of 12 stories. The theatre
has one screen and a seating capacity of 1,154 patrons with a circular domed
ceiling known for its remarkable acoustics.
The theatre is so well insulated that patrons cannot hear a band playing
above or thousands of dancers on the ballroom floor. Our tour included the beautiful foyer and
theatre on the ground level, then a walk up the circular ramp to the enormous
dancehall. It is the world’s largest
circular ballroom with a 180-foot diameter dance floor that can hold over 6,000
people. French doors encircle the room
and the balcony views over the bay are spectacular. The Casino is still used as a theatre for the
latest movies and as a dancehall for private functions and special events. The original 4-manuel, 16 rank pipe organ remains in the theatre. We also visited the Casino Museum located in
the basement, highlighting the life and times of William Wrigley Jr.
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| Art Deco Style |
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| Balcony Walk-About |
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| Mediterranean Architecture |
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| Art Deco Theatre |
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