Haunted Illinois: The Ghosts of the Avon Theater

The Avon Theater opened in Decatur, Illinois in 1916. At the time it was a novel concept; instead of a theater hosting vaudeville plays and live theater, this one would show actual movies. The owner spent an untold amount of money to get the theater up and running and spared no expense on creating not just a theater, but a whole experience.

On the surface it would seem like the Avon Theater was a huge success, but cracks were forming almost from the start. Just a year after it opened, the theater was closed. The original owner had spent almost all of his money on its construction and was struggling to keep it afloat. He finally gave up that struggle and leased it out less than a month later.

Not long after the lease agreement was put in place, the original owner retired from Decatur life and Carrier Amusement Co. took over the day to day operations of the theater. The company began hosting vaudeville shows in addition to movies, in the hopes of making it profitable. They also added dressing rooms and built a new stage. This company sold out to yet another group, the Mid-West Theater Corporation and once again changes were made to the building. Even more changes were made with this company merged with another. In less than a decade, four different companies ran the theater. Before this company did much they too sold out.

The new owners were two brothers and their cousin. Up until that point their only success had been in retail stores. The Avon prospered under their leadership though. Eventually the theater would boast better seating, a new theater, and an interesting balcony section. This family would continue to run the theater until 1966 when they transferred the lease to another company. This company would destroy the inside of the Avon during the 1970s to completely transform it into a new "modern" movie theater.

In the 1980s the Avon just barely managed to stay afloat while other similar theaters were shutting down around the country. It became known as the Avon Cinema and shifted to cheaper and older movies instead of the newer ones. By 1986 though the theater was officially closed and shuttered.

A couple by the name of Wooley reopened the theater in 1989, hoping to revitalize the area surrounding the building. The couple quickly learned that the costs of operating the theater was far greater than the profits and closed down when their lease expired a year later. The theater opened yet again in 1993 as a place to see cheap movies, but that only lasted for a little less than two years.

Finally the Avon Theater found its niche in the late 1990s. For a brief period of time it hosted musical acts, but slowly segued into independent and smaller movies. While it looked like the theater might be closed permanently, it actually became quite successful. Despite the many renovations over the years (or maybe because of those renovations), the Avon is also home to a few ghosts.

Workers at this old theater have experienced things disappearing and reappearing in other spots. There are also stories of people walking and talking or laughing in the theater long after closing for the night. Some have also heard people clapping, as if they loved the movie or show playing even when nothing was on the screen.

There are also two spirits that have actually been spotted in the building. One is an older man who many believe was a former employee of the theater, probably during its early years. The other is a woman in clothing from the 1930s. Both of these spirits have been seen a number of times over the years by both visitors to the theater and employees as well as former owners. Some patrons have also claimed to see ghostly people sitting in the theater, as if still watching the movie that isn't playing.

Whether the Avon is haunted or not, this is definitely worth a trip if you're in Decatur.

Sources:

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art14451.asp

http://www.theavon.com/