Rialto Theatre
1620 Glenwood Avenue,
Raleigh,
NC
27608
1620 Glenwood Avenue,
Raleigh,
NC
27608
3 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Ambassador Entertainment (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: Ambassador Entertainment
Previously operated by: Consolidated Theatres, Martin Theatres, Schneider-Merl
Architects: Marion Rossiter Marsh
Functions: Movies (Classic), Movies (First Run)
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Colony Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
919.856.8683
Manager:
919.856.8683
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Aug 5, 2013 — Ambassador theaters make jump to digital
- Jul 6, 2009 — Smaller theaters struggle to keep pace in recession
The Colony Theatre was opened on April 1, 1942 with Ray Bolger in “Four Jacks and a Jill”. Seating was provided for 603. It was closed by Martin Theatres in 1981. In 1983 it reopened as the Rialto Theatre. A beautiful renovated theatre which now offers rocking style seats and Dolby Digital Surround sound. The Rialto Theatre plays “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” every Friday night at midnight.
Contributed by
Ryan Powers
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
This is a beautiful theater and a great little place to see a movie with other movie lovers.
When this theatre was formerly THE COLONY…….
A lot of Roadshow Attractions played here that were Eastern North Carolina Reserved Seat Engagement Showings:
“FUNNY GIRL”–[70MM]– Played here on October 1, 1969.
“PAINT YOUR WAGON”–[70MM]-Played here on February 20,1970
“FIDDLER ON THE ROOF”-Played here on May 24,1972.
“MAN OF LA MANCHA”-Played here on June 15, 1973.
When this theatre was formerly THE COLONY…..
By the mid-1970’s this theatre became a showplace for a lot of “B” movies and blaxploitation flicks that were great crowd pleasers.
I saw Issac Hayes in TRUCK TURNER first-run in 1974.
Saw CAR WASH with Richard Pryor first-run in 1976.
When this theatre was formerly THE COLONY at Five Points
Jim Brown-Jim Kelly and Fred Williamson in “3 THE HARD WAY” in the summer of 1974.
Once the site of the former A&P grocery store in Five Points.
Information concerning this theatre will be revised for the Cinema Treasures site. I do have the original grand opening ads from it’s April 1, 1942 opening which contains vast information with seating capacity and other features. If you need to see the ads from 1942 please feel free to contact me at
From 1942 until 1981 it was known as the COLONY Previously operated under Consolidated Theatres and later under Schneider-Merl Corporation and Martin Theatres. Martin Theatres closed the COLONY in 1981 when it was a second-run discount house.
From 1983 to the present it became the RIALTO under Harp Theatres from 1983 until 1994 when it was restored and showing independent films and foreign features. Ambassador Entertainment took over operations in 1994 under owner Bill Peebles.
The RIALTO at Five Points opened on October 7, 1983 under new management with the grand opening feature TENDER MERCIES starring Robert Duvall.
Walt Disney’s MARY POPPINS played at the COLONY first-run as the Eastern North Carolina premiere presentation on January 22, 1965.
Opened April 1st, 1942
Colony theatre opening Wed, Apr 1, 1942 – 8 · The News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina) · Newspapers.com
March 22, 1976 photo as the Colony Theatre in below Facebook post.
https://www.facebook.com/olderaleigh/photos/pb.100063629260284.-2207520000../2938119302947002/?type=3
January 1950 photo as Colony Theatre in Facebook post below.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=485065586957746&set=pb.100063629260284.-2207520000.&type=3