Title supplied by cataloger. In 1920, William Wrigley Jr. and David M. Renton had a small casino built to serve as an entertainment and gathering place for Catalina Island's visitors. In a short period of time though this establishment, the Sugarloaf Casino, proved to be too small to accommodate the growing number of guests, and in February 1928 it was demolished to make room for a much larger building. The Catalina Casino Ballroom, also known as Avalon Ballroom, was built on the same spot by architects Sumner A. Spaulding and William Webber in the Moorish Alhambra style with Art Deco fixtures, furnishings and artwork, and included a grand ballroom and movie theater. The ballroom has the world's largest circular floor, constructed of maple, white oak, and rosewood, which rest on a layer of felt and acoustical paper. The felt and paper were installed over a sub-floor made up of pine, ensuring a smooth and comfortable dancing experience. Wrigley's budget for the design and construction of the Catalina Casino was $600,000, but when all was said and done, he ended up spending $2 million. Today, the famous twelve-story art deco landmark hosts most of Catalina's major indoor events, including the annual New Year's Eve Celebration, and the Catalina Island Jazz Festival. Interior view of the Catalina Casino Ballroom, also known as Avalon Ballroom, located inside the Catalina Casino building. Pictured are Buddy Rogers (standing) along with his fabulous orchestra. A long list of notable Big Bands entertained visitors in the Casino Ballroom from its grand opening on May 29, 1929 and continuing for 28 years, filling the ballroom every night during the summer season. Among these bands were: Glen Miller, Jan Garber, Harry James, Kay Kaiser, Jimmy Dorsey, Bob Crosby, Woody Herman, Dick Jurgens, and Jimmy Grier, just to name a few. The island's famous Art Deco landmark opened in 1929, and is located at 1 Casino Way on Santa Catalina Island.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
Rogers, Buddy,--1904-1999 Catalina Casino Art deco (Architecture)--California--Santa Catalina Island Dance orchestras--California--Santa Catalina Island Ballrooms--California--Santa Catalina Island Interiors--California--Santa Catalina Island Islands--California, Southern Jazz musicians--United States Wrigley, William,1861-1932 Spaulding, Sumner A Webber, William Santa Catalina Island (Calif.) Avalon (Calif.)
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