Riviera Theatre

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Uploaded on: April 7, 2012

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The Riviera Theatre is a smaller two-story North La Crosse counterpart to the four-story Rivoli Theatre (1920) in downtown La Crosse. The Riviera Theatre was built in the same year and also designed by architects Parkinson and Dockendorff in the same Chicago Commercial style with Neo-Classical decorative elements. The creme brick facade of the building is accented by a horizontal row of tall narrow double-hung windows divided by vertical brick piers topped with decorative tiles. The verticality of the facade is enhanced by a pair of brick pilasters that define the central bay and extend through a cut limestone projecting cornice to the top of the parapet wall. In the center of the parapet is a classically inspired decorative centerpiece flanked by circular tile medallions. On either side of the central bay are evenly spaced oblong decorative insets that match in shape and scale the decorative glazed tiles below. The archival photo shows that the two finials above the paired pilasters have been removed along with the marquee and original canopy. Odin Oyen provided the interior decorative design for both theaters. In 1942, the Riviera Theatre was completely remodeled with a more modern look. In the 1960s, the theater was converted into a clothing store. In recent years, the theater building has been home to antiques shops. Photos courtesy of Eric J. Wheeler

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