by Chuck and Diane Brady

any places have a song written about them. Catalina Island has two. There is:

Twenty-six miles across the sea
Santa Catalina is awaitin’ for me
Santa Catalina, the island of romance …

And then:

I found my love in Avalon, beside the bay
I left my love in Avalon, and sailed away
I dream of her and Avalon
from dusk ‘til dawn
And so I think I’ll travel on
to Avalon.

On a short cruise recently, one port-of-call was Avalon, on Santa Catalina Island. Since we enjoy ballroom dancing and the music of the ‘30s and ‘40s, we were excited at the prospect of visiting the fabled Avalon Casino Ballroom.

William Wrigley Jr. (of chewing gum fame) bought the island, sight unseen, for $4 million dollars in 1919. He later owned the Chicago Cubs (and Wrigley Field), and for many years the Cubs did their spring training on Catalina.

He proceeded to improve facilities on the island, added new steamships and a hotel. But the pièce de résistance was the Casino. Casino is used in the original sense — in Italian casino means a place of entertainment — and there has never been any gambling here. It opened in 1928. There is a beautiful, still used, movie theater on the ground floor. The theater boasts one of only four existing Page theater organs, and weekend patrons enjoy a pre-movie concert. But, nine stories up is the ballroom. Nine stories? How does one get up there? Why up ramps, of course. They wind around, and finally you are there.

From the beautiful Casino Ballroom overlooking Avalon Bay at Catalina Island, we bring you the music of …

Our tour guide was asked why not stairs or elevators. He replied that stairs would be impractical for hundreds, or even thousands, of ladies in heels, and many, many elevators would be needed. In 1940, there were actually 6,400 dancers on one evening.

Mr. Wrigley felt that people were there to dance, so when the Casino opened, there were only 150 chairs. He also was a strict prohibitionist, so no alcohol was allowed (we wonder how many hip flasks were smuggled in!).

The ballroom has been completely restored, retaining its original Art Deco style — rose-hued walls, black reliefs and a 50-foot ceiling with five Tiffany chandeliers. The dance floor is made of maple, white oak and rosewood.

The view of the bay and Avalon from the balcony that surrounds the ballroom is spectacular, and at night must be awesome.

So picture this: you live in the Los Angeles area. Coats and ties for the gents; heels, hose and dresses for the ladies. You get all dolled up, hop on one of the “red cars” (LA’s extinct public transit system) and go to San Pedro to board either the SS Catalina or SS Avalon. There is music and dancing onboard, to “warm up” for the main event.

After arriving in Avalon, you walk a quarter-of-a-mile to the Casino, then nine stories up the ramps. Hardly anyplace to sit, so onto the dance floor, where you dance the night away. Later, well after midnight, it’s down the ramp, back to the steamer (perhaps some more dancing on the way back to the mainland). Then, the red cars back home, shower, and perhaps, off to work!

Each week, from 1934 through the 1950s, radio listeners across the United States could hear, “From the beautiful Casino Ballroom overlooking Avalon Bay at Catalina Island, we bring you the music of … (insert the name of any of the famous bands of the era).” You could then imagine that you were dancing in that magical place.

There is frequent, daily ferry service from San Pedro, Long Beach, Dana Point, and Balboa.

Avalon Casino: www.visitcatalina-island.com.

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