Cinema should make you forget
you are sitting in a theater.
...Roman Polanski
This is just a small area on the side wall of the Avalon Theatre on Catalina Island, a truly classic movie palace. The Avalon Theatre opened on May 29, 1929.
It is located inside the Catalina Casino below the Casino Ballroom. John Gabriel Beckman, whose work is also featured on the facade of Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theatre, decorated the entire Avalon Theatre in an Atmospheric style. There are painted murals on the side walls of the 50 foot high domed ceiling, depicting deer, monks, a ship and stylized mountains. The rear wall has painted murals of birds and monkeys.
The silver leaf ceiling is made to glow in shades of pink and violet by colored lights surrounding the auditorium. Plus there are little lights on the ceiling that blink off and look like twinkling stars.
This Art Deco masterpiece was the first theatre in the United States designed specifically for talking pictures. The theatre legendary acoustics were copied by the builders of Radio City Music Hall in New York.
During our visit we watched a movie to take in the experience. Halfway through, they passed out free bags of popcorn. What an unexpected surprise. Afterwards, we strolled Casino Way, along the harbor, and back to our hotel.
Waw!! love the art deco colours and design in this building ! - fabulous - just found for some reason I am no longer following you - I had thought it strange that I had not seen any posts of yours ! - now back following you !!! :)
