Rialto Theatre
80 Main Street,
Lancaster,
NH
03584
80 Main Street,
Lancaster,
NH
03584
1 person
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Rialto Theatre (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Interstate Theatres Corporation, Rialto Theatres
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Nearby Theaters
Opened on January 3, 1931 with Ed Wynn in “Follow the Leader”. The Rialto Theatre was a successful movie house until it was closed following the owner’s death in 1999. The theatre was sold in February 2002 to a new owner who revived the single-screen theatre as a movie house. In later years a second 20-seat screen was added.
Operated by TBA Theatres, they closed the Rialto Theatre in September 2011. It was purchased by a new owner and re-opened in December 2011.
Contributed by
John Elwood
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
The theatre changed hands twice since the owner’s death. It was originally bought by the person who owned the antique store next door. He, however, I was informed, lacked the cash needed to get the theatre up and running. It was sold again to the Spenelli (sorry I know this spelling is wrong} threatre chain out of Dover, N.H. They fully insulated the theatre, restored the marquee, and cleaned it up. They even bought the most expensive popcorn maker money can buy. One of the things I like to do when touring a theatre is watch a movie in the theatre. To give you an idea how dedicated I am, I sat through “Sweet Home Alabama” in this theatre.
Homepage:
http://www.spinellicinemas.com/
The Rialto Theatre changed hands on March 30, 2007. It is no longer owned by Spinelli but by TBA Theatres of Massachusetts.
The website is: http://tbatheatres.com
TBA Theatres closed the Rialto in Lancaster for economic reasons in early-Sept 2011 according to an article in the Berlin Daily Sun as reported in the THSA Readerboard news line.
i recently purchased this theatre at auction in october and reopened it December 1st. Would love to have anyone stop by and say HI! The new company is called Rialto Theatre, LLP.
also the new website is www.lancasterrialto.com
Hi Dave. We did see a couple of movies at the theater last September on Monday nights and enjoyed seeing you introduce the films. I presume you’ve seen that Boston Globe article quoting you on the problems of digital projection.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Rialto, it’s Card #493. Address is Main St. There is an external photo taken Feb. 1941. Condition is Good. It says the theater opened about 1930, shows MGM product, and has 524 seats. The 1940 population of Lancaster was 3,000.
On a recent trip to Lancaster with her husband my daughter sent me updated shots of the Rialto intetior. She also imformed me that the RIALTO is actually a “two screen” movie house, one large room for newer films and a small screening room with about twenty seats . New photos added to the photo section …..Photo Credits to Jenn Hagan,Thanks Jenn/Love You