Rialto Cinemas Cerrito
10070 San Pablo Avenue,
El Cerrito,
CA
94530
10070 San Pablo Avenue,
El Cerrito,
CA
94530
9 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Rialto Cinemas (Official), Friends of the Cerrito Theater
Additional Info
Operated by: Rialto Cinemas
Previously operated by: Blumenfeld Theater Circuit
Architects: William Bernard David
Functions: Movies (Film Festivals), Movies (First Run)
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Cerrito Theater
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
510.273.9102
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Jun 22, 2009 — El Cerrito, Parkway theaters may reopen soon
- Jun 28, 2007 — Fight for Park Theatre
- Nov 10, 2006 — Cerrito Theater returns with new agenda
- Apr 13, 2004 — Some "Friends of" Groups
- Jan 28, 2004 — Today's Newsreel
- Oct 15, 2003 — City Weights Pros And Cons Of Saving Theater
The historic Cerrito Theatre in El Cerrito, California, with its incredible Art Deco style murals and decorative interior, is one of the city’s hidden treasures.
Opened in December 1937 with 644-seats, and closed since the 1950’s, the Cerrito Theatre used recently by Kiefer’s Furniture as storage.
Fortunately, the City of El Cerrito Redevelopment District working with Friends of the Cerrito Theatre, brought this old movie house back to life.
It re-opened on November 1, 2006, as the Cerrito Speakeasy closing in May 2009. On July 15, 2009 it reopened as Rialto Cinemas Cerrito with 287 seats.
Contributed by
Lori Dair, Melissa Hatheway
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Recent comments (view all 30 comments)
The Cerrito opened in December 1937, according to Boxoffice magazine, at a cost of $150,000. The owner at the opening was the Blumenfield Theaters chain.
Unfortunately, according to this mornings Contra Costa Times, the Cerrito Theater is now “closed indefinitely” as the Fischers have ran out of money. The Redevelopment Agency of El Cerrito pulled their lease recently as the Fischers have not paid their $10,000 a month rent on the theater for the last 18 months. (Their other theater, the Parkway in Oakland, shuttered in April due to financial issues & declining attendance.) They have blamed the shutdown on the economy, lack of access to first-run movies, increased construction costs, etc.
This is sad but me thinks that the best solution may be to try opoperating a theater
(continued)
that shows Chinese/Hong Kong fare (there is a good Asian population there, and they can cross-market to nearby UC Berkeley as the theater is easily accessible by public transit).
I don’t want to be a killjoy. But I’m not sure how much money is left in exhibition of foreign films. I’m sure DVDs, internet access, etc. have taken a bite out of that business as compared to what it was twenty years ago. There is definitely a solution, I’m just not sure what it is. Whatever the case I think the recent renovation means that the theatre is safe for a while.
Reopens on July 15th under the operation of Rennaisance Rialto (who operates the Elmwood in Berkeley). First attraction will be the new Harry Potter film. It sounds as if RR will be running first-run product here, unlike the Fischers.
This is not being operated by Rennaisance Rialto. Rennaisance operates the Grand Lake and formerly the Park, Orinda and Oaks. Rialto Cinemas is a completely different guy.
Great theater! I love it’s Art Deco interior.
A few 2012 photos can be seen here and here.
The 13th annual Albany Film Festival will be held at the Cerrito this year due to the nearby Albany Theatre’s closing earlier this year. Details … Here
Opened December 25th, 1937. Grand opening ad posted.