Avalon Theatre
1645 E. 79th Street,
Chicago,
IL
60649
1645 E. 79th Street,
Chicago,
IL
60649
16 people
favorited this theater
The Avalon Theatre opened on August 29th, 1927, with over 2,500-seats. The theater is famous for its elaborate and exotic interior, which was designed in Middle Eastern style by John Eberson (who also designed the long-lost Paradise Theatre, in Chicago’s Garfield Park neighborhood) for the Cooney Brothers circuit. The Avalon Theatre stands on 79th Street between South Cornell Avenue and East End Avenue, in the South Shore neighborhood. It became part of the Warner Brothers circuit during the 1930’s and 1940’s.
Its fantastic decor included an Atmospheric style auditorium with a star-filled deep blue sky and a Persian bazaar on the side walls. Hanging from the soaring lobby ceiling is what was once described as the largest oriental rug ever made, a flying carpet if you will.
Additionally, there are five huge murals in the lobby, which were made of tiny inlaid mosaic tiles, and a giant stage, which is guarded by four menacing gargoyles. The theater also once contained a 3/15 Wurlitzer theater organ.
After closing as a movie house in the late-1970’s, the theater became home to the Miracle Temple Church, but in 1987, was reborn as a performing arts venue. During this last conversion, the theater was returned to its original appearance and renamed the New Regal Theater, in honor of Chicago’s legendary original Regal Theater, which was razed after a fire severely damaged it in the early-1970’s.
After years of low attendance, and often standing dark for long stretches of time, the New Regal’s management announced that the great former movie palace would be closing at the end of June 2003.
Luckily, after three years closure, this landmarked treasure was rescued once more, and didn’t meet the fate of its fabled namesake over three decades ago. The New Regal Theater re-opened in October 2007 as a venue for concerts and other live performances, with the “New” portion of the theater’s name gone. It is totally black owned and managed by a non-profit organization ‘We Are Our Brother’s Keeper’.
In the fall of 2012, it reverted back to its original Avalon Theatre name.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft, Ray Martinez
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Recent comments (view all 75 comments)
I have looked into the theatre, it is beautiful! However there are about a half a dozen major reasons that hold me back. The interior of this theatre is amazing, and it is a work of art.
From the Sun-Times:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/12025951-418/ex-cop-charged-with-money-laundering-linked-to-regal-theater-rehab.html
August 28th, 1927 grand opening is in the photo section.
Pictured at bottom left in this 1929 trade article: Boxoffice
I recently photographed the Avalon/New Regal Theatre check out some photos at After the Final Curtain
Your photos are excellent. I wish there was a close-up of the projection booth, which I’ve never seen a really good view of.
The projection booth was empty and not very memorable. I’ll check and see if I have any images of it though.
Shots of five endangered Chicago palaces—including this one—and a Roger Ebert essay. Chicago Magazine
It’s up for sale Not sure if the listing was updated or first posted yesterday.
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/17988180/1645-55-East-79th-Street-Chicago-IL/
This has been listed on and off for months. The update reflects that the price has been cut from $500k to $100k(!) Very sad. Property records indicate the seller is the FDIC. I haven’t been in the theater since the late 80s just after its restoration by the Gardner family, but back then it was in spectacular condition. This is a close second to the Loew’s Paradise as my favorite theater.