Rialto Theater

Loveland, CO

228 E. 4th Street

, Loveland, CO 80537 United States

(map)

970.962.2120

Status:	Open
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Performing Arts
Seats:	1040
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Robert K. Fuller
Firm:	Unknown

Vintage 1920 exterior view of the Rialto Theater

Photo courtesy of Jan Schendel/City of Loveland

Opened in 1920, the Rialto was designed by noted local architect Robert K. Fuller in the heart of downtown Loveland. When it opened, the Loveland Daily Herald declared the Rialto the finest theater north of Denver. It seated over 1000, and contained a balcony, orchestra pit and dressing rooms.

Designed primarily for silent movies, the Rialto also hosted vaudeville shows in its early years, as well as local talent shows and graduation ceremonies. In 1935, the theater was purchased by the Gibraltar Theater Group, who modernized the Rialto, though much of its original decor was untouched.

Gibraltar owned the theater until 1947, and from then until 1977 was run by a series of owners. It remained a popular venue for the majority of those years.

In 1977, the Rialto finally went dark and was converted into a mini-mall and office space. Most of its original decoration was lost at this time. By 1987, the mall was vacant.

That same year, the Loveland Downtown Development Authority recognized the Rialto as a possible anchor for the rebirth of the historical downtown area. Plans were drawn up to return the Rialto to it's 1920 splendor for use as a performing arts center. It wasn't until early 1996, however, that the Rialto, fully returned to its original appearance, and was reopened.

The theater was turned over to the City of Loveland two years later. Today, the Rialto hosts everything from silent film screenings to children's theater to rock concerts.

Related Websites

Rialto Theater (Official)

Contributed by Bryan Krefft, Jan Schendel

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Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988

Rialto Theater (added 1988 - Building - #87002213)
228--230 E. Fourth St., Loveland
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Danielson,A.
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Owner: Local Gov't
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Vacant/Not In Use

posted by Lost Memory on Jan 24, 2007 at 9:30am

Here are some nice recent photos of the Rialto Theater. Click each photo to expand it.

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 24, 2007 at 9:18am

A Wurlitzer theater organ opus 1884 style "B" special was installed in the Rialto Theater on 5/22/1928.

posted by Lost Memory on Oct 4, 2007 at 9:13am

Myself and my family have volunteered at the Rialto for many years. I basically grew up around this theater! I still volunteer downstairs during live events and digital movies and am a projectionist for them during films.
It has been beautifully restored and so has the beautiful terra cotta interior. It just had new, historic looking seats installed throughout last year as well has having the wood flooring refinished. The theater continues to grow in popularity and improve vastly each year. It features everything from concerts, plays, conventions/meetings and arthouse and classic films. Sadly, many of the films these days are shown via a Christie DLP projector (DVD or VHS) downstairs at the soundrack but it does still run film and has a very nice booth. The booth contains two Kodak Ektagraphic 16mm projectors with changeover box and 2 Simplex E-7 projectors that date from 1938. The projectors were originally installed in the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado and were donated to the Rialto in 1998. They were converted to Xenon lamps and reverse-scan LED readers in 2003 but are still quite original and still have the 2 thousand foot reel magazines that were necessary during the flammable nitrate film days.
A very classy historic theater in trendy downtown Loveland

posted by TonyH. on Mar 24, 2009 at 10:38pm

There was also a Pines Drive-In in Loveland, 382 car capacity that has been closesd for some time. If anyone has information on the Pines they might want to submit it to CT.

posted by Chuck1231 on Apr 4, 2009 at 9:06pm

1984 Photo

posted by Lost Memory on Apr 28, 2009 at 11:01am

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