Avon Theatre

The Avon Theatre opened November 28, 1916 with Thomas Dixon in “The Fall of a Nation”. It was one of the most lavish theatres in Decatur, and considered by many a waste at the time, because it was built specifically for movies, which were considered in those days only a fad which would soon pass. To address these concerns, the theatre had a small stage for the occasional live performance or concert.

However, movies were here to stay and the Avon Theatre became one of the most popular theatres in Decatur, rivalling the Lincoln Square Theatre, built the same year, and the older Empress Theatre.

It had one of the largest screens of any theatre outside Chicago when it opened. Its opulent décor featured fancy plasterwork, sculpture (a nude reclining goddess holding out a crown of laurel was at the top of the proscenium arch), and unusual lighting fixtures in the shape of lion’s heads which were found in the auditorium.

In the early-1950’s, the Avon Theatre was considered outdated, and following a collapse of part of the auditorium ceiling received an unfortunate ‘modernization’, which destroyed much of the splendid original decoration. Also, a wide screen for Panavision and 3D films was added in front of the old one, covering up the old little stage and orchestra pit area, as well as the goddess sculpture.

The Avon Theatre hung on, slowly declining until April 17, 1986 when Kerasotes Theatres decided it finally was forced to close. It opened briefly again in 1993 as a second-run house, but closed again after less than a year. It remained empty another six years, before receiving a much needed restoration by its current owners, and reopened in 1999, screening art and foreign films, as well as the occasional mainstream hit. In the last few years, the owners have turned adjacent former storefronts into two smaller screens, making the Avon Theatre a triplex.

The Avon Theatre is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of its original owner, who even after selling the theatre in the 1960’s, maintained an office upstairs, where he eventually died.

Recent comments (view all 11 comments)

moulinrouge on August 20, 2006 at 3:57 pm

The Avon Threatre was recently remodeled within the last few years into the Avon Twin. Thankfully, the original construction was not chopped to pieces— the building next door was opened up to feature a second screen.

This is a fabulous, old-timey theater. Before each feature, a short cartoon or comedy is screened. From Mickey Mouse to the Three Stooges, owner Skip Huston wants to make sure his audiences enjoy a trip back in time while enjoying the films of today. At about every showtime, Skip will stand at the back of the theater and when a preview ends, he’ll shout out when the movie will be playing. Such a wonderful person who teems with the joy of owning his own movie theater. Don’t miss going to the Avon if you’ve never been. The ghost stories are worthwhile, too, even if you’re a non-believer, and Skip is always open to talk!

kencmcintyre on April 26, 2009 at 5:15 pm

Here are photos from 1982 and 1985:
http://tinyurl.com/d727jr
http://tinyurl.com/c4gnpr

CSWalczak on January 9, 2011 at 10:52 pm

An article about this theater’s decision to dump 3D: View link

rivest266 on May 26, 2012 at 1:19 pm

I uploaded its grand opening ad in this theatre’s photo section.

rivest266 on February 10, 2016 at 6:21 pm

Opening date: November 28th, 1916.

SarahCat on October 17, 2016 at 7:10 pm

Skip has been holding film retrospective classes at The Avon for well over a decade. The classes typically run 8 weeks and each session follows a particular theme, however, Skip does not announce the title until he gives his pre-showing introduction, which often is a very interesting historical tease. After the film, there is a class participation discussion about the film, which sometimes informally spills out onto the sidewalk outside the theater lobby (weather permitting), hardcore students, only.

pnelson on October 17, 2016 at 10:13 pm

Any pics of the auditorium? Sounds beautiful. Good this place is still around.

DavidZornig on October 18, 2018 at 5:31 pm

Promotion for “The Mummy’s Hand” 1940 photo added courtesy of Sid Terror’s Haunted Film Vault Facebook page.

Joe Vogel on February 25, 2022 at 10:07 pm

The 1950s remodeling of the Avon Theatre was undoubtedly occasioned by the collapse of the auditorium ceiling on May 1, 1950, as depicted in these photos from the Decatur Public Library (which reserves the copyright on the scans.)

50sSNIPES on January 8, 2024 at 1:14 pm

Kerasotes closed the Avon as a first-run house on April 17, 1986 after the chain’s lease of the Avon building expired.