Rialto Theatre

767 Broad Street,
Augusta, GA 30901

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on August 6, 2018 at 3:50 pm

This article posted at the web site of Augusta Magazine on July 31, 2018 says “[o]riginally the Rialto was to open on Wednesday, September 18, [1918] but due to unforeseen problems that the Chronicle never mentioned the opening was delayed until Monday, September 23.”

The article also says that the announcement of the Rialto’s imminent closure appeared in The Augusta Chronicle on January 6, 1956. The house was scheduled to close January 18. The building was then remodeled into an office for Augusta Federal Savings & Loan, then in 1985 was converted into offices for an optometrist, which it remains today.

One inexplicable claim the article makes twice is that the Rialto operated as a movie theater for more than 60 years. By my count, September 23, 1918 to January 18, 1956 is several months short of 38 years.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on April 10, 2012 at 9:34 pm

Miller sat close to 1500, while the IMPERIAL sat 881 in my days there.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on April 10, 2012 at 9:33 pm

Ron P the only first run theatres play A pictures Downtown were the IMPERIAL and The Miller.The Rialto was closed in the 50’s,The Modjeska would sometimes run a A picture ,but most of the time they played B pictures.I wanna say it played at the IMPERIAL because they got alot of MGM product.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on February 25, 2012 at 9:08 am

thanks so much,rivest266.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 19, 2012 at 1:27 pm

September 15th, 1918 grand opening ad has been posted here.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on September 1, 2010 at 9:34 pm

Thanks for adding to our theatres,hope you have many stories.

Cajun
Cajun on September 1, 2010 at 3:28 pm

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.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on August 12, 2010 at 10:13 pm

Hot August day in 1947 and the RIALTO is playing “SIX GUN SERENADE”

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on May 17, 2010 at 8:59 pm

I got your EMAIL.TLSloews.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 17, 2010 at 7:31 pm

This weblog post from the Augusta Chronicle says that architect G. Lloyd Preacher designed the Rialto Theatre.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on April 15, 2010 at 5:24 pm

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.

Cinerama
Cinerama on March 4, 2010 at 8:37 am

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

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on January 3, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Ray, I was amazed how small the marquee was compared to the Miller and Imperial. Thanks for sending the pictures.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on December 2, 2009 at 8:00 pm

August 3 1953 NOW PLAYING at the RIALTO

JOEL McCREA in THE LONE HAND also color cartoon. Second Feature is DANGER UNDER THE SEA.

For a news paper ad very nice size from what the RIALTO usually ran.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on November 4, 2009 at 7:03 pm

Ray, go to THOMSON TWIN on CT.I have a write up on it,maybe you can add more.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on November 4, 2009 at 4:58 pm

GREAT STORY, Ray,you have some postings on SOUTHSIDE CINEMA. also do you have anything on the GRAND THEATRE in Waynesboro? I WANT TO WORK SOMETHING UP ON IT BUT HAVE NO INFO.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on November 4, 2009 at 4:55 pm

WILBUR-KINCEY owned the RIALTO and IMPERIAL THEATRES in AUGUSTA IN 1956.

rayhutto
rayhutto on October 29, 2009 at 11:47 pm

Hey guys, I know exactly where the Rialto theatre was located. I work as Guitar Tech at Rock Bottom music in Augusta, Ga. All I have to do is look across the Street and see the Casella Opticians Office (767 Broad St).Here is a true story: When I was about 4 yrs old my Dad, Mom, Sister Annette and me would go to the Rialto and Modjeska to see westerns. One night Dub Taylor (Cannonball Taylor) was in person at the Rialto. He played in many Weterns as a sidekick. You may not know this but Dub was from here in Augusta, Ga. Anyway he was on Stage, he sang, Danced, and played his Xylophone. Then he went down into the Crowd with a mic and the Spotlight was on him. Mom was holding Annette, she was about 2 years old. Dub commented on her and asked to hold her. He said what a cute little Girl etc. I was a “big deal” to us.
Years later in 1983 Dub was going to be in Augusta at a gun shop and the Public was invited. My Dad, my Friends Mike Rogers, Billy Barkley and I went to see him. We also took snapshots and Autogaphs. etc. I told him about the Rialto that night around 1945-6 and he said beleive it or not I really remember that night, saying he never had picked up a child in the Audience before that night or since. He was an OK guy.
Thanks for reading,
Ray Hutto

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on October 17, 2009 at 1:38 pm

RIALTO THEATRE now playing on August 3 1953 THE LONE HAND with Joel McCrea with a second feature DANGER UNDER THE SEA.

MrDJDude
MrDJDude on September 27, 2009 at 6:16 pm

Having taken another look, I realize I was going in the wrong direction. Thanks to Mike Rogers for pointing out my

There is a small storefront at what Google Maps says is 787 Broad Street, but is probably in actuality 767 Broad Street. I suspect this was the entrance to the Rialto once upon a time. If you look down the street to your right(photo’s left), you see the Imperial Theatre, and to your left(photo’s right), the former Modjeska Theatre.

It appears the auditorium has been demolished, and is now parking.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on September 27, 2009 at 3:33 pm

THE RIALTO WAS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE IMPERIAL AND MODJESKA THEATRES FROM WHAT WAS TOLD. IT NEVER BY THE NEWSBUILDING.

MrDJDude
MrDJDude on September 27, 2009 at 3:03 pm

After looking at Bing and Google Maps, I can conclude that this theater was either in the News Building, or it’s entrance was the small facade to the News Building’s right(viewer’s left). Whether or not the auditorium is still around is an entirely different question.