Rialto Theatre
334 E. Main Street,
Bushnell,
IL
61422
334 E. Main Street,
Bushnell,
IL
61422
1 person
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The Rialto Theatre was opened on August 7, 1925 with Bessie Compton in “Paths to Paradise”. It was built for and operated by the Pirtle Circuit. It was remodeled in 1950. closed in 1964.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
I’m wondering if this theatre really has been demolished. I passed by a Rialto Theatre, while I was on Amtrak, somewhere close to Macomb, IL (I was on my way to Quincy, IL). I passed by a Rialto that looked closed and in very decrepit shape. It was clearly visible from the passing train. Or maybe I’m confusing this with another Rialto?
Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cpcts3
Here is a 1930 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cdpxvs
Theater is not demolished. Looks much the same as the 1982 photo above, except all the glass block is gone.
Seth, can you get us a full address to we can have a Google Street view.
Google has no coverage of Bushnell, but the theater is on E Main, one building N/E of Barnes.
And the actual address is??????
No clue. Building next door to the east is 336. I assume the theater would then be a lower number.
S.E. Pirtle Circuit came to town in May of 1921 when it bought the existing Cozy Theatre from Ellis and Frank Jackson. In 1924, Pirtle went to the voters and said if they’d vote for Sunday movies, banned by local blue laws, he would build them a state of the art movie house. The voters responded and the planning began. Early in 1925, Hamilton Dox of Peoria drew the architectural plans for Bushnell’s Rialto Theatre and Felix North & Son Contractors built the venue.
The Rialto opened with Betty Compson in “Paths to Paradise” on August 7, 1925. Longtime McDonough County resident Howard Silberer was at the piano for the Rialto. The theater got additional area patronage when Macomb continued to not allow its theater to open on Sundays. C.M. Albright of Bushnell’s Cozy Theatre helmed both for S.E. Pirtle’s Circuit with the Cozy (former Nickelodium) bowing out first.
In 1945, the Rialto is supposed to have been replaced with a new-build theater with plans completed in 1947. This venue was never constructed and, instead, the Rialto was completed remodeled in 1950. And in 1955, Bushnell’s Rialto goes widescreen to accommodate CinemaScope films. Pirtle dropped the venue likely after its second 20-year leasing expiry. Robert Hugel of the Tazwell Theatre took on the Rialto in time for its 40th Anniversary… but there would be no 50th Anniversary with the venue closing.