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Hoyts Rialto Kew 218 High Street, Melbourne, VIC - Grand opening 1921

The Rialto Theatre Company Ltd was formed to purpose build a picture theatre in High Street Kew. The principal investors were John A. Farquarson, George Cardigan Cox, and Frank Rout, who was also appointed in the capacity of theatre manager. The syndicate named, Purchas & Teague of Chancery Lane, Melbourne as the Architects.

The theatre opened to the public on Wed 31st Aug, 1921.

The inaugural film was “A Message from Mars” from Metro Pictures. A 1921 American silent fantasy comedy film directed by Maxwell Karger and starring Bert Lytell. The group then appointed the powerful Associated Theatres, headed by Frank Thring Senior to guarantee supply, and look after the interests of the theatre and the investors. This was to continue until 1926 when Hoyts merged with Associated, and the Rialto became part of the burgeoning Hoyts Theatres circuit.

A Gentleman of Kew – Tragically Frank Rout, manager & investor of “The Rialto Theatre” was to die within 2 years of the opening.

The following was posted in The Argus newspaper (Melbourne, Vic) Fri 20 Jul, 1923 — ROUT. – On the 19th July, 1923, at private hospital, Francis, beloved husband of Alice Rout, and loving father of Frank and Stella, aged 57 years, late manager Rialto Theatre, Kew.

Contributed by Greg Lynch –