"The Rialto" or "If That Old Theater Could Talk"

[Kyle Boyd-Robertson]

It was early afternoon as walked down main street past a Five and Dime and a Hardware Store which boasted being in business since 1898. Just across the street with paint peeling and windows sagging stood what once was a Grand Hotel complete with wrap around porch and balcony. Only a block away, there she stood as she had for so many years, and if I hurried I could reach her just about matinee time. Her grand sign protruded from the main structure with hundreds of lights spelling out her name, Rialto. In front was the customary ticket booth with show times and prices listed overhead and just beyond were large double doors, painted red with brass handles, swung open wide welcoming all in for an afternoon of fun and entertainment.

Although she was now empty and in a state of neglect I couldn’t help imagining her as she was in her glory days. The ornate lobby filled with young and old alike crowding around the concession stand with offerings of fountain cokes, licorice whips, and the smell of freshly popped popcorn in the air. On the walls, in embellished gold encasements, posters of upcoming attractions; “The More The Merrier” staring Jean Arthur and Charles Coburn and a rip roaring double feature: “Billy The Kid Rides Again” starring Buster Crabbe and “The Desperadoes” starring Raymond Walburn. Directly in front of me were two openings covered by red velvet curtains leading to the main auditorium and to my left an ornate circular staircase leading up to the balcony and projection room. As I reached the top of the stairs and looked over the balcony railing I envisioned row after row of men and women in their finest dress all with hats adorning their heads and children in jeans, T-shirts and PF Flyers slouched down in the plush velour seats. The theater darkened, the huge red curtain slowly began to open as the projector rolled a Woody Woodpecker cartoon short to be followed by the main feature film, “For Whom the bell Tolls” starring Gary Cooper.

As I turned toward the back of the theater reality rejoined me, but for a moment, with the musty smell of old fabrics and a darkness broken only by shafts of light shining down like spotlights from the holes in the old girls ceiling. Pushing spider webs to the side while stumbling over what remained of the carpet I made my way up the uneven steps towards the projection room. It was here I would spend the next several hours learning the ins and outs of the movie business and meeting with the likes of Lillian Gish, Charlie Chaplain, Carolyn Lombard, Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, John Wayne and a host of others so eager to tell their stories. I learned of valor and conquest from Errol Flynn; the art of comedic timing from Red Skelton, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Bud Abbot and Lou Costello; of the goodness of human nature and the value of hard work from Frank Capra. I listened to Roy Rogers as he sang “Happy Trails” and Judy Garland singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and I watched in awe as Fred and Ginger danced to “Waltz in Swing Time”.

As I boxed up the last of the posters, window sheets and lobby cards, my new friends said their goodbyes then drifted off into the theater to await their day to shine again. I then turned my attention to the stacks of old box office receipts, ticket rolls and movie orders and was greeted by the the Rialto’s proprietor , who regaled me with tales of a time long past. A time when a Saturday at the movies meant just that. If one was fortunate enough to come up with the nine cents for the cost of admission they would be given a full day of entertainment in return. He told me how Saturdays were generally reserved for kids. The day would start with a cartoon short leading to the latest serial episode of “The Shadow”, “The Lone Ranger” or one of many others. After the serials, a newsreel or two about “Our Boys at War” and a call for rationing and scrap drives on the home front and then the first of the double feature, always a western. In between features another cartoon short and then the better of the two films would be run. The old proprietor thought for awhile, then let out a laugh as he shared his memories of reels being played out of order and of projectors overheating and burning through the films, “at which time all the kids would stomp on the floor and throw popcorn at the projectionist until the film resumed”. With all that said, he informed me he had a theater to look after and disappeared through the doorway.

While loading the last of the boxes into my trunk I turned and took one last look at the old theater and couldn’t help but shed a tear over the neglect of one who had served her community so well for so long, but was also thankful to her for leaving behind a record of her memories of a day gone by.

Written by: Kyle Boyd-Robertson

[Kyle Boyd-Robertson]

Here is a picture of the what we now call the Old Main Street Theater but which was originally the Long's Theater in my hometown of Port Lavaca, Texas. It has now been refurbished and used for Live Community Theater.

[Valerie MacEwan]

at our theater, in Fort Smith, AR, in the 60s, we'd each get a box of candy and one special box had a prize ticket inside. The winner got to go onstage as the magician's helper. That must have been around 1965 and the Temple theatre had a smoking room. Some things are for the better these days, eh... and others? I'd love to see the magician again.

[Nancy]

Here is web address with some info about the Fox Theater that I worked as a candy counter Girl back in the 1960's.
Redwood City, Calif.
http://www.foxdream.com/HotSpot/HotSpot.htm

[Valerie MacEwan]

at our theater, in Fort Smith, AR, in the 60s, we'd each get a box of candy and one special box had a prize ticket inside. The winner got to go onstage as the magician's helper. That must have been around 1965 and the Temple theatre had a smoking room and a "coloreds" balcony. Some things are for the better these days, eh... and others? I'd love to see the magician again.

[pamela hunitngton]

Really enjoyed this story and your new blog!
I loved the old theater in the town where we had a summer home... every Friday a new
film - and the chance for popcorn!

[Nancy]

Kyle
What a great little story- I wish I was with you when you made this wonderful find.
I remember the OLD Theater in my home town. The FOX Theater, I worked as a Candy Counter Girl for $1.25 per hr. in the 1960's.