Rialto Theatre
767 Broad Street,
Augusta,
GA
30901
767 Broad Street,
Augusta,
GA
30901
1 person
favorited this theater
The Rialto Theatre was located a stone’s throw between the Imperial Theatre and Modjeska Theatre in Augusta. It was operating prior to 1941.
Was it ever known for Grade A product like the Imperial Theatre and Miller Theatre? Sadly, very few Academy Award movies played on that screen in a theatre much smaller than the Imperial Theatre or Modjeska Theatre.
On March 7, 1953 the Rialto Theatre was playing its usual fare, "My Pal Trigger" with Roy Rogers and Trigger, the smartest horse in the movies. Of course Gabby Hayes co-starred. The Rialto Theatre almost always had a second feature. That day it also played "The Toughest Man in Arizona".
Most often the drive-in ads in the paper were larger and better than the ads for the Rialto Theatre. So even in those days advertising was not the main source. From what I was told since I was way too young to remember, many kids would spend Saturdays watching double bills, and then hop the city bus back home.
The inside of the theatre from pictures I’ve seen was very plain. It closed in the late-1950’s.
Contributed by
Mike Rogers
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Recent comments (view all 21 comments)
Opened i 1932 and listed as closing in 1956 with seating listed at 433. Operated by Publix, Georgia Theatre Co. and finally Wilby-Kincey.
Hi Chuck,
Sorry if this is off topic but, I’m trying to contact Chuck1231. He sent me an email saying he had pictures of the Colonial in Hartford, CT when it was a Cinerama theatre. I would love to see them!
Thanks,
Roland
Let’s go back in time to 1945, July 1945 and the RIALTO is playing:
“WINGED VICTORY” it took in $166.42.
“SCARED STIFF” took in 145.12
“LIGHTNING STRIKES” made $219.64
We are still in July 1945 and “COVER GIRL” made $105.70
“CRAZY HOUSE” made $115.00
“LUMBERJACK” took in $150.10
“UNSEEN” made $316.14 {must have had a big name in it}
“KEYS OF THE KINGDOM” scored a low $99.48
and “GANGSTER’S DEN” made $226.40. All in all not bad money.
This weblog post from the Augusta Chronicle says that architect G. Lloyd Preacher designed the Rialto Theatre.
Thanks Joe.
Thanks Joe.
I got your EMAIL.TLSloews.
Hot August day in 1947 and the RIALTO is playing “SIX GUN SERENADE”
The Rialto was the bottom end of downtown theater venues…a long shooting gallery style of house with no balcony. It showed third run films and re-issues witha b-western and serial format on weekends. It was located between the Modjeska which played a similar format and the Imperial, a first run house. Admission was nine cents for kids in the late forties and I saw lots of films there. I believe it closed in the late fifties.
Thanks for adding to our theatres,hope you have many stories.