Rialto Theater
246 Central Street,
Lowell,
MA
01852
246 Central Street,
Lowell,
MA
01852
1 person
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The Rialto was always a second-run house, but a good one. It was built in the train shed of the original Boston and Maine Railroad terminal in downtown Lowell. Supposedly part of its roof could be retracted for hot summer evenings.
The Rialto was owned and operated by Norman Glassman who also operated the Crown Theater on Middlesex Street and who built the Lowell Drive-In Theater.
When it closed, its owner converted it to a bowling alley which thrived for many years. Under the auspices of the Lowell Urban National Park, the Rialto’s auditorium was torn down and the head house (which housed the lobby, ticket booth, and concession stand), was restored to its original appearance.
Contributed by
Robert Provencher
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Recent comments (view all 18 comments)
On page 183 of the new book “A Field Guide to Southern New England Railroad Depots and Freight Houses” by John H. Roy Jr. (Branchline Press), there is a profile of the Rialto building with a small recent photo of the exterior. Author Roy says that the Rialto Theatre dates from 1923. He also mentions that after opening in 1876, the rail station existed for less than 20 years because a short connecting link was built which allowed trains coming up from Salem to use the main Lowell station. The building in the recent photo in the book is definitely the same as the photo in the 1941 MGM Report. But some details have been changed to back-date the building’s facade to its 19th-century appearance.
The front building of the Rialto used to be the former Boston and Maine Railroad Station. It is currently undergoing renovations. I’ll post photos of it soon.
What will it be used for?
The National Park people are hoping for a combination of retail (1st floor) and office space (upstairs). What remains of the Rialto is the head house (entrance only). The theatre itself was located in what was the train shed (i. e. the place where passenger trains were parked to load and unload passengers), which has been torn down. The Rialto was always a second-run, second-class theatre.
The restoration work on the Rialto building has mostly finished; the long-demolished tower on the front-right corner has been replicated. I have heard that the building has now been sold to the Middlesex Community College, but I’m not sure of that. I’ve seen recent photos and the structure really looks great – a real “landmark”.
1982 Photo
I’ve added a few photos here
http://www.pbase.com/jroy/low_rialto
I’ve added one from 1941 couresty Ron Salters
http://www.pbase.com/jroy/image/123593223
Thanks Ron Salters, for that great facade shot of the Rialto(where I spent my early childhood film years) under magnification it’s clear that a stepladder has been placed by the marquee to either relamp under canopy lights or to freshen the current film titles which they were showing. Also there seem to be two workers standing next to the ladder.Many happy days spent here in the early 1950’s!
The Rialto is listed in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook as having 1,100 seats and open daily.