El Encanto Playhouse

163 Crescent Ave. Avalon, Catalina Island, CA 90704  | map |

Opened: The building dates from 1933 when it opened with shops, Mexican restaurants and strolling performers. it was originally known as El Paseo de El Encanto, the "Promenade of Enchantment." It was used for a summer season of live performances in the 1950s and other events, such as puppet shows, as early as 1939. In addition to it being called the El Encanto Playhouse, it was at one time also known as the Bandbox Theatre. 

Thanks to Bill Wylde for this photo he took in 1956. He posted it on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. Continuing on the path around to the right leads you to the Casino, the building that houses the Avalon Theatre.

 

A postcard view of the courtyard from the Islapedia entry about the building. 

A 50s handbill from the site Picclick. 

 

Status: The building, owned by the Santa Catalina Island Company, was most recently a cafe and spa called Island Spa. They closed in 2025. The El Encanto is currently vacant. 

 

More street views: 

c.1935 - A view before the building was used as a playhouse. It appears with the listing for El Encanto on the Santa Catalina Island Company's IslaPedia.

 

 

mid-1930s? - A view of the Marilla Ave. side of the building that appeared in an unidentified newspaper. Thanks to Scott Pitzer for sharing the photo on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. 

 

1939 - A photo appearing on a page about Las Posadas, a Christmas festival on the island. The page appears on a website from the McLaughlins, the von Coellns and their extended family. Over on the left note signage on the building that was advertising puppet shows. 

 

 

 

1950s - Thanks to Richard Wojcik for this photo from his collection. He added it as a comment to a post of another Catalina photo he shared on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles.

 

1960s? - A postcard view of the building in use as a "International Market Place." It appears on Islapedia. 

 

c.2020 - A photo from the website VisitCatalinaIsland.com. 

 

The El Encanto in the Movies:  

We spend some time on the island in "Catalina Caper" (Crown International, 1967). Here in front of the El Encanto it's Brian Cutler, playing a local policeman, with some of the ladies that are inexplicably attracted to him. The caper of the title involves the theft of an antique scroll from a Los Angeles museum and coming to the island to sell it to a wealthy collector. 

The only really tolerable parts of the film are musical appearances by Little Richard ("Scuba Party"), Carol Connors ("Book of Love") and a band called The Cascades ("There's a New World"). Lee Sholem claims credit for directing, Ted V. Mikels was the cinematographer. The cast also includes Tommy Kirk, Del Moore, Peter Duryea, Ulla Strömstedt, Lyle Waggoner and Sue Casey. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for a shot of the Casino Building as the thief with the scroll approaches the island. 

More information: Well, there isn't any at the moment. 

Other theatres on Catalina: Avalon Theatre | Riviera Theatre | Strand Theeatre |

| back to top | Theatres Along the Coast | Along the Coast - list by address | Downtown theatres | Westside theatres | Hollywood | Westwood and Brentwood | [more] Los Angeles movie palaces | Los Angeles theatres - the main alphabetical list | Los Angeles theatres - list by address | theatre history resources | film and theatre tech resources | contact info | welcome and site navigation guide |