Rialto Theater

310 S. 9th Street,
Tacoma, WA 98402

Unfavorite 5 people favorited this theater

Showing 13 comments

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 9, 2023 at 8:59 pm

Tacoma Music History Facebook post with a music store window display tie-in to the Rialto Theatre in 1947. Bing Crosby’s home town.

https://www.facebook.com/musichistory253/photos/a.1124127121023455/3093831794052968/

rivest266
rivest266 on July 10, 2021 at 10:31 am

Grand opening ad posted.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 7, 2010 at 2:49 am

According to a brief biography of Tacoma architect Roland Borhek, the Rialto was the second theater he designed in the city. In 1914, he had designed the Colonial Theatre, though that house went through a couple of significant remodeling projects before finally being demolished.

I noticed that the PSTOS page Chuck linked above to misspells Borhek’s first name (it should be Roland, with only one “l”) which is probably where the misspelling currently in the theater description on this page came from.

markinthedark
markinthedark on May 30, 2009 at 10:38 am

When it was last a cinema prior to the restoration it had a slightly curved scope screen in front of the proscenium. It extended i believe to just about where the purple lights are on either side of the stage in the recent interior photo 2 posts up. The Rialto once played “Empire Strikes Back” in 70mm either as 2nd run or a rerelease around 1981 or so. Not sure of any other past 70mm engagements, although the larger Temple Theatre up the hill had many.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on August 31, 2007 at 12:18 pm

Beautiful photo by Rob Bender of exterior, 8-29-07 here:
View link

markinthedark
markinthedark on August 4, 2007 at 12:55 pm

I wish there were some good shots of the interior out there.

teecee
teecee on July 19, 2005 at 2:31 am

Recent night time photo:
View link

kateymac01
kateymac01 on May 5, 2005 at 12:55 pm

If you go to http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images/ and type Rialto into the search line, you can find lots of historic photos of the theater, including some beautiful interior shots. There are none there from the renovation, though. Just from the 1920’s to 1950’s.

markinthedark
markinthedark on May 5, 2005 at 12:33 pm

Does anyone have Photos of the Rialto interior before, during or after the restoration?

markinthedark
markinthedark on May 5, 2005 at 12:32 pm

Saw a double feature of “Raiders of the Los Ark” and “Airplane!” here for $1 three weekends in a row when I was a kid. A company called Galaxy Theatres ran it and several other old single screeners around Tacoma until they went under in 1984. Then a company called Star Cinemas ran it until the late 1980’s.

ghamilton
ghamilton on March 16, 2005 at 7:31 am

I remember in the mid 80’s,the place had been closed for a while and it reopened.It was a sad sight,but still it was alive.The balcony was used for storage.You could look up and see the old seats and other crap up there.I’d still love to hear what opened to the Temple facility up the street.