Catalina Island's Legendary Casino Celebrates 75 Years of History

This May, the legendary Catalina Casino will celebrate its 75th Anniversary, and on May 29, you and your family can be a part of the Casino's 75th birthday party.
     Built in 1929, the Casino has stood as an icon for Catalina Island for generations. To celebrate this landmark event, visitors are invited to spend an evening in the Casino Ballroom. The event will feature unique displays, memorabilia, souvenirs, birthday cake, and music.
     Two bands and a DJ will present a musical tribute to the Casino and cover seven decades of music - perfect for dancing the night away! A full bar and a select menu will be available. Doors open at 7:00pm. For tickets and information, call 800.626.4804.
     If you aren't able to time your visit for the 75th birthday party, you and your family can still visit any time and take a tour of this legendary piece of Catalina's history.
Rising from its perch on the edge of the sea, the Catalina Casino has become Catalina Island's most recognizable landmark. The round, Art Deco structure rises the equivalent of 12 stories, and is surrounded by water on three sides. During the day its white facade gleams in the sunshine, and at night it lights the harbor with a romantic glow.
An artist was commissioned to decorate the interior of the theatre and the main entrance foyer with extensive murals. The ballroom was designed and built with a construction that made possible an expansive circular dance floor without supporting pillars. A soda fountain, known as the Marine Bar was built and a beautiful circular terrace surrounding the ballroom added a finishing touch. 
The Casino Ballroom
     The Casino - which is actually not a gambling hall but "place of entertainment" - played host to dozens of Big Bands through the 1930s and 1940s. Guests came by steamship to charleston and later jitterbug on the huge parquet floor. They danced the night away to the music of Glen Miller, Harry James, Kay Kyser, and many others over the years.

     Completely restored just a few years ago, the ballroom retains its original style-a lavish medley of rose-hued walls, black Art Deco reliefs, an arching fifty-foot ceiling with five Tiffany chandeliers, an elevated stage, raised seating areas around the dance floor, and a vintage, full-service bar in back. The outdoor balcony that encircles the ballroom overlooks the protected coves of Avalon Bay where seals, dolphins, and brightly-colored fish are usually found splashing about in the clear waters. And from here, the view of the mainland is fabulous, sometimes stretching all the way from Ventura to San Diego!
Just 22 Miles Across the Sea...The Beauty of Catalina Awaits
     While visiting beautiful Catalina, located just 22 miles off the Southern California coast, you'll find a delightful climate, some of the best snorkeling in the world, and plenty of adventure for outdoor enthusiasts.
Visitors can arrive in as little time as 15 minutes by air or one to two and a half hours by sea with departures from Newport Beach, Dana Point, Long Beach, and San Pedro. The clear blue water, quaint shops, restaurants, overnight accommodations and friendly people of this one square mile town give the feeling of what California must have been like before the big cities.
     Catalina is surrounded by some of the most pristine waters in the world. Diving and snorkeling are a must. Colorful fish and marine life abound in giant kelp beds, from bright orange Garibaldi to playful sea lions. Getting wet isn't the only way to experience the Island's underwater world. There are Glass Bottom Boat tours or check out the bright yellow semi-submersible submarines. 
     Outdoor enthusiasts will love the world of camping, hiking and mountain biking. Permits and reservations are required and can be obtained through Catalina Island Camping by calling 310.510.2800. 
     Catalina offers more than 30 overnight accommodations, plus six vacation rental businesses. Hotels and bed & breakfasts with picturesque views dot Avalon's hillsides while waterfront accommodations offer a close view of the water and proximity to the goings on about town. Most hotel packages include lodging and cross channel transportation.
     Restaurants and local eateries are in ample supply throughout Avalon. Visitors will find something for every taste in the family ranging from homestyle breakfasts to fine cuisine. Be sure to visit Lloyd's of Avalon and watch fresh salt water taffy pulled every day.
     For more information about Catalina Island 
tours, overnight accommodations or to receive a free Visitors Guide, contact the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau at 310.510.1520.