Rialto Theatre

50sSNIPES on October 19, 2023 at 9:47 pm

Henry Luebke and William Johnson opened Fort Dodge’s largest movie house known as the Rialto Theatre on January 1, 1920 with Mildred Reardon in “Everywoman” with no extra short subjects.

Original information about the Rialto Theatre as of 1920 goes as follows: According to a December 23, 1919 article about the then-upcoming opening of the Rialto Theatre, the Rialto originally housed 630 seats, which featured 522 seats in the main section and 108 seats in the balcony (the total amount of seats would later upgrade to 755 seats later into the Rialto’s life). The type of seats that were used in its early heydays were spring-leathered upholstered. Much of the lobby and the balcony in the rear of the theater features a colonial design, which that same exact design in mahogany and white leads to the stairways. Inside the lobby features a concession stand located at the west side of the lobby, and the basement of the theater is attractively fitted up as restrooms painted in gray and mahogany with mirrors, tables, and comfortable chairs for the patrons. The isles were carpeted in brown with the same colony-style shade.

The designs and colors of the walls were satin finish of colonial panels in gray, cream, ivory, and gold with colonial bracket lights in harmonizing colors, all done by Halle Hanson (who was known as “The Danish Artist”) who is very familiar with his arts and paintings grace the walls of some palaces in Europe, as well as the state capitols of Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Oregon, and Illinois. The ceiling lights were also semi-indirect drop lights with shades of gold, and the gray ceiling was finished in panel style and was attractive latticed beams to the gray colored ceiling. Those lights were also equipped with changeable dimmers that were used either showtime or intermission. The front of the theater features a very attractive screen of gold lobe, shadow boxed and a border of cut leg drops and wood foliage in fall tones which makes it additionally effective. For comfort inside the theater, eight automatic heating and cooling ventilating systems were installed, five at the theater and three at the balcony.

However during construction of the theater in May 1919, Luebke ordered a pipe organ that hasn’t arrive on time before opening. Luebke had no choice but to invite an orchestra to join in until the pipe organ arrives.

DavidZornig on August 23, 2014 at 7:44 pm

“Children Of Divorce” was released 04/25/27.

Joe Vogel on July 19, 2014 at 2:52 pm

The Rialto Theatre changed hands in 1925, according to the November 7 issue of Motion Picture News:

“The Rialto theatre at Fort Dodge, formerly owned by William Johnson has been added to the string of A. H. Blank. It has not yet been anounced [sic] who will manage the theatre for Mr. Blank.”