Historic Casino Building on Catalina

An introduction and general information about the historic Casino Building on Catalina Island in Southern California. See also other Historic Sites and All Attractions on Catalina Island.

NAME: Casino of Catalina
ATTRACTION TYPE: Historic site
ALSO KNOWN AS: Avalon Casino
ALSO KNOWN AS: Historic Casino of Catalina Island
OPERATED BY: Catalina Island Company
LOCATION: City of Avalon, Catalina Island, Southern California

Tours of the Catalina Casino
The Catalina Island Company operates three different casino tours: a basic tour, a longer backstage tour, and a twilight tour that includes a glass of wine.

More About the Catalina Casino
- Built in 1929
- cost $2 million to construct
- One project in a 10 year building program by William Wrigley, Jr.
- Architects: Walter Webber and sumner A. Spaulding
- Style: Blend of Mediterranean Revival and Art Deco
- Roof made of 105,000 tiles made on Catalina Island
- All other materials had to shipped from the mainland;
- Has a small elegant theater and a larghe upstairs ballroom

Murals on the Catalina Casino Walls
- hand-painted murals that grace the entry way
- Created by John Gabriel Beckman
- His work also adorns Hollywood’s Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
- Casino’s murals depict the history of the island's cultural evolution.

Casino Ballroom
Above the theatre, the Casino’s world-famous ballroom once hosted thousands of dancers grooving to the sounds of big band music. Be sure to step out on the Romance Promenade that encircles the ballroom for some of the most spectacular views of Avalon.

Avalon Theater
- Built in 1929 near the end of the silent film ra
- Designed specifically for tylking films
- Fully restored
- solid black walnut panels,
- vart deco furniture,
- Tiffany-esque lights
- gold-leaf accents.
- 50 foot domed ceiling give it wonderful acoustics

Avalon Theater Pipe Organ
The theatre’s original pipe organ, one of the last of its kind, was built, shipped and installed by the Page Organ Company of Lima, Ohio. You can hear a performance on this historic organ on Fridays and Saturdays, one hour before the start of the theatre’s weekly feature.

Resources

- Catalina Island Company "Catalina Casino" Article<
- LA Conservancy "Catalina Casino" Article<
- Visit California "Catalina Casino" Article<
- Wikipedia "Catalina Casino" Article<

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Other Historic Sites on Catalina

All Attractions on Catalina

Catalina Island Travel Guide

California for Visitors

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