Avonia Theatre

The Avonia Theatre was a long-running movie house in the village of Avon, Illinois. It was placed in the existing Avon Hall in downtown on the town’s S. Main Street. The building reportedly featured a bowling alley in its basement that also served as a fraternal hall. The Avonia Theatre opened in 1914 playing silent films. George E. Simmons operated the venue in its silent era. It struggled in the Depression and sound era. It was often closed during the Depression and was generally closed in the summer months due to poor ventilation.

The 125-seat venue was taken over by new operators in 1938 and became the 190-seat Avalon Theatre. It was remodeled after World War II becoming the 203-seat National Theatre and was closed – likely at end of lease – early in 1954. W.A. Wright apparently opened the venue one last time as the Wright Theatre in 1954 but closed soon after, according to the trade press, due to the health of the manager. Sporadic special screenings used the original Avonia Theatre moniker.

The building had a long period of vacancy according to reports. Its conversion to a retail operation was aided by the theatre’s reported lack of a sloped floor. The building is still in fine condition in the 2020’s operating as an antique store. The store honors the building’s 40-year movie exhibition past with an Avonia Theatre sign above the venue’s entrance.

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