Avalon Regal Theater

oldeastsider on May 3, 2005 at 10:42 am

I last saw the Avalon Theater in the autumn of 1965. I had been just released from active duty in the Pacific, and on returning home found that the neighborhood was changing rapidly. My folks told me there was talk that the theater would be closing soon, so I made a point of going there as soon as possible.

I have no memory of the movie playing then, I really didn’t go for the movie. I went to see, for the last time, the beautiful decorations and mosaics that adorned the theater. The balconies were officialy closed, but I climbed over the ropes and made my way up the grand staircase examining all the mosaics and other decoration as I went. It wasn’t long before some security guard came looking for me (there were no ushers anymore). I explained what I was doing and why, and they said OK.

I then explored each of the grottoes on each side of the auditorium and marveled for one last time at the artistry of the fountain. Then a trip doen to the basement to view what was left of the decorations in the bathrooms, and I was done. The Avalon did close soon after that, and I married and moved to the west side (Austin). I never saw the interior of the Avalon again.

oldeastsider

rroberts on April 11, 2005 at 4:04 pm

Does anyone know who onws the theatre now?

Tommogul on June 13, 2004 at 1:36 pm

I first loooked under the name Avalon—there are many theatres nationwide with this name, but none listed for Chicago. Could not someone cross-reference the Avalon with the Regal?

cdundas on March 6, 2004 at 9:00 am

I was born and lived 1 block from the Avalon theater. I saw Moby Dick there when I was four years old and remember sitting in the front row. This was a marvelous place to see. The gold and jeweled deco was amazing and still stands out in my mind. What I had forgotten until I found this site was the amazing lobby and ceiling. I hope that this theater is saved and can attain landmark status.

Cdundas