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    Avalon Theatre

    4.2 (39 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Avalon Theatre Photos

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    Marjorie U.

    If you are in Catalina, this is the first thing you see. It's beautiful at night. You can watch a movie here or purchase the tour. I heard the place is haunted. I didn't see any ghosts when I visited the theatre. Maybe I'll see it next time. LOL! Inside you'll feel like you are part of history. The tour was so fascinating and the view from the theatre is amazing!

    Atul S.

    Theatre inside casino. Runs show occasionally and not so frequent. Not sure about exact schedule but today 6 pm had Frozen 2 show. Seems to be a great architecture theatre and should have great experience inside.

    Big screen
    Sandee T.

    A_bsolutely beautiful theatre on the island T_ake in some art & culture while you're here~ * FYI - Historical theater built in the 1920's * FYI - Feels like stepping back in time with its ornately red-hued cinematic décor~ * FYI - Playing movies nightly! Check schedule here = http://www.theavalon.org/films/?date=now-playing * FYI - Watched "Kong Skull Island" here...love action flicks on the big screen! * FYI - Located a short walk along Crescent Ave Cheers~

    Beautiful walls of art all around. Can look for hours and see new things.
    Amy H.

    My family rented a home in Avalon, Ca for the week of 4th of July. We were happy to hear playing at the movie theater in the beautiful Casino theater was Spider-Man a new movie that just came out! So nice to view the beautiful art and decor inside. The screen seemed out dated. The quality was not worth the cost of the movie ticket. There were huge imperfections on the screen. Sad to see this. Have been to this theater many times. It was never like this. This was my husband's first time to the island and theater. They made some upgrades to the food and drinks. But the money needs to go to the picture quality. I wanted to take a picture, but didn't want to be one of those people that have their cell phone out during the movie. It's a movie theater in a beautiful room. The sound only seemed to come from the front. Sounded strange. Again in this big round room I am sure there is a way to have better surround sound. Tuesday is "discount" day, $10 and once we arrived we were told it was cash only. After waiting almost an hour before they let us in I was happy I had the correct amount of cash for five people. No were on their website did it say cash only. No signs posted in their ticket windows either. We walked out the day before to make sure Spider-Man was the movie playing for sure. We walked around took pictures. My husband even talked with one of the tour guides. No mention of cash only on Tuesday. Not everyone carries cash these days. I was lucky I had cash since some restaurants in town are cash only also.

    The outside of the Casino....note it's a place of "gathering."
    Kyra J.

    The only thing really worth checking out in Avalon. Please note they close the ticket booth at 5 PM so make sure you show up on time for the tour to buy the ticket. Coming here makes you feel Iike you have entered another era. This was the only place on the island that I felt had any real meaning. The rest of the Avalon has been commercialized and is just about making money. The tour guide was informative and made us feel like he was sharing a history of a place that once was. A sense of awe sweeps over when first walk under the naked mermaid into the dark entrance. The ceiling looks like red carpet..but it is really coral pressed into the ceiling made to look like palm leaves. The color is original but still after 80 years but is so vibrant in the redness you would think it was new. Then your eyes will soak in the walnut wood panels with special designs and you are in awe that someone would spend so much money to give you a feeling as if you are in another place standing in a castle. Then you enter the theater and it's like nothing else you have ever seen..... The first thing you notice are the red chairs that are thick and beautiful. You almost don't want to sit in them because they look so nice. Then the ceiling is shaped like a bowl so the sound is evenly distributed. The lights are built into gold stars with a pale silver background. Then as your eyes move away from the stage you notice the mural that is all around you. It's beautiful very colorful and makes you feel like you are elsewhere... After watching a brief film on how great Avalon was you feel a sense of sadness. A sense that this island has been left to relive the glory of what once was without any real hope of creating new memories. They used to make movies here...but that was a long time ago. After the movie the tour guide ushered us to the great ballroom. Yes, the ballroom is directly above the theater and the floor is made of beautiful wood surrounded by white arches and a patio all around to see the boats floating around the beach. Our guide was gracious enough to let is stay past the tour to take pictures. I wished I could of been here when Avalon once was.

    What an amazing structure, the even my they set up, the personnel and the atmosphere were right on point.

    Avalon Theatre
    Cat V.

    The cinema looks classy with the art deco architecture and the art work of John Gabriel Beckman. Mr Q and I went for their Thursday movie night. The tickets man was super friendly and chatty. If I had more time, we could have a great conversation. The man who performs the organ is drowning in his own world. It was nice in the beginning, but 20+ minutes for a loud organ performance? I can't wait for the movie to get start. This cinema may not needed the mic phone to let the show begin, because of the shape of the room, but it's not a good thing when people brought their own candies, chips...you name it. The sound of chewing candy, eating chips, you can hear it all, loud and clear with echo. The seats are low, you will be a bit uncomfortable with a slightly back pain. The movies screen is above the wooden stage. There is some reflection on the wooden stage while you are watching the movie. That was a bit annoying and the sounds were a bit mono. I still suggest my friends to come here to experience this for once.

    Eric B.

    A super cool movie theater within the Catalina Casino. The interior wood architecture and painted dome ceiling is something you have to see for yourself and take in in person! Surround sound is epic with the shape of the theater and there are more than enough seats to find your perfect spot. On some nights there's even a musician who comes out and plays the organ before the start of the movie.

    Gorgeous theatre, so much character!
    Christa K.

    A MUST!! They have current movies that change every few days... We went to see The Martian on a Friday night- it was a little pricey at $15/person, but worth every penny once you walk inside and see how AMAZING the theatre is. So much character and old school charm. There's even hat hooks on the back of each velvet chair. (BTW, The Martian (with Matt Damon) was so good!)

    Cheyenne P.

    Old, eclectic,but we still enjoyed the show here. There was an organ player before the start of the movie. The prices for the popcorn and sofas were not bad. The chairs need to have new foam put in and they need to put cup holders. We had to put our snacks and drinks on the floor.

    Love the seats
    Moe D.

    Not knowing what else to do in Avalon we made our way over to the Theater. They show one movie for 2 weeks and then the movie changes. Show starts at 7:30pm every night. $15 charge for adults. Beautiful Art Deco theater with excellent popcorn.

    Venus
    Paul J.

    The one showing except Saturday's has a organ player who plays before the show. Amazing experience in a throw back to a different a time vibe. Beautiful frescos on the ceilings and amazing acoustics. Wooden floors and dance row ends with working lights. This is totally worth the $15.

    Magical! Get there early to enjoy a live organ player - very cool.

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    Ask the Community - Avalon Theatre

    Review Highlights - Avalon Theatre

    it is beautiful and has perfect acoustics!.. The paintings, the woodwork..

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Catalina Casino - concession stand

    Catalina Casino

    4.3(219 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    Finally took the time and additional funds to see the inside of the Catalina Casino in Avalon…read moreCalifornia during a shore stop aboard the Quantum of the Sea from Los Angeles. It was a great stop, well worth the money and time. My wife and I have been to Avalon before and the outline of the Catalina Casino dominates the view from the harbor when looking North. I made the obvious mistake of thinking it was a place of gambling and didn't bother going, but later learned that during the 19th and early 20th century, the term 'casino' was used to mean 'a gathering place'. That was the goal of the original owner (William Wrigley, founder of the gum company that bears his name), when he built it in 1929, right during the times when 'talkies' started taking over the movie industry. A massive restoration occurred in 1994. It's walkable from where we got dropped off by the cruise port tender, so I bought two adult tickets online for $21.51 each, for the self-guided tour. There is also a guided tour available that takes a group back behind the stage. We got there right when it opened and the ticket taker already had our names to let us in. The first stop was the main theater on the ground floor, and as we entered it, I couldn't help by saying a long 'Wowwww'. There are 1164 original seats (reupholstered) and we sat in the very back row, admiring the theater and watching a bit of the silent movie that was playing. Cell reception did not work inside, and the free WiFi didn't work well in here either. A little while later, the guided tour came in, and we were able to listen to the guide explain the theater. Some fun facts: -- this was the first theater designed for 'talkies'. However, because it wasn't a sure thing that they would replace the old style silent movies, a Page Theatre Pipe Organ was also installed (which is now one of only three still in its original location...the others being in Indiana). It was broken for a while, but has recently been fixed. -- entire ceiling was covered in silver leaf. -- the acoustics are incredible. As the guided group talked in normal loudness near the orchestral pit in front, I could hear each conversation from the back, just as if the person was right next to me. -- the wall murals was designed by the same artist who did the mural at the Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. -- architects responsible for the building of Radio City Music Hall in NYC, came for a visit to examine the acoustics, as it was that good. The guided tour ended up going backstage. We then took a winding ramp (there is no public elevator) up to the 2nd floor. Here there was one room where a TV show was on, explaining the history of the island. Another ramp took us to the top floor where the 20,000 square foot grand ballroom is. (The ramps reminded me of a ballparks, and later I learned that it was intentional: Wrigley had requested it based on something similar that he liked from his namesake ballpark). The ballroom has been beautifully restored, with wooden floors and a rotating chandelier. One can roller skate on the floor with rented skates, though nobody was doing it when we were there, thus the floor was empty. There is also a concession stand selling snacks. The height of the casino is equal to a 12-story building, and provides some really great views of Avalon, specifically the bay, from the Romance Promenade that surrounds the ballroom. My wife and I slowly circled it, admiring the views. We did notice the small cove where many snorkelers were admiring the plentiful orange-colored garibaldi. The entire stay lasted about 75 minutes which we felt was about the right amount of time. Would highly recommend if not been there before.

    This image is the main thing you notice when you first dock here. The architecture is just…read moregorgeous. We were so looking forward to tour and see this historic spot. We didn't have any luck on Christmas Day as you would expect as most of the town was closed up. But on Friday we were able to get the self tour option. $20, the guided was $40. Wow they have really kept the place up in pristine condition. This place was purchased by the Wrigley/ Family Dynasty, actually they bought the entire island back in 1929. The reason it is called a casino is not because of gambling but for the Italian meaning for a gathering place. This location was one of the first theaters to have "talkie" films. I was very impressed with the way the caretakers have kept the original fixtures, seating, bars and even the restrooms are all kept in the 20's style. The seating on the first level has over 1800 seats. There is an original organ for when they hosted silent film festivals here. This was a place where all the rich and famous celebrities would gather for all sorts of festivals and events. This is a Must visit if you head over to the island. Impressive!

    Photos
    Catalina Casino - Lamp in the lobby

    Lamp in the lobby

    Catalina Casino - Concession stand

    Concession stand

    Catalina Casino - Interior furnishings

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    Interior furnishings

    Catalina Museum - June 26, 2025 | Thursday | Inside of the museum!

    Catalina Museum

    4.2(63 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    June 26 & July 5, 2025 | Catalina Island Avalon | The Catalina Island Museum is a great way to know…read moremore about the beautiful island, including its history! Experience | It was amazing learning more about Catalina Island: history, the famous people on the island, including Marilyn Monroe, as well as well-known Writers/Authors, incredible art pieces, sculptures, pottery, photography & even the blueprint of the spectacular Casino... and so much more! Lights, Camera, Action | There is also a sit down Theater inside the museum where you can watch a 15 minute movie about the history of Catalina Island! Tickets | $12 | Admission throughout the two-level museum, both indoor and outdoor! Stairs and elevator accessible! Gift Shop | Fun books, postcards, beautiful tiles, souvenirs, jewelry, figurines, Bath & body products ... The gift shop has it all! Overall | I enjoyed every moment at the museum, as Catalina Island Avalon is one of my favorite places! Exploring the museum is a great way to know more about the island and it's history!

    Beautiful museum in Avalon surveying its history, from Native American settlements to the Civil War…read more(!), the great fire, the Wrigleys, WWII, the Beach Boys, and beyond! Has a nice gift shop with quality souvenirs, a theater with an enjoyable movie that gives you a great overview of the island's history, well laid-out exhibits, and galleries with local art and pottery. There is a large rooftop patio with a nice view, and one of my favorite plaques (by the elevator), which lists some of the local slang! (Eg, non-islanders live "overtown" on the mainland) A visit here will enrich your visit tenfold, giving you context to the paradise around you.

    Photos
    Catalina Museum - June 26, 2025 | Thursday | Outside of the museum on a hill!

    June 26, 2025 | Thursday | Outside of the museum on a hill!

    Catalina Museum - July 5, 2025 | Saturday | 2nd Visit | 1st level of Museum!

    July 5, 2025 | Saturday | 2nd Visit | 1st level of Museum!

    Catalina Museum - Ronald Reagan

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    Ronald Reagan

    Avalon Theatre - movietheaters - Updated June 2026

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