The World’s First Sound Theater Is In A Historic Catalina Island Casino—Visited By Marilyn Monroe And More Hollywood Elite

Santa Catalina Island holds numerous fantastic curiosities, but the Catalina Casino is easily the most iconic, serving as a glamorous haven for the crème de la crème of [Old Hollywood](https://secretlosangeles.com/things-to-do-hollywood/) . The landmark has never been used for gambling ; rather, “casino” in this case comes from the Italian word for “gathering place.” From the historic Avalon Theatre to the building’s spectacular Art Deco styling , here’s everything you never knew about the Catalina Casino. History of the Catalina Casino ------------------------------ Chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. opened the Catalina Casino in 1929, in honor of the tenth anniversary of his purchase of Santa Catalina Island. Architects Sumner Spaulding and Walter Webber created the circular building as a masterpiece of Art Deco and Mediterranean Revival design, rising the equivalent of twelve stories into the air on Avalon Bay. ### Theater and ballroom Remarkably, the Casino holds two world superlatives. One is the Avalon Theatre , which is the world’s first theater designed to screen “talkies,” or films with sound. It seats 1,154 and is famous for having spectacular acoustics and original Art Deco murals. It even has a rare 16-rank pipe organ, which is still played for some movie screenings, and original “hat shelves” beneath the theater seats. The other is the Casino Ballroom on the upper level, which is the world’s largest circular ballroom. The 20,000 square foot space has a diameter of 180 feet and can accommodate 3,000 dancers. It’s surrounded by an open balcony known as the “Romance Promenade,” and it also retains a stunning rose-hued Art Deco style. ### Hollywood history By the 1930s and 1940s, the Catalina Casino was a fully realized symbol of Catalina’s island allure, attracting legendary Big Bands and Hollywood stars to both the ballroom and the theater. During Hollywood’s Golden Age, dozens of notable celebrities are known to have visited the casino, including Charlie Chaplin, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Cecil B. DeMille, Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Reagan, Natalie Wood, John Wayne, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Humphry Bogart, and dozens more. Visiting the Catalina Casino today ---------------------------------- These days, the general public is invited to experience the allure of the Catalina Casino via one of two primary ways: via guided or self-guided tours , or attending a movie screening . You cannot explore the Casino on your own otherwise. ### Touring the Catalina Casino The Catalina Casino hosts two tours that provide a fantastic up-close look at the building’s history and carefully restored architecture. The self-guided General Admission Tour takes guests through the Avalon Theatre, the Marine Bar, the Casino Ballroom, and the Promenade. The expert-guided VIP Backstage Tour extends the tour to include historic dressing rooms, the projection booth, and Wrigley’s private viewing room. 🌐 Website : Visit Catalina Island ### Avalon Theatre screenings Alternatively, you can see the Catalina Casino by getting tickets for one of the Avalon Theatre’s legendary film screenings. Films range from Hollywood classics to more recent box office hits. 🌐 Website : The Avalon Theatre Source: https://secretlosangeles.com/catalina-casino-avalon-theatre-california/