Catalina is a small island off the coast of Long Beach, California, and its most famous landmark is the magnificent Art Deco Casino that overlooks Avalon Harbor. Built in May 1929 by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., who owned much of the island, the casino was a visionary project designed to showcase the glamour and innovation of its time. Contrary to the name, it was never intended as a gambling venue. Instead, it served as a state-of-the-art theatre for the first “talking movies,” alongside a grand ballroom for lavish social gatherings. Read the rest of this entry »
