Rialto Theater

The Rialto Theatre was located at 37 W. Washington Street and it seated 1040 people.

The Rialto originally had a huge neon sunburst above the marquee. That was later changed to a right angle Rialto sign. The wall above the marquee was a restrained Spanish Revival. The top of the marquee had fantastic curling motifs with large 'jewels' inserted. The free standing ticket booth had emerald green tiles all around. Inside was fabulous. As you went in the front doors, the superb classical staircase went up and then split into left and right stairs to a square balcony that overlooked the lobby. There was fine furniture, golden Grecian statues and gilded ornament all over. From the landing you entered the balcony. The ceiling in the theater had a huge painting on it; I think it was a stylized Native American maiden. The rest of the decoration looked right out of the Italian Renaissance.

Wasn't this theater across the street from the Woolworth Store?

It was located across from Newberry's. Woolworth was two blocks east near the Fox theater.

The Rialto dates back to 1921. It had a sytle 210 Wurlitzer organ shipped 4/1921. The theatre was well equipped and featured vaudeville and live animal acts even. It was probably Phoenix's most deluxe theater until the Orpheum came along. The organ wound up in the Phoenix College auditorium in the 50's and was a shadow of its former self. It has been undergoing a major redo by the local chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society for the last year. Don Story

The Rialto Theatre opened on Jul. 2, 1921 with seating listed at opeing as 1,700. The architectural firm was Wm. Curlett & Sons.