The Catalina Casino, located on Santa Catalina Island off the coast of Los Angeles, California, was a world-famous seaside dance hall and entertainment venue from its opening in 1929 until it closed in 1971. The Casino was the centerpiece of the island’s tourist attractions and could accommodate up to 4,000 people on its large dance floor.
The Casino was built by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. as part of his efforts to develop Santa Catalina Island into a major tourist destination.
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Wrigley invested millions of dollars in improvements to the island, including the construction of a new airport and a luxury hotel. The Casino was one of the most lavish buildings on the island and featured an Art Deco design by architect William Woollett Jr.
The Catalina Casino hosted some of the biggest names in entertainment during its heyday, including Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and Frank Sinatra. The casino also served as a filming location for several movies, including “Some Like It Hot” and “Swing Time.”
Despite its popularity, the Catalina Casino closed its doors in 1971 due to declining attendance and competition from other tourist destinations. The closure of the casino dealt a severe blow to the island’s economy and resulted in many businesses shutting down.
The Catalina Island Company, which owned and operated the casino, filed for bankruptcy protection soon after the closure.
While there are many factors that contributed to the closure of the Catalina Casino, the most significant factor was undoubtedly the decline in tourism to Santa Catalina Island. In the years following World War II, Southern California became increasingly popular as a vacation destination, and tourists began flocking to places like Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm.
Santa Catalina Island struggled to compete with these newer attractions and saw a sharp decline in visitors. This decline continued into the early 1970s when the island saw only about 200,000 visitors per year.
The closure of the Catalina Casino was a devastating blow to Santa Catalina Island’s economy. Many businesses closed down due to lack of customers, and unemployment rose sharply.
The island’s population declined from about 5,000 in 1970 to less than 3,000 by 1980. While the island has since rebounded somewhat economically, it has never regained its former status as a premier tourist destination.
