Rialto Theatre

I was in the former Rialto this past Saturday night and for a service on Sunday morning. The enterior is in great shape. I’d say 85% intact. Stage curtains (waterfall type) are gone as is boxoffice. Otherwise stage procenium is now visible as are walls covered over by the removed drapery. The building is meticulous kept by the Eglise De Dieu staff members. The Century “spatter” carpeting does not exist anywhere in the building and the restrooms upgraded.

In three days, Church of God, formerly the Century’s Rialto Theatre will be 99 years old. A lot of fond memories here for me. Glad that is originally intact as it looked in 1916. I attend services here once in a while. L'Eglise De Dieux keeps the place immaculate and to their credit lovingly take care of one of Flatbush Avenues first theatre. When I made my communion in 1966 or so, my sister took me here to see “You Only Live Twice” and “The Fortune Cookie” with a Pink Panther cartoon. Loved that Century logo with the flying “C”’s converging into one and spelling outwards to the right (Century Theatres) before the coming attractions. Remember the music also that went with the snipe. Contrary to what is written in the introduction, the theatre closed August 30, 1977 with “Kentucky Fried Movie”, also the same day was the closing of the Loew’s Kings under the new management of ATM (American Theatre Management).

I found contradictory information regarding the Jamaica Rialto which makes no mention of Al Schwartz. See Savoy, Jamaica site.

Yes, as a member of the congregation, they allowed me to bring Matt Lambros in to see it. He took pictures which were to be for his private use only and then posted them here without asking. The sanctuaries are private. The church elders were not happy with this. Because of this, they will not let me bring in guests to show the interior. Two interior shots were posted here and I ask cinema treasures to delete the Matt Lambros photos as soon as possible. By the way, Happy belated 103 anniversary!!

The AI color evening shot of the vintage postcard from the photos section is quite wonderful for one of the first theatres to open on this stretch in 1916. Now at 110 years it is a testament to all who lived in Flatbush operating 61 years and entertaining many of whom to this day remember the days fondly including myself. Fifty years ago on this day, I saw Alfred Hitchcock’s “Family Plot” and was the last time and movie that I saw here. It was in its' 4th week. The first time I was there was for a double feature on a weekday after Communion Exercises at St. Francis of Assisi parish on Nostrand Avenue and Maple Street in May of 1966. The movies were “You Only Live Twice” and “The Fortune Cookie” and a Pink Panther cartoon. In the ten years I saw countless movies at the “Premiere Showcase Theatre” but I can remember all of them, the cartoons The Inspector, the Ant and the Aardvark, Tijuana Toads and the rest. It later became a “Blue Ribbon Theatre showcasing Universal Pictures including "Jaws”, “American Graffiti” and “The Sting” all having initial runs of 14 weeks (as did all the theatres that played these films at the time of their releases). It’s fate is unknown at this time as I live around the corner on the same block, the congregation has moved for renovations. I hope this and the former Granada Theatre on Church Avenue don’t become the first of the theatres to be demolished for progress for as you know ALL of the Flatbush Theatres and that’s 7 are still standing!
and at 70, I will like them to remain as is, losing the theatres will be unfathomable.

It was operated by the Century Circuit for it’s entire movie life and nobody else.