Avalon Regal Theater

CTL-E-0317 · Venue · theater · 1927–present

Verified evidence grade of this record

John Eberson's 1927 Moorish Revival atmospheric theater at 1645 E. 79th St. in South Shore, opened as the Avalon; renamed the New Regal in 1987 by Edward and Bettiann Gardner in honor of the demolished Bronzeville Regal; designated a Chicago Landmark in 1992; purchased by Jerald Gary in 2014 and recommended for a $249,500 Adopt-A-Landmark grant in October 2026.

The record

• Also known as: Avalon Theater, New Regal Theater, Avalon Regal, The New Regal

Notes

Address commonly cited as 1645 E. 79th St. (DPD/Sun-Times); Wikipedia infobox gives 1641 E. 79th St. — variant flagged, city figure used. Capacity 2,250 seats. Closed since 2010; auditorium reopening projected 2027, full activation 2028 per avalonregal.com.

Relationships

• Regal Theater — renamed in honor of
  Edward and Bettiann Gardner purchased the Avalon in 1985 and reopened it in 1987 as the New Regal Theater, in honor of the original Regal Theater in Bronzeville (1928–1968, demolished 1973).
• South Shore — located in
  The Avalon Regal Theater stands at 1645 E. 79th St. in the South Shore community area of Chicago.

Sources

• Wikipedia — Avalon Regal Theater
• City of Chicago Landmark Report: New Regal Theater (primary source)
• Chicago Sun-Times — Historic Avalon Regal Theater in play for $250,000 in repair funds (DPD Adopt-A-Landmark announcement, October 2026) (primary source)

Record CTL-E-0317 · CultureTechLens Knowledge Graph · evidence grade: Verified · CTL research: REGAL-001.
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