In Celtic tradition, Avalon is an island paradise where King Arthur and other heroes went when they died. A sort of heaven, if you will. At the Avalon theater in Milwaukee, a sense of heaven just might come from gazing at the stars on the ceiling of the 73-year-old building.

This fall, the local landmark will once again be available for public star-gazing and more, when new owners Henry Doane and Eric Fleming reopen the Avalon on Kinnickinnic Avenue in Bay View. Doane owns and operates the Orpheum and the Majestic theaters, as well as restaurants the Blue Marlin and Tornado Steakhouse, in Madison.

When he saw the Avalon, it was love at first sight.

"I love historic buildings," said Doane, who bought the Orpheum and the Majestic in 1999. "I saw a great opportunity to do something with an underutilized property in a really neat neighborhood."

Doane and Fleming bought the Avalon in April and plan to open for business in September. The theater will be used primarily for live music and live theater, with matinee movies on weekends and screenings of old movies, small film festivals and independent and foreign films more obscure than those shown at the Downer and Oriental Theatres, Doane said.

The Avalon's new owners also plan to make use of the theater's working organ by showing silent films, too. And since an organ is a fine instrument on which to play, say, the "Wedding March," couples who want to be married under the stars without placing themselves at the mercy of the fickle Wisconsin weather will be able to have their weddings in the Avalon.

"It's perfect for a wedding with that organ," Doane said. In fact, weddings, conventions and other events are held at the Orpheum, and Doane plans to offer the same opportunities at the Avalon.

Although the plan is to open the theater in September, no specific events have been scheduled yet. Right now, the owners are concentrating on renovating the theater's interior, including opening up the main stage which currently is divided into two stages, painting the interior, updating the upholstery and building a new concessions area.

The Avalon property includes a 20-unit apartment building and five commercial spaces. Income from those portions should cover the bulk of the bills, Doane said.

Future plans for the Avalon include putting a restaurant in the building and turning the apartment building into a hotel, said Doane, who has been in the restaurant business for 12 years.

"Our vision is for it to be a mirror of the community by making it available to different groups for different events," Doane said. "We want to help get more vitality on the street. It really is an interesting, eclectic area."