|
|
228 E. Fourth
Street
Loveland,
Colorado 80537
(970) 962-2120
Rialto
History
The Rialto’s
history begins in 1919, when construction began on the
new $100,000 theater to be located on downtown
Loveland’s main street.
Noted architect, Robert K. Fuller, was hired by
local bank president, William C. Vorreiter to design
the theater.
The Rialto circa 1940
The Loveland Daily
Herald newspaper hailed the Rialto as, “the finest
theater north of Denver,” when it opened in May,
1920. The
“art nouveau” theater had 1,040 wooden seats, a
balcony, dressing rooms and an orchestra pit.
Built primarily to show silent films, the
Rialto also hosted traveling vaudeville shows, local
talent contests and graduations.
In 1935 the Rialto
was purchased by the Gibraltar Theater Group who
remodeled the theater and put one of their most
energetic and talented managers, Ted Thompson and his
wife Mabel, in charge.
The Rialto thrived under their management and
enjoyed full houses during Hollywood’s golden era.
The Thompson’s left the theater in 1947, but
remained in Loveland and were instrumental in founding
the city’s valentine re-mailing program.
The Rialto changed
ownership several times between 1947 and 1977, when it
was converted into a “mini-mall” of retail shops
and offices. All
traces of the theater’s earlier glory disappeared
under cardboard and paneling.
After years of being marginally successful, the
mini-mall closed and the Rialto was left essentially
vacant.
In 1987, the
Loveland Downtown Development Authority, under the
direction of Felicia Harmon, identified the old Rialto
Theater as a cornerstone project to help revitalize
the historic downtown area.
Plans were drawn up to restore the theater to
its 1920 grandeur. A non-profit organization, the
Friends of the Rialto was formed to oversee the
restoration project. In 1988, the Rialto was added to
the National Register of Historic Places.
After many years of
fundraising and thousands of hours of volunteer labor
the beautifully restored Rialto Theater reopened as a
community performing arts center in February, 1996.
The DDA turned over operation of the theater to
the City of Loveland in May, 1998.
Today the historic
Rialto Theater is a thriving, 450 seat performing arts
center in downtown Loveland. The Rialto hosts
everything from classical music concerts to rock
bands, children’s theater to classic silent films.
Local theater and choral groups present their
seasons here and businesses hold seminars and training
meetings in the theater.
The Rialto is where Loveland’s dreams take
center stage!
|
|
Box
Office
Hours:
12:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday-Friday
and
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
on Saturday
(970)
962-2120
We accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard or Discover in
person during box office hours.
Tickets may be
purchased by phone during box office hours by calling
(970) 962-2120. There is a $2 handling charge, per order,
for orders filled over the phone.
|
|
