Avalon Regal Theater facts for kids
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| Address | 1641 East 79th Street Chicago, Illinois United States |
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| Coordinates | 41°45′05″N 87°35′01″W / 41.75139°N 87.58361°W |
| Owner | Community Capital Investment, LLC |
| Operator | Chicago Regal Foundation 501(c)(3) |
| Designation | Chicago Landmark (June 17, 1992) |
| Type |
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| Capacity | 2,250 seats |
| Construction | |
| Opened | August 29, 1927 |
| Closed | June 26, 2003–August 2008 March 2010 |
| Rebuilt | 1985 (renovated) |
| Years active | 1927–1967 1970–1985 1987–2003 2008–2010 |
| Architect | John Eberson |
| Official name | New Regal Theater |
| Type | Cultural venue |
| Designated | June 17, 1992 |
The Avalon Regal Theater is a famous music hall in Chicago, Illinois. It is located on the south side of the city, near the Avalon Park and South Shore neighborhoods. The theater first opened its doors in August 1927. It became a very important place for African-American performers and the community. It was first called the Avalon Theater. Later, it was known as the New Regal Theater.
Contents
Amazing Design of the Avalon Regal Theater
The Avalon Regal Theater has a very special design. It was created by an architect named John Eberson. He was known for making theaters look like exotic places. The Avalon Regal Theater has an atmospheric style. This means it was designed to make you feel like you are outdoors under a sky.
Moorish Revival Style
The theater also uses a Moorish Revival style. This design takes ideas from the beautiful buildings of North Africa and Spain. Eberson was inspired by a fancy Persian incense burner he found in New Orleans. This small object gave him the idea for the theater's grand look.
History of the Avalon Regal Theater
The theater first opened as the Avalon Theater on August 29, 1927. At that time, the area was called Avalon Park. It was a neighborhood where many German, Swedish, and Irish families lived. The theater was used for live performances until 1934.
Changes Over the Years
From 1935 to 1967, the Avalon Theater showed movies. In the 1960s, more African Americans moved into the area. The theater then became a very important place for the Black community. It was a center for culture and entertainment.
In 1970, the theater was sold and became the Miracle Temple Church. It was used as a church and meeting place for 14 years.
Becoming the New Regal Theater
In 1985, Edward and Bettiann Gardner bought the building. They were the founders of Soft Sheen Products. The Gardners fixed up the theater and reopened it in 1987. They renamed it The New Regal Theater. This name honored the old Regal Theater in Bronzeville. The old Regal was a famous cultural center for Chicago's African American community.
In May 1987, the theater received a large grant of $1 million for renovations. This money came from the Illinois Development Action Grant program. It was part of a bigger financial package of $4.1 million. On June 17, 1992, the theater was given Chicago Landmark status. This means it is a very important historical building in Chicago.
Challenges and New Beginnings
In June 2003, after 18 years, the Gardners closed the theater. This was because not enough people were coming, and it cost a lot to keep it running.
In 2008, Regina Evans bought the theater. She wanted to bring it back as a cultural venue. She got a state loan for renovations. However, the money meant for repairs wasn't used as planned, which caused more problems for the theater. In August 2008, the theater hosted a party to celebrate Barack Obama's presidential nomination acceptance speech.
The theater faced more financial difficulties. In 2011, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took ownership. Later, Community Capital Investment, LLC bought the theater. Jerald Gary, who leads Community Capital Investment Partners, LLC, purchased it in 2010 or February 2014. In September 2018, the famous rapper Kanye West, who is from Chicago, promised to help restore the theater. He pledged to donate $1 million.
The Chicago Regal Foundation was created to help raise money. Their goal is to reopen and operate the Avalon Regal Theater. They also offer tours of the building during the Chicago Architecture Foundation's annual Open House Chicago event.
