Sorry if I didn’t sound encouraging, but good intentions and encouragement won’t reopen the Rialto. It will take a lot of cash, and probably the involvement of a community based nonprofit, or an experienced operator of other theaters. I DO wish to see the Rialto restored and reopened for entertainment.
Yes, he’s the trustee for the owner. The LA Times reporter who interviewed him might perhaps give you contact info.
However, even if you had hundreds of thousands of dollars to “invest” in the chairs, carpets, paint, or perhaps millions depending on heat, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, etc, what would you do with the Rialto? FORGET daily movies- nobody is going to be in the black there doing that in a one theater, one screen house.
I’m guessing if you had the FUNDS (yes, lots of funds! not just ideas, but funds!) to restore the Rialto, you’d have more than a “hotmail” email account, and probably would realize more effective ways to find the owner (realtor, etc) than to blog comment here.
My April 11, 2007 photo: View link
I saw “Mr. Bean’s Holiday” in the main auditorium upstairs in former balcony. The lobby, upstairs foyer, and main auditorium all were ornate. The auditorum ceiling dome is especially wonderful. Inlaid wood doors are a nice touch. I like curtains, but they did not use a curtain before the movie screen. I hope the interior survives intact with many more movies shown over time.
I’m a bit skeptical that with more than 1100 seats and Sweeney Todd playing on many other Manhattan screens, that the Ziegfeld “nearly sold out” per Christmas Day comment. Most seats even on the sides, the raised section at the back, etc. were full? With a few hundred people in there, it can look like a lot, but “nearly sold out”?
Why not ask the staff to use the curtain? If I attend, I hope it is used.
I wanted to eat lunch in Maggianos, but they told me they eliminated the sandwich bar 8 months ago!
For a few years, the Jenifer was closed, marquee intact. Marquee gone now.
I went to pay my respects to the former KB Cinema, but on Sunday, the furniture store (what it is now) was closed! Cinema was never closed on Sundays…That was one of my all time favorite moviehouses.
At the Mazza Gallerie, I asked Sunday how many seats in Auditorium 2? One staffer told me 300, another told me 350. So, I counted. Lower section (where almost nobody sat) had 5 rows of 25 seats each which totals 125. Upper section has 8 rows of 22 seats which totals 176 but 6 seats missing (for wheelchairs) so 170. And, upper section has 2 rows at top with total of 29 seats (and many spaces for wheelchairs). Grand total is 324 seats.
Film projection was fine until near the end when it looked like a bit of black rain was added to the picture. A friend who operates a different theater suggests to me that means the film projectors were not cleaned. The upper section looked full for the 2 PM movie, so AMC was making enough money to give an even better presentation.
Staffers said Auditorium 1 is the biggest so it probably has more seats than I suggested in above comment. I’ve seen movies in each of Auditorium 1 to 4. I glanced at Auditorium 5, which was not a large theater. I recall when it opened, that the 2 auditoriums in the bar area were sat to have the smallest seating capacity.
“Juno” won’t look better in digital projection than it does in 35mm at the AFI Silver. Projection is perfect at the Silver.
Tonight, I sent in a theater page for the Majestic. It will probably be added in a day or two. Do feel free to comment! I found the overall seat count, but didn’t find how big the largest auditoriums are.
As to the Flower, all of architect Zink’s theaters (including DC Uptown and Balt. Senator) are great so I’m sure it was. I was only suggesting there are probably enough screens now in Silver Spring.
JodarMovieFan, on Friday, when I saw “Juno” at AFI Silver, I also walked into the lobby of the Majestic, also in downtown Silver Spring (as I’m sure you know). The Majestic has 20 screens for mainstream movies!
Exterior showing alleyway & cinema’s front:
View link
Exterior photos:
View link
View link
Photo of facade:
View link
Photo showing the lobby:
View link
Photo of Exterior:
View link
sleek Lobby or Lounge:
View link
Exterior photos:
View link
View link
Ticket window:
View link
View link
sign with cinema’s name
View link
old sign:
View link
2nd Milan cinema added to this website. From photos, I choose the first ones to add.
Exterior photos:
View link
View link
cinema’s wheel like sign:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/most/1449502023/
sign lit up at night:
View link
Poster for the show El Lindo Don Diego at Teatro Real Cinema
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gevez32/1572374046/
2005 auditorium photos, 18th & 19th photos here:
View link
15th photo for 2005 photo of Orchestra auditorium
View link
2nd photo is 2004 of auditorium
View link
Exterior photo:
View link
Sorry if I didn’t sound encouraging, but good intentions and encouragement won’t reopen the Rialto. It will take a lot of cash, and probably the involvement of a community based nonprofit, or an experienced operator of other theaters. I DO wish to see the Rialto restored and reopened for entertainment.
With a 1200 seat capacity for one auditorium, it is too big for daily movies in its location. AFI doesn’t operate auditoriums that big.
It needs live shows (and a film series like the Alex, the Warner Grand, etc).
Yes, he’s the trustee for the owner. The LA Times reporter who interviewed him might perhaps give you contact info.
However, even if you had hundreds of thousands of dollars to “invest” in the chairs, carpets, paint, or perhaps millions depending on heat, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, etc, what would you do with the Rialto? FORGET daily movies- nobody is going to be in the black there doing that in a one theater, one screen house.
I’m guessing if you had the FUNDS (yes, lots of funds! not just ideas, but funds!) to restore the Rialto, you’d have more than a “hotmail” email account, and probably would realize more effective ways to find the owner (realtor, etc) than to blog comment here.
My April 11, 2007 photo:
View link
I saw “Mr. Bean’s Holiday” in the main auditorium upstairs in former balcony. The lobby, upstairs foyer, and main auditorium all were ornate. The auditorum ceiling dome is especially wonderful. Inlaid wood doors are a nice touch. I like curtains, but they did not use a curtain before the movie screen. I hope the interior survives intact with many more movies shown over time.
I’m a bit skeptical that with more than 1100 seats and Sweeney Todd playing on many other Manhattan screens, that the Ziegfeld “nearly sold out” per Christmas Day comment. Most seats even on the sides, the raised section at the back, etc. were full? With a few hundred people in there, it can look like a lot, but “nearly sold out”?
Why not ask the staff to use the curtain? If I attend, I hope it is used.
Supposedly? Where’s the text of the announcement?
I wanted to eat lunch in Maggianos, but they told me they eliminated the sandwich bar 8 months ago!
For a few years, the Jenifer was closed, marquee intact. Marquee gone now.
I went to pay my respects to the former KB Cinema, but on Sunday, the furniture store (what it is now) was closed! Cinema was never closed on Sundays…That was one of my all time favorite moviehouses.
At the Mazza Gallerie, I asked Sunday how many seats in Auditorium 2? One staffer told me 300, another told me 350. So, I counted. Lower section (where almost nobody sat) had 5 rows of 25 seats each which totals 125. Upper section has 8 rows of 22 seats which totals 176 but 6 seats missing (for wheelchairs) so 170. And, upper section has 2 rows at top with total of 29 seats (and many spaces for wheelchairs). Grand total is 324 seats.
Film projection was fine until near the end when it looked like a bit of black rain was added to the picture. A friend who operates a different theater suggests to me that means the film projectors were not cleaned. The upper section looked full for the 2 PM movie, so AMC was making enough money to give an even better presentation.
Staffers said Auditorium 1 is the biggest so it probably has more seats than I suggested in above comment. I’ve seen movies in each of Auditorium 1 to 4. I glanced at Auditorium 5, which was not a large theater. I recall when it opened, that the 2 auditoriums in the bar area were sat to have the smallest seating capacity.
Very photogenic exterior!
Exterior: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sabine01/717743987/
and View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/avatar1/92718917/
Exterior lit at night:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flaneur/343575315/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/avatar1/75009443/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/avatar1/75009446/
vertical sign: http://www.flickr.com/photos/avatar1/75013457/
and http://www.flickr.com/photos/avatar1/92718923/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/truenotes/146590604/
View link
Escalators to the auditoriums: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcdermott/462217380/
“Juno” won’t look better in digital projection than it does in 35mm at the AFI Silver. Projection is perfect at the Silver.
Tonight, I sent in a theater page for the Majestic. It will probably be added in a day or two. Do feel free to comment! I found the overall seat count, but didn’t find how big the largest auditoriums are.
As to the Flower, all of architect Zink’s theaters (including DC Uptown and Balt. Senator) are great so I’m sure it was. I was only suggesting there are probably enough screens now in Silver Spring.
JodarMovieFan, on Friday, when I saw “Juno” at AFI Silver, I also walked into the lobby of the Majestic, also in downtown Silver Spring (as I’m sure you know). The Majestic has 20 screens for mainstream movies!
Nushboy7, in regard to your December 4 post, yes, THANKS to you and co-workers to photographing the theater and sharing the photos.
Great 2007 photo of facade: http://www.flickr.com/photos/avatar1/410336464/
and View link
upper portion of facade: http://www.flickr.com/photos/avatar1/410335106/
VERTICAL neon sign: http://www.flickr.com/photos/avatar1/410331555/
and http://www.flickr.com/photos/avatar1/410330618/