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The Casino, Catalina Island, California

 
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Title
The Casino, Catalina Island, California
Date
1935
Description
A nighttime view of the Casino on Santa Catalina Island. The structure is brightly lit, with the lights reflecting on the water below.
Format Extent
1 postcard : Color ; 9 x 14 cm.
Subject
Ballrooms--California--Santa Catalina Island; Motion picture theaters--California--Santa Catalina Island;
Note
Santa Catalina Island is located approximately 26 miles off the coast of Southern California, near Long Beach. In 1887, entrepreneur George Shatto purchased the Island with the intention of turning it into a major tourist destination. He began the settlement of Avalon Bay, built the first pier and hotel, and organized regular boat service to the island, but amassed debts and sold the property in 1892 to Joseph and Hancock Banning. The Banning brothers continued to develop the area, adding an aquarium, incline railway, amphitheater, and glass bottom boat tours to the island's natural attractions, until a devastating fire swept through Avalon in 1915, destroying much of their real estate. In 1919, William Wrigley participated in a group investment purchase of Catalina, but grew to love the island and soon bought out his other partners. He and his son Philip continued to develop the island, and in the mid-1970s created the Catalina Island Conservancy, which was given 88% of the island to protect native species and prevent over-development. The Casino, which acts as a gathering place rather than as a gambling facility, was built in 1928-9 under the direction of William Wrigley. It replaced the smaller Sugarloaf Casino, built eight years earlier, and contained a large circular ballroom over a grand movie theater. Sugarloaf Rock at the end of the point was blasted away in March, 1929, to enhance the view of the new Casino building.
Collection
Werner von Boltenstern Postcard Collection
Type
Geographic Location
Santa Catalina Island (Calif.)
Language
eng
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