In 1946, Santa Catalina Island was returning to life after its military use during World War II, with tourists flocking back for leisure activities like boating and swimming and simply enjoying the beauty of this island off the California coast.

This change was reflected in the menu for Catalina Café, which would have been a popular place for lunch, snacks and dinner for newly arrived tourists.

The lovely menu cover also showed a finely drawn image of the island’s famous Casino, built in 1926.

Tourists would once again see the murals created by John Gabriel Beckman, whose work also adorns Hollywood’s Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, and dance in the Casino’s world-famous circular ballroom to the sounds of big band music.

The proprietor of Catalina Café was Roy Taylor (1894-1996) who went on to become a mayor of Avalon. He served twice in 1950-1952 and 1958-1962.

Born in Mississippi, Mr Taylor was a second lieutenant in WW1. A 1940 census showed that he owned a home at 348 Eucalyptus with his wife Doris and then two-year-old son Paul.

The Casino remains a landmark destination today.  Built near the end of the Silent Era, Avalon Theatre was among the first in the world to be designed specifically for ‘talkies.’ Fully restored to its original Arco Deco grandeur, it is well worth a visit.

This menu is dated 1946, and we’re not sure when Catalina Café closed.