Rivoli Theater
1755 Park Street,
Hartford,
CT
06106
1755 Park Street,
Hartford,
CT
06106
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The Rivoli Theater was in a neighborhood of Hartford. It opened August 31, 1926 with Norma Talmadge in “Kiki”. In the mid-1960’s it became a kind of repertory art house for a while.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
The Rivoli was part of a chain that included the Webster Theatre in Hartford (now a live music venue) and the Plaza Theatre in Windsor (abandoned since 1997 and sitting there empty).
I only went there a couple of times in 1965…once to see Ingmar Bergman’s then-new ALL THESE WOMEN on a double bill with TWO-WAY STRETCH. At the time the theatre seemed very dingy. I returned for a revival program of CYRANO DE BERGERAC with OPEN CITY. Strange combo! OPEN CITY was projected as though it were a wide screen film…heads cut off or part of the subtitles. For a wannabee rep house, they clearly didn’t grasp the concept of aspect ratio.
I enjoyed this theater and first saw “King of Hearts”, 3 nights running, when it premiered in Hartford in the late 60’s. “KoH” is one of my all time favorites.
Item in Boxoffice magazine, August 14, 1961:
OLDTIME PRICES REVIVED
The Rivoli in Hartford. Conn., turned back the hands of time to the days of the 15-cent admission. The gimmick was used for four consecutive matinees of “The Golden Age of Comedy” and “Gorgo.” The 800-seat house charged 15 cents for children and 25 cents for adults and sold popcorn for only five cents."
By the 1970’s it was playing X-rated movies like “THE MINX” playing March 24,1970.
Spent many Saturday afternoons in the 40’s and early 50’s watching cartoons & cowboy movies in a/c comfort.Remember well sneaking a kiss with my first girlfriend Marilyn while watching some of the great movies of those times. Indeed an era to be cherished.
This opened on August 31st, 1926. Grand opening ad in the photo section and below
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The Rivoli’s seating was entirely on one level. There was no balcony.