Good morning supporters! All 11,000+ of you! I wanted to send you an update on our progress, clarify some Island Company closure "spin", and (humbly) ask you to help us with a couple of action items.

UPDATE

We will be delivering this petition to the Island Company (CIC) and to the City of Avalon next week! I am presently in the process of trying to schedule a meeting with the CIC CEO, Randall Herrel.

Mr. Herrel has confirmed that he IS meeting with people at his office in Avalon to discuss the planned theatre closure. If you would like to meet with him you may schedule an appointment by calling 310.510.2000 x 1231. Please note that although Mr. Herrel is graciously taking meetings to discuss the theatre closure, I have not yet received a response to my request for confirmation that these meetings indicate a willingness to reconsider the planned 1/1/20 closure.

We are very optimistic that both the CIC and the City of Avalon will be responsive to your overwhelming support for this cause. I am confident that they will be moved by your 11,000+ voices and the hundreds of heartfelt comments you took time out of your life to share. Let's hope they will be moved to action!

CIC CLOSURE SPIN

In communications with the CIC thus far, it has been pointed out to us that that they are not actually "closing" the theatre as they intend to continue to host tours and special/corporate events in the venue. This is pure CIC spin.

Make no mistake, although the CIC plans to continue occasional use of the theatre, their decision to discontinue showing movies at the theatre is very much a closure. For the first time in 90 years the CIC is permanently closing the Avalon Theatre doors on a community that has cherished it and depended on it as one of the ONLY sources of available family entertainment in town. They are also closing the doors on the many thousands of you that visit the Island regularly and always consider seeing a movie in this beautiful venue a highlight of your visit. That's very much a closure, folks. 

You may still be able to experience the theatre on a CIC tour or on one of the occasional corporate/special events the CIC has planned. This doesn't make the January 1, 2020 closure any less of a closure. Also, if you do happen to be lucky enough to take a tour or attend one of these occasional Avalon Theatre events, be prepared to pay a premium for the now rarified glimpse.

ACTION ITEMS

1. The Island Company will want to know how many of you are Island residents who attend movies at the theatre or visitors who attend movies when you come to the Island. Can you spare a moment to let us know if you fall into either of those categories? Please do so here.

2. Do you have a suggestion for how the theatre can stay open, viable, and sustainable? Please tell us about it using our Virtual Suggestion Box! We'll deliver your suggestions to the Island Company with the petition.

MEDIA

If you haven't already, please see this media coverage. More to come very soon!

https://variety.com/2019/film/news/avalon-theatre-catalina-island-closes-1203400495/

https://thecatalinaislander.com/future-of-avalon-theatre-unclear/