Avalon Theatre facts for kids
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| Address | 40 East Dover St. Easton, Maryland U.S. |
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| Construction | |
| Opened | 1921 |
| Reopened | 1989 |
| Years active | 1921-1987 1989-present |
| Website | |
| http://www.avalontheatre.com/ | |
The Avalon Theatre is a historic building in downtown Easton, Maryland. It first opened in 1921 as a cinema. Back then, people called it the "Showplace of the Eastern Shore." Today, it's a popular spot for live performances and community events. You can see both famous national acts and local talent here.
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A Look at the Avalon Theatre's History
The Avalon Theatre has a long and interesting past. It started as a fancy movie house and later became a busy place for live shows.
The Early Days: A Grand Movie Palace
The Avalon Theatre was built in 1921. It cost about $100,000, which was a lot of money back then! People were amazed by how beautiful it was. One newspaper even said it was better than any other theater in the South.
The theater had many special features. It had leaded glass doors at every entrance. There was a huge 18-foot dome with 148 lights. It also had a large organ with 300 pipes and an electric player piano. There was even a ballroom on the second floor!
Becoming an Art Deco Gem
In 1934, a company called Schine Chain Theatres bought the Avalon. They decided to give the building a whole new look. They closed the ballroom and redesigned the theater in the Art Deco style. This modern, sleek design is still visible today.
Even though some of the original fancy decorations were removed, the Avalon became even more famous as a movie theater. Many generations of movie-goers from the Eastern Shore saw classic films here. They watched stars like Clark Gable and Bette Davis on the big screen. The Avalon even hosted three world premieres! This means movies were shown here for the very first time anywhere. One famous premiere was "The First Kiss," starring Gary Cooper. This movie was filmed right in Easton and nearby St. Michaels.
A New Chapter: From Movies to Live Shows
After 64 years, the Avalon Theatre closed its doors in 1985. The building had become old and needed many repairs. It stayed empty until 1987.
Easton's mayor, George Murphy, led a project to fix up the theater. Renovations began in late 1987. By 1989, the Avalon was beautifully restored. It was upgraded to become a performing arts center. The main stage, the domed ceiling, and the amazing sound quality were all kept.
At first, the theater had some challenges. It was sold to a group called the Mid-Shore Center for the Performing Arts. But they had trouble making it work well. So, in 1992, the Town of Easton bought the theater back.
After lots of planning, the town decided to let a non-profit group run the theater. In 1994, the Avalon Foundation, Inc. took over. Under their leadership, the Avalon Theatre quickly grew. It became a popular spot for live music, plays, and community events. The theater now has modern sound and lighting systems. It also has video projectors and equipment for making TV shows. It's a friendly and elegant place for everyone to enjoy.
