Avalon Theater
4134 East 131st Street,
Cleveland,
OH
44105
4134 East 131st Street,
Cleveland,
OH
44105
1 person
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The Avalon Theater was opened in 1938. I saw my first movie in this theater. I was 9 years old at the time and my Dad took my older brother and me to to see “The Ten Commandments”. The theater closed in the mid-1960’s and like many other neighborhood theaters in the inner city, it was turned into a church. The building is still standing. The Avalon Theater was located about two blocks north of Miles Avenue on East 131st Street.
Contributed by
T. Hudak
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
In 1963, General Theaters was the operator of the Avalon. General president was Leonard Mishkind. Other Cleveland theaters in this chain at the time were the Detroit, LaSalle, Lyceum, Regent, Olympia and Southern.
There are a lot of churches on E. 131st north of Miles. I tried to figure out which one could have been the Avalon, but no luck. The church may have done some remodeling.
The Avalon is located on the west side of E. 131 st. Just south of Marston Avenue. It is only about four or five storefronts from Marston. The parking lot in the rear of the theater was entered from a driveway on Marston.
Seating given for 1955 was 1,580 seats.
Boxoffice of June 4, 1938, announced that the Avalon Theatre had opened the previous Friday. The new house had been designed by architect Paul Matzinger.
This opened on May 28th, 1938. ad: View link
The Avalon showed double features with show dates being Sun,Mon. Tues and a single date of Wed, only and then Thurs, Fri, Sat, The Wed, show usually included Bank Night where a cash prize was awarded to atendees between the two features. The manager mounted the stage and picked the winning ticket. Needless to say I never won a prize.
I went there as a child with my mother, then with my girlfriends and boyfriends, just about every Sunday in the late 50’s and early sixties. Saw a live event on stage with Connie Stevens, and various other singers and performers..In late 50’s ?
The address should be 4134 E. 131st Street, Cleveland, OH. This address will map properly.
My Mother worked the Ticcket booth at the Avalon for several years. The Manager at the tme was Nick Arnstein. General Theater bosses where Leonard mishkind and mr. Helrigel…I don’t remember his first name but I know it was always “treacherous” during their visits or “check-ups” Arnstein used to get nervous as a cat when they showed up. They also had some “Variety” acts between “Double Features” on the weekends such as a “magician” and a few other acts. I also remmember the “Bank Night” that were mentioned by another blogger here. It brings back a lot of fond memories I lived in that neighborhood my entire childhood and I drive by there once in awhile, my Mother is now deceased but I can still see her selling tickets in the “Ticket Booth” that was in front of the theater.