Lavon

Lawrence Alfred Von Court (1878-1958) likely built the Von Court Apartments and the Royal theater, later to become the Lavon theater.  He was an optometrist and a jeweler. His brother William Von Court was a watchmaker who worked with him in his jewelry store.

Fred F. Von Court (1880- ), managed the Dixie Theater. In 1931, F. F. Von Court took charge of the Royal Theater and doubled its capacity from 450 to 900 seats.  This according to an article published on August 5, 1937, in a local newspaper.

When Dr. Lawrence Leroy Von Court (1911-1980), son of William Von Court, took over the Royal in 1954 he changed the name to the Lavon, a tribute to his uncle, L. A. Von Court. 

Dr. Lawrence L. Von Court married Marjorie Edwards (1914-1973). Dr. Lawrence L. Von Court was an optometrist also and he also had a jewelry store in partnership with his brother-in-law Robert G. Edwards. The optometrist office and jewelry store were located in the 5 story Von Court Apartments Building next to the Lavon. Many of the Von Courts in the area resided in the Von Court Apartments.

Earl Price (1926-2014) was the owner of the Lavon theater when it 

closed in 1983 and the building was then used as a church. In 2013 the building was purchased by Community Connections, a non-profit group in Princeton. The Princeton Renaissance Project obtained a grant to renovate the theater and in 2022 it was being renovated as the Princeton Renaissance Theatre. The plan was to show movies and present live shows. Solving structural problems led to finding passageways under the theater. There was much speculation about the purpose of the passageways.

In 2023 renovations were still underway.