Hopping off the ferry after an hour’s ride from Long Beach, I finally set foot on Catalina Island.
Weather permitting, if you squint just right you can barely see the California coast with your naked eye from here. There’s a large crowd near the port, perhaps explained by the large cruise ship anchored near the island.
Aside from boating and other water-based activities, Catalina Island, specifically the city of Avalon, California, is a very touristy place. I skipped past most of that and headed straight for what I’d actually come to see: the casino.
This casino isn’t of the gambling variety. In fact, the word “casino” originally just meant something like “house of entertainment.” The Catalina Casino served a dual purpose: a theater on the bottom level, and a ballroom upstairs.
Built in the late 1920s by a certain William Wrigley — yes, the chewing gum guy — it was the first theater designed for talkies. However, it also has a theater organ for movies without sound, and there’s a stage for live performances.
The unique circular dome shape of the theater has an interesting feature. On the tour I went on, the tour guide had us sit down in the center part of the theater, then she stomped her foot on the floor. It made the loudest echo I think I’ve ever heard. Supposedly that was intentional, but it also means that if someone sitting in those seats was whispering, the entire theater could hear them.
Upstairs in the back of the theater there are four movie projectors, two very old film projectors, one newer one, and a digital projector. The theater has been in continuous use since it opened, pandemic aside.
On the top level is the ballroom, which has hosted events from dance parties to roller discos throughout the decades. Owing to its massive size, the floor has enough room for thousands of dancers.
Outside the ballroom is a balcony around the building featuring 360 degree picturesque views of the island.
My recommendation: If you’re in the area and have the time, Catalina Island may be worth the trek as California doesn’t have many developed islands off the coast. However, be warned that it’s a tourist trap. You may want to consider packing lunch and other consumables to avoid the tourist economy prices. The Catalina Casino VIP tour is $40/person and takes around 90 minutes.
