Avalon Theatre

When the Avalon Theatre was a movie theatre it seated 620 people.

This is a recent photo of the Avalon Theater.

Here is a 1989 article about the renovation:

The Avalon Theater, built in 1921, is currently undergoing a face lift to convert it into a state of the art performing
arts center. The renovated theater will be equipped with high technology sound and lighting equipment and a curtain
svstem on the stage to permit multiple backdrops for drama and musical productions. The cultural and artistic programs will serve the Mid Shore community.

The theater is located in the heart of the historic district on the corner of Harrison and Dover Streets opposite the Tidewater Inn.

The theater building, originally called the New Theater, was built during the hevday of the silent movies and the vaudeville era, and was considered spectacular. The theater was adorned with leaded glass doors at every entrance, an 18-ft ceiling dome with 148 lights, an electric pneumatic organ, an electric piano player, and a private telephone system.

The tin ceiling acoustical dome still remains today and is being restored by J. Gibbons Inc. of Baltimore. The pipe organ has a new home at the Richardson Park Methodist Church in Wilmington, Delaware following a brief stay in Trinity Methodist Church and the St Mark's
Church in Easton. The leaded glass doors are still being used and are in their original condition.

On the second floor of the theater building there was a balcony, and a ballroom. Ceciles Restaurant, a privately owned enterprise, now occupies the ballroom space and has been designed following the grandeur of the 1920s ballroom.

The mam balcony of the original theater remains the same as the 1920s and the lower level of the main balcony will be restored to the original 4 boxes, each containing at least 10 seats. An orchestra
pit has been constructed immediately in front of the stage to ommodate musical accompaniment of live performances.

The basement of the Avalon Theater building originally consisted of a kitchen, with a dumb waiter to the upper ballroom, and a billiard parlor. The basement today looks quite different. It has been converted into a rehearsal room, dressing rooms, managers office
and storage space for the performing arts center. The old scales and candy machines from the Avalon Theater during the 1930s are on display and functioning in the lobby area of the basement.

Here is another photo of the Avalon Theater.

This is a close-up view of the Avalon Theater.

This 2001 article discusses the theater as a performing arts venue:
http://tinyurl.com/3l3m3d

I'm thrilled.

Another photo can be seen here.

1980 photo of the Avalon Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c20%2c3%2c-1&ProductID=28083