Avon Theatre
426 N. Water Street,
Decatur,
IL
62523
426 N. Water Street,
Decatur,
IL
62523
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Kerasotes closed the Avon as a first-run house on April 17, 1986 after the chain’s lease of the Avon building expired.
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.)
Promotion for “The Mummy’s Hand” 1940 photo added courtesy of Sid Terror’s Haunted Film Vault Facebook page.
Any pics of the auditorium? Sounds beautiful. Good this place is still around.
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.
Opening date: November 28th, 1916.
I uploaded its grand opening ad in this theatre’s photo section.
An article about this theater’s decision to dump 3D: View link
Here are photos from 1982 and 1985:
http://tinyurl.com/d727jr
http://tinyurl.com/c4gnpr
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!
The architect of the Avon Theatre was R.O. Rosen, who designed the theatre to seat 1,080 in orchestra stalls and balcony levels.