At a time when Hollywood was young and Walt Disney's Old Yeller graced America's screens, the Avalon Theater was the queen of McLean's downtown district. Graced with a plush, carpeted lobby, fire-engine-red rubber matting, and a brass pipe-frame poster showcase, there was simply no finer place in the neighborhood to see a feature film.
Local historian and preservationist Delbert Trew set his sights on restoring the Avalon in the spring of 2002. "The Avalon closed in the early 1980s," he says. "The theater seats are still in it. Although much of its inside is beyond repair, the facade on the front is solid. We've totally repainted it. We've reworked the roof on the overhang. We've refurbished the ticket booth. We've tried to make it like it was."
A highlight of the restoration work is a new mural painted on the Avalon's north side—a looming portrait of Uncle Sam looking serious and advertising war bonds. This mural was created by local artists and inspired by an actual period advertisement. Delbert and his wife, Ruth, obtained reproductions of several classic movie posters and installed these near the Avalon's front entrance. Unfortunately, vandals quickly spirited these posters away.
Final touches to the Avalon project are in the works. They include a replacement for the Avalon's marquee sign.
Photo © 1996 by Mock Turtle Press. All rights reserved.