Star Theater
1917 State Street,
Granite City,
IL
1917 State Street,
Granite City,
IL
1 person
favorited this theater
The Rialto was renamed the City Theater during the 40s, and later again renamed the Star. The building was later used as a church before being torn down to make way for a parking lot.
Any additional information on the theater would be appreciated.
Contributed by
Bryan
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
The Film Daily Yearbook,1950 edition gives the address as 3406 Madison Avenue, Granite City, IL
The City Theatre was reopened as a discount theatre after the church moved out and was open for a couple years. It was located around the corner from the Washington Theatre. Bryan’s address is correct as 3406 Madison would be located out near the Nameoki Shopping Center.
It couldn’t have been lcoated at 3406 Madison Ave., Madison Ave. ends at the 3100 block and turnes into Nameoki Rd. The City theatre was located in Downtown Granite City. There were a total of four theatres in G.C. The Washington lcoated on 19th St., The Rialto/City/Star located on State St., The Ken located in the 3100 block of Nameoki Rd., and the Nameoki Cinema 1 & 2, located in Nameoki Village. Of the four the only one still operating is the Nameoki Cinema 1 & 2, operated by Kerasotes Theatres. This was opened by Mid America Theatres in St. Louis, Mo.
Charles;
Thank you for clarifying the correct address.
My wife and I met ath the sStar theater when I was the porter and she was the assistant mananger. My sister Emily ran/helped to open it June of 1983. Pat Mosley, who has sinced passed, owned it. Man we have so many stories and pictures. It was located at 1917 State Street in downtown Granite City. Emily managed it almost until it closed. A friend of Emilys shined up a brick from the demolition and put a nice plaque on it. It was broken into one time and looked like an inside job. It would be so cool if someone would make a website in dedication to this theater. I could send much information and pictures. My other sister Melanie ran the Nameoki Cinema I II in Granite City for many years where I also worked. Anyway please let me know if someone wants to create a website:
Here are two 1985 photos:
Photo1
Photo2
Originally called the “Grand” and then the “Princess” and then the “Rialto” before it was renamed the “City” in 1948, this theatre spent quite a few years as a church before reverting back to a movie house for the final time. Its final incarnation, as the “Star”, came in the 1980’s, but it wasn’t long before the wrecking ball came calling. The site is now a parking lot. The Rialto opened on Saturday September 27, 1919. It was under the ownership of Alfred S. Cote. The Rialto opened with the Hall Caine special feature “The Woman Thou Gavest Me,” together with a new Fatty Arbuckle comedy entitled “Back Stage.” The theater was previously called “The Princess”, under the management of P.F. Lowry of Salem IL. When the building was first built, the theatre was known as the “Grand” under the management of Mrs. F.J. Guth. The opening program was “The Thoroughbred” and a Keystone comedy featuring Sid Chaplin on Saturday March 11, 1916.
Previous names should be updated on this page as follows: 1. Grand 2. Princess 3. Rialto 4. City
Mike, if the Press-Record is still in existance, there was a gentleman by the name of Mickey that handled all the theatre info in Granite City, he was the one that took the photos that appeared in the Press-Record of the new screen being installed in the Washington Theatre in the early-1970’s and also of the crowds lined around the block when the Washington played Jaws. He was a great theatre historian with tons of photos.
Chuck, sadly the Press-Record as you probably remember it is gone. The Suburban Journals of St. Louis now use the name Granite City Press Record Journal, but it’s a mere shadow of the original. I wonder how old Mickey is and if he is still in the newspaper business?
On another subject, you seem to have so much knowledge on the local movie theatre’s. I am not sure if you are from Granite City but I would love to have you join my Facebook page about “Granite City Movie Theatres and other Memories”. Even if you are not from GC, I think you would enjoy it and it would be great to have your input when you find the time.
Granite City Movie Theatres and other Memories