This theatre is on Gene Chesley’s “National List of Historic Theatre Buildings” which includes the names and locations of theatres for which information had been gathered as of 1979, with some additions made through 1989. One can assume then that the building was still standing as of 1979.
The Rialto, 172 Main St., Ridgefield Park. (201) 994-0618 or rialtoarts.com
The independently owned Rialto is one of the few remaining grand theaters with a large screen and a single auditorium. Although tickets here are pricier than at Cedar Lane or Columbia Park – $5.50 for a matinee or $8 for an evening show – the Rialto more than makes up for its cost with class. For instance, the concession stand sells French chocolates, mints and freshly brewed coffee as well as more traditional fare such as popcorn and candy. The Rialto strives to show thought-provoking and intelligent independent films, foreign films and documentaries. Recent offerings have included the Oscar-nominated “Vera Drake,” Gurinder Chadha’s Austen-meets-Bollywood “Bride and Prejudice” and “William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.” Pre-show commercials are non-existent and previews are kept to a minimum.
extracted from:
The Record (Bergen County, NJ), May 13, 2005 pG26
THAT’S THE TICKET; Sick of the multiplex? Return to classic movie magic, or, at least, good-old-days prices. (GO!) Sara L. Raftery
The Record (Bergen County, NJ), March 18, 2005 pL02
Arts center given $750,000; Freeholders contribute to renovation of The Williams. (LOCAL) Zinnia Faruque; Special To The Record.
Byline: ZINNIA FARUQUE, SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
RUTHERFORD – The Williams Center for the Arts is getting a face-lift, with the help of the freeholders.
On Wednesday, the freeholders presented the board of trustees for the Williams Center with a $750,000 check, which will go toward the rehabilitation of the not-for-profit performing arts and cinema complex in downtown Rutherford.
“The Williams Center for the Arts is a historic site,” said Freeholder Chairwoman and Rutherford Mayor Bernadette McPherson.
“For many residents, it has been their first experience with culture … their first experience with seeing a movie. I know that can be said for my children,” said McPherson, who remembers taking her daughter to see the Disney-animated movie “Little Mermaid” at the Williams Center years ago.
Estimating the renovations at $3 million to $4 million, McPherson said the freeholders want to revamp the county-owned building, which has been neglected for many years.
In the past, capital improvements to the building were the responsibility of the not-for-profit center.
The first phase of renovation will begin in the summer to replace the roof. In the following months, new seats, carpeting and lighting will be installed for the two movie theaters.
The target date for reopening the theater will be mid-October, said McPherson.
The center’s board and the freeholders want to return the theater back to its glory days.
Named for the poet/physician William Carlos Williams, who lived two blocks away, the six-story center was originally constructed in the 1920s as The Rivoli, a live vaudeville theater.
The domed theater reverberated with the voices of Abbott and Costello, as well as the swing music of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Today, under a chandelier twinkling with 60,000 pieces of Czechoslovakian crystal, the live theater has recently staged opera performances, such as Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” and Verdi’s “Rigoletto” by the Hudson Opera Company.
Below the stage house, in the basement, are movie theaters that feature mainstream films, such as “Hitch” and “The Pacifier” this week.
Born in 1883, Rutherford native William Carlos Williams was inspired by encounters with his patients – the immigrants and natives of North Jersey. He found poetry in the everyday lives of working people. Williams won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry in 1963, the year of his death.
Jane Fisher, executive director of the Rutherford Public Library, said the library is teaming up with the center and the town to hold a William Carlos Williams poetry symposium in the fall, which could include a performance of a Williams play at the center.
“It is the cultural gem of this town,” Fisher said of the center, which is across the street from the library. “We are so lucky that we have a performing arts center that is right there, smack in the middle.”
E-mail:
CAPTION(S):
PHOTO – KEVIN R. WEXLER / SPECIAL TO THE RECORD – Frank Covello, silhouetted at left, an architectural draftsman, and Bob Culek, architect for the county, reviewing a blueprint of the Williams Center for the Arts on Thursday at the historic Rutherford complex.
“The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC), Oct 19, 2003 pE1 {SUNDAY}
SMALL-TOWN STORY: ~Radio ,‘ filmed in Walterboro, opens Friday with premiere screenings at the American Theater here Monday and in Anderson on Thursday.”
It seems like this theatre had a lot of recent publicity as far as movie premieres and appearances in movies. Hope it returns to a full time movie house.
This theatre is on Gene Chesley’s “National List of Historic Theatre Buildings” which includes the names and locations of theatres for which information had been gathered as of 1979, with some additions made through 1989. One can assume then that the building was still standing as of 1979.
Author Bill Bryson mentions this theater in his book “I’m A Stranger Here Myself”. Upon returning to the US after 20 years in the UK, Bryson settled in Hanover because it had a main street complete with a bank, a library, a bookstore, a cafe and an old theater. I like this man’s outlook on life.
Here is an old postcard:
View link
A Wurlitzer organ (opus 1885) was installed in this theatre on 5/29/1928.
Two old photos:
View link
A Wurlitzer organ (opus 1568) was installed in this theatre on 1/28/1927. It was then altered on 8/15/1928.
Another Wurlitzer (opus 1168) was installed at the “Italian Culture Cntr” on 1/1/1973. Not sure if this is the same location.
Another old postcard:
http://i24.ebayimg.com/01/i/01/e3/2b/68_1.JPG
looks to be earlier than the cardcow one.
A Kimball organ was installed in this theatre in 1915 followed by another Kimball in 1917.
This theatre is on Gene Chesley’s “National List of Historic Theatre Buildings” which includes the names and locations of theatres for which information had been gathered as of 1979, with some additions made through 1989. One can assume then that the building was still standing as of 1979.
Interesting list of theatres:
View link
They hosted an interactive Pirates of the Caribbean last October:
http://www.ohjohnny.net/newssept04.html
History & photos:
View link
Still open as of 1971 – thanks again Bill:
View link
HIGH-QUALITY FILMS, HIGH-CLASS SETTING
The independently owned Rialto is one of the few remaining grand theaters with a large screen and a single auditorium. Although tickets here are pricier than at Cedar Lane or Columbia Park – $5.50 for a matinee or $8 for an evening show – the Rialto more than makes up for its cost with class. For instance, the concession stand sells French chocolates, mints and freshly brewed coffee as well as more traditional fare such as popcorn and candy. The Rialto strives to show thought-provoking and intelligent independent films, foreign films and documentaries. Recent offerings have included the Oscar-nominated “Vera Drake,” Gurinder Chadha’s Austen-meets-Bollywood “Bride and Prejudice” and “William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.” Pre-show commercials are non-existent and previews are kept to a minimum.
extracted from:
The Record (Bergen County, NJ), May 13, 2005 pG26
THAT’S THE TICKET; Sick of the multiplex? Return to classic movie magic, or, at least, good-old-days prices. (GO!) Sara L. Raftery
update on the renovations:
The Record (Bergen County, NJ), March 18, 2005 pL02
Arts center given $750,000; Freeholders contribute to renovation of The Williams. (LOCAL) Zinnia Faruque; Special To The Record.
Byline: ZINNIA FARUQUE, SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
RUTHERFORD – The Williams Center for the Arts is getting a face-lift, with the help of the freeholders.
On Wednesday, the freeholders presented the board of trustees for the Williams Center with a $750,000 check, which will go toward the rehabilitation of the not-for-profit performing arts and cinema complex in downtown Rutherford.
“The Williams Center for the Arts is a historic site,” said Freeholder Chairwoman and Rutherford Mayor Bernadette McPherson.
“For many residents, it has been their first experience with culture … their first experience with seeing a movie. I know that can be said for my children,” said McPherson, who remembers taking her daughter to see the Disney-animated movie “Little Mermaid” at the Williams Center years ago.
Estimating the renovations at $3 million to $4 million, McPherson said the freeholders want to revamp the county-owned building, which has been neglected for many years.
In the past, capital improvements to the building were the responsibility of the not-for-profit center.
The first phase of renovation will begin in the summer to replace the roof. In the following months, new seats, carpeting and lighting will be installed for the two movie theaters.
The target date for reopening the theater will be mid-October, said McPherson.
The center’s board and the freeholders want to return the theater back to its glory days.
Named for the poet/physician William Carlos Williams, who lived two blocks away, the six-story center was originally constructed in the 1920s as The Rivoli, a live vaudeville theater.
The domed theater reverberated with the voices of Abbott and Costello, as well as the swing music of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Today, under a chandelier twinkling with 60,000 pieces of Czechoslovakian crystal, the live theater has recently staged opera performances, such as Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” and Verdi’s “Rigoletto” by the Hudson Opera Company.
Below the stage house, in the basement, are movie theaters that feature mainstream films, such as “Hitch” and “The Pacifier” this week.
Born in 1883, Rutherford native William Carlos Williams was inspired by encounters with his patients – the immigrants and natives of North Jersey. He found poetry in the everyday lives of working people. Williams won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry in 1963, the year of his death.
Jane Fisher, executive director of the Rutherford Public Library, said the library is teaming up with the center and the town to hold a William Carlos Williams poetry symposium in the fall, which could include a performance of a Williams play at the center.
“It is the cultural gem of this town,” Fisher said of the center, which is across the street from the library. “We are so lucky that we have a performing arts center that is right there, smack in the middle.”
E-mail:
CAPTION(S):
PHOTO – KEVIN R. WEXLER / SPECIAL TO THE RECORD – Frank Covello, silhouetted at left, an architectural draftsman, and Bob Culek, architect for the county, reviewing a blueprint of the Williams Center for the Arts on Thursday at the historic Rutherford complex.
Article CJ130470422
“The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC), Oct 19, 2003 pE1 {SUNDAY}
SMALL-TOWN STORY: ~Radio ,‘ filmed in Walterboro, opens Friday with premiere screenings at the American Theater here Monday and in Anderson on Thursday.”
It seems like this theatre had a lot of recent publicity as far as movie premieres and appearances in movies. Hope it returns to a full time movie house.
Good luck guys. Can you put a picture of the restored auditorium on your web page?
This theatre is on Gene Chesley’s “National List of Historic Theatre Buildings” which includes the names and locations of theatres for which information had been gathered as of 1979, with some additions made through 1989. One can assume then that the building was still standing as of 1979.
Interesting list of theatres:
View link
Nice view of the corner turret:
View link
Mr. Roe – did you have something to do with this?
Can’t wait to see the photos.
Scratch that last post. It is advertising the Savoy in Atlantic City, NJ (not listed on CT, yet)
1924 billboard ad:
View link
Old photo:
View link
Great history & photo at this link:
View link
Recent photo & old ticket:
http://www.kilduffs.com/EBA.html
Recent photo:
http://www.kilduffs.com/AYZ.html
This is a Fridley Theatre, not an independent:
http://www.fridleytheatres.com/manchester.htm
Author Bill Bryson mentions this theater in his book “I’m A Stranger Here Myself”. Upon returning to the US after 20 years in the UK, Bryson settled in Hanover because it had a main street complete with a bank, a library, a bookstore, a cafe and an old theater. I like this man’s outlook on life.