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Home » Theater Guide » Location » United States » California » Vista » Avo Playhouse
Also known as Avo Theatre

Avo Playhouse

Vista, CA
303 Main Street
, Vista, CA 92084 United States
(map)
760.724.2110
Status: Open
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Quonset Hut
Function: Playhouse
Seats: 382
Chain: Unknown
Architect: S. Charles Lee
Firm: Unknown
Add a photo for this theater!
This Quonset hut-style theater was opened in December 1948 and designed by architect S. Charles Lee.

After decades as a movie house, the Avo was closed. It sat dormant until Moonlight Stage Productions took over the theater and renovated the cinema for its live theatrical presentations.

Related Websites

Moonlight Stage Productions
Contributed by William Gabel

YOUR COMMENTS

 
The Avo Theatre opened on 11th December 1948 with the movie "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" staring Edward G. Robinson. The owner of the Avo was Mr Aberahiam Shelhoup who owned and operated a shop in Vista (His son is still alive and works in the store today).

The lobby of the theatre is in the shape of an avocado and being the town of Vista had many avocado groves, hence the name of the theatre. Although the exterior and lobby area still exist as first built, the auditorium has been stripped of any decoration it may have had (including the removal of the proscenium opening) and is now painted a dark blue/green colour. It continues in use as a small town community theatre producing small scale stage productions.

Above details sourced from the Vista Historical Society.
posted by KenRoe on Dec 1, 2004 at 6:39am
The address listed for the Avo Theater is:
303 Main St
Vista, CA 92084
posted by Lost Memory on Dec 1, 2004 at 6:47am
Here's a photo:

http://www.sandiegohistory.org/collections/theaters/images/avo.jpg
posted by Manwithnoname on Dec 22, 2004 at 9:25am
The original seating capacity for the Avo Theatre was 700.
posted by KenRoe on May 28, 2005 at 4:42am
In September 2005, I purchased the original projection equipment and had it shipped to Salt Lake City, Utah. I'm in the process of restoring it. Sadly, the sound system wasn't included.
posted by epeterson on Dec 17, 2005 at 4:59am
Advertised on Vista Way in September 1979.
posted by ken mc on Jun 23, 2007 at 11:54am
Here is a January 2007 photo of the Avo Playhouse.

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 7, 2007 at 12:45pm
This site mentions that Luz and Tony Duran built the Avo along with many other buildings in Vista.
http://tinyurl.com/3pc2vs
posted by ken mc on Oct 12, 2008 at 3:04pm
1983 Photo

posted by Lost Memory on May 18, 2009 at 10:12am
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