Avalon Theater

Anyone know more about this theatre?

The Avalon Theatre in Salt Lake City opened in 1947 as the Apollo Theatre. The name changed to the Avalon Theatre in 1963. The original seating was 595 but that was reduced to 495 when Vandermeide, a world-famous hypnotist, began a hypnotist and comedy show in 1993. The seats were removed to build a stage in front of the theatres movie screen.

I am glad to see it is still open and not a parking lot like so many others have become. Movies once in a while are better than none at all.
Dave Grau (Mungo)
Norelco

The "style"of this theater can best be described as post-WW II concrete block.I got a Vandermeide record as part of a white elephant gift at a HP Christmas party a few years ago.I'm too frightened to play it.

Here are photos of the Avalon Theater in Salt Lake City.

Here is another photo of the Avalon theater.

Please,no more Avalon pictures.Find some more interior shots of the Utah.Better yet try to find some shots of the biggest theater,by far,in the state of VA,and one of the largest in the US-the Virginia,in Danville.Sad truth is,the Avalon doesn't really show much exterior beauty.

Hey "ghamilton": I suggest if you want to see "other" theater pictures then you should NOT log onto the AVALON's site. I am proud to have worked at the AVALON (2001-2003) as 65 year-old popcorn popping assistant, changed the marquee lettering, replaced burned-out light bulbs, cleaned the auditorium and helped with projection occasionally. I hope this site is flooded with past pictures and memories from patrons!

I would agree with Simon on this one. To each his own memories, which is really the whole point of the website.

sorry

I guess my feelings for the Avalon were colored by getting a Vandermeade 33 rpm record in a BIG box as a white elephant gift at a HP Christmas party a few years ago.Other folks got good stuff.

I'm glad that's settled. :)

Here is another recent photo of the Avalon Theater.

The most famous hypnotist to ever grace the Avalon was Spencer who was billed as the world's fastest hypnotist. He was there over 4 years and had a very loyal following. After he left other hypnotists tried to fill his shoes but all failed. Then a concert hall took over and they are having problems with the building structure.
Anyhow, like thousands of others, I will always remember the Avalon because of Spencer. He is at www.sleepnow.com if you want to follow up his adventures.

The "Lost Memory" photo makes mention of some TLC needed and I fully agree. The only reason the theater is still in operation is mainly due to the guts and determination of owner; Art Proctor -a real gentleman when I worked for him.
Mr. "P" also operates the video rental store next door which helps with the rent but he really needs some VOLUNTEER HELP. I wish I still lived in SLC but have retired to Long Beach, Ca.

We have a similar situation regarding the little Art Theater here. It's the last remaining single screen house with awful video projection and seating that should have gone down with the Titanic. Another situation is the total arrogance of those working there!

"Art Proctor, who ran the theater for 43 years, was the Salt Lake Valley's patron saint of old movies. And the Avalon -- and for shorter periods under Art's aegis, the now-defunct Blue Mouse and Vista theaters -- were grand revival houses back in the day.

He has sold the Avalon and is taking a well-deserved vacation".

Full article.

This is the website for the Avalon Theater.

Here's a little known fact about the Avalon Theater. While I worked there doing my comedy hypnosis show for 320 weeks, the longest running comedy hypnosis show ever developed, we had a ghost. We simply called it the Avalon ghost. Many times I would hear the ghost talking when I was there alone. James who used to work there in those days also was very aware of the ghost. One of my crew also ran into the ghost one day. Art would just raise his eyebrow about the ghost.
Spencer
http://www.sleepnow.com

Shouldn't the function be concerts?

This is another photo of the Avalon.

No it shouldn't be concerts. This was back from around 1994' - 2000 before it got turned into a "concert" hall.

What is the current function of this theater? Movies are no longer shown here, correct?

Not sure... just google the avalon theater salt lake city to find out. I'm sure movies are not there. Last time I was in SLC it was just for concerts, all the chairs gone~~

Here is a larger photo as the Apollo Theatre, the Utah History site also mentions that it was owned by the Loew's Corporation.
http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/USHS_Class&CISOPTR=15012&CISOBOX=1&REC=11
The photograph is from Feb. 24, 1947.

Here is a 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dbwnnn

The Avalon is still in operation, if you click on their web site there is a full schedule for April and May. If you have questions about any Utah theatre you can email Grant Smith, he is a great Utah Theatre Historian.

Another 1983 photo of teh Avalon Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c44%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=5&catpagesize=25&ProductID=34698
1983 night photo of the Avalon Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c44%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=5&catpagesize=25&ProductID=34699
Another 1983 night photo of the Avalon Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c44%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=5&catpagesize=25&ProductID=34700

Art Proctor, longtime owner of the Avalon, died on September 15, 2009. Obituary here.