Walnut wood paneling adorns the lobby and French doors decorate the room. The Avalon Theatre was the first to be designed specifically for movies with sound, and continues to show first-run movies nightly.

During the summer season, the ballroom was reportedly full every night. Famous musicians from the Big Band era played at the Casino Ballroom, occasionally for four to six week engagements.

With a design that’s considered Art Deco and Mediterranean Revival, the casino includes a movie theatre and museum on the first level, and a circular dance hall on the top level. This decorated, 12-story building was known at the time as the tallest structure in Los Angeles County, and featured spectacular ocean views from three sides. On May 29, 1929, the current casino was completed at a cost of 2 million dollars. Sugarloaf Rock was subsequently blasted away so that the ocean view could be enhanced for this new project. This casino was demolished, however, in 1928 in order to make room for a larger venue due to Catalina’s growing population.

The first casino, Sugarloaf Casino, was built by William Wrigley, Jr., to serve both as a ballroom and as Avalon’s first high school. The Catalina Casino, standing at approximately twelve stories tall, continues to beckon tourists and remind locals of Catalina Island’s rich history.įor over 80 years, a picturesque landmark has welcomed visitors as their ship slowly pulls into Avalon Harbor.

The Catalina Casino, standing at approximately twelve stories tall, continues to beckon tourists and remind locals of Catalina Island’s rich history.

Movies at avalon casino