Rialto Theatre

50sSNIPES on December 6, 2023 at 7:42 pm

First known as the Empress Theatre, opening in 1912 by William Alderman (who received many headache problems during his routine). It was renamed the Rialto on June 15, 1918 with a showing of Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in “Flirting With Fate” after being taken over by C.J. Kremer who was a young Stanton insurance agent. This was followed by a 1919 remodel which featured new projection. At the time, the theater had a common velvet gold faber canvas screen.

In September 1925 after a lobby and foyer remodel, the Rialto suffered damage from a fire causing closure to the theater for two weeks for remodeling. When talkies first arrived in 1929 at the Rialto, its first equipment didn’t last long when it was replaced in 1933 by its second equipment. The Rialto was remodeled again in November 1942.

It was closed in 1972 (this came right before an unexpected vandalism that took place at the theater) and demolished on January 10, 1973.