Rialto Theatre
1023 Fair Oaks Avenue,
South Pasadena,
CA
91030
1023 Fair Oaks Avenue,
South Pasadena,
CA
91030
37 people
favorited this theater
Showing 226 - 247 of 247 comments
mattepntr: Ditto your thoughts! We have a neglected and decaying old movie theatre here in Charlotte that I’m sure has a ghost(s) or a soul. Though I can’t say I’ve ever been in a theatre at 3 in the morning, I would imagine that one could easily have “some pretty freaky feelings”. If Mr. King is listening or reading, he might write his next novel in and around a movie theatre plot as you suggest! I’m sure the general thought is that old abandoned theatres are probably haunted.
I don’t KNOW if the Rialto is haunted or not. I never heard
any specific “lore” or anything. But I’ve been there all alone
at 3 in the morning, and have had some pretty freaky feelings.
But why not? An empty, somewhat decaying movie palace in the dead
of night? I’m surprised Stephen King hasn’t set one of his novels
in such a place.
This is a strange request, but does anyone (especially people who worked in The Rialto) know if the building is actually haunted? I have to find and scout ‘haunted’ locations (a tough job for a sceptic!) for a UK documentary production company and would love them to use the Rialto as it would create interest and pay a modest location fee…
I first went to the Rialto Theater in 1992 to see the Director’s Cut of “Blade Runner.” After that I went a few more times during that period but did not go again until recently, almost a decade later, to see “A Very Long Engagement.” In the intervening years it does look like much was done to the theater. This is a mixed blessing. The theater is really a great old theater and it is good serious alterations have not been performed. However the theater needs a massive renovation. It has prospect of being one of the grandest theaters in operation if a renovation were to be performed.
When operated by Mann Theatres, the Rialto suffered a fire on the stage in the early 1970’s? I belive this destroyed the organ console and in 1972 the organ pipes were removed from the chanbers. I am told that the reason why the plasterwork on the organ grilles either side of the proscenium opening was damaged (and remains so today) is because the pipes were literally just thrown out through the holes onto the front orchestra stalls floor before final removal. I can’t vouch authenticity in this story, it is just what I was told.
The organ was a Wurlitzer 2 Manual/10 Rank opened by Ray Metcalf in 1925. It became a popular instrument in the 1960’s when concerts and recordings were made on it by George Wright.
Does anyone know if the Wurlitzer theater pipe organ is still in the Rialto? It was a small two manual 10 rank organ but it was wonderful.
Of course I remember “Bart”!! I worked as projectionist at the Rialto from ‘81 to'84. I also remember the notorious “John Waters” no-smoking trailer. Hilarious! About working there….God, ALL THOSE STAIRS!! We were a revival house at the time (4-5 different double features a week) and lugging those heavy cans up from the lobby is indelibly burned into my memory. We had also snipped 10 or 15 different 20th Century-Fox logos off other films, and ran them all before “Rocky Horror”. And a REALLY early Devo music video…
Does anybody remember a No Smoking Trailer with Bart the Fire Marshall next to his red firetruck? It lasted 90 seconds and played regularly at the Rialto and Nuart before features in the early 1980s. It also ran during the Filmex Film Festival. It was my very first film school project.
I really hope they don’t divide up the Rialto, and that South Pasadena recognizes the importance of preserving her, just as they want to preserve their entire town from the 710 freeway. There are plenty of places to see mainstream movies.
The Rialto has a lot of great historical memorabilia in their lobby, and is fun to visit. The gargoyle is indeed unique. Beware that the Rialto is not heated – I froze seeing a movie there in the winter. The balcony, while fun and home to thickly padded old chairs, has horrendous sound.
Currently, they are showing cult movies Saturdays at midnight, which makes sense as this was one of the Rocky Horror spots. They seem to run their art house movies forever. I remember Life is Beautiful playing there for what seemed like 6 months.
The Rialto needs a faithful restoration, continuation as single screen, and no change in programming!
When I worked (briefly) at Landmark, I was told that it was nearly impossible to break up the screen into several smaller screens (i.e. along the lines of the Mission / Metro 4 in Santa Barbara or the AMC Avco in Westwood) because of the projector throw.
After attending the July 22, 2004 Community Redevelopment Commission (CRC) meeting here in South Pasadena, I became concerned about the fate of our Rialto theater. I wrote the July 23 2004 notice above. I’m hoping to find people through this site who love old theaters enough to write an email to the South Pasadena City Council asking them to restore/preserve this unique theater which currently remains intact. My hope is that there is support for the continued existence of this unique theater as an historically intact theater (inside and out).
Currently the Rialto shows independent films. Our Mayor, Ten, expressed an interest in seeing more mainstream films shown there. In the (CRC) “framework” plans it was even suggested that the theater could be divided up. Perhaps we need to suggest to the CRC and South Pasadena City Council persons that the redevelopment plans for the business district of South Pasadena should include the construction of a separate, new theater to accommodate multiple mainstream film releases. This would possibly remove pressure from the Rialto and allow it to continue to be used as a special single screen venue or theatrical stage.
Please take a few minutes and help protect this part of our heritage from being divided into a multiplex.
Please read the July 23 2004 notice above and send your email comments to -pasadena.ca.us
Moi
Other Rialto trivia: It’s the theater in ‘Kentucky Fried Movie’ directed by John Landis and I believe it’s the movie theater in “Nightmare on Elmstreet 4: The Dream Master” directed by Renny Harlin. I also directed a short film in the Rialto’s auditorium. One thing I learned from shooting in the Rialto, it’s hard to get a bad shot in the place – it’s majestic and stunning from just about every angle.
As of July 23. 2004:
The Rialto is in danger now to some degree. It is listed in the “Framework for Downtown Development” in the City of South Pasadena. Its future use may change.
On Page 11 of their special report from the Community Redevelopment Commission (CRC) Feb 18 2004. They state:
“7. The Rialto Theater is a key building in terms of its historic design and function and its potential to be an anchor and catalyst for future activity. The building is thought by some to be an opportunity for a public facility, incorporating the theater and using it as community space. Some feel that the CRA will need to reestablish eminent domain in order to facilitate the more appropriate reuse of certain properties. In any case, the exterior and the marquee should be renovated and refurbished. Others feel strongly that it should be completely refurbished and remain a theater, whether one screen or reconfigured to several small screens. Customers desire a better sound system, more comfortable seats, and more diverse and more extensive programming”
The Community Redevelopment Commission will now be meeting to discuss their redevelopment vision. If you are interested in preserving it as a theater you need to let the City Council and Community Redevelopment Commission know how you feel. Tell them what you’d like done with the theater. Do you want to maintain the use of the property as a historically intact theater (inside and out) remaining a single screen functioning theater? Or do you want it to become a public facility, incorporating the theater and using it as community space? Or do you want to see it reconfigured to several small screens? Currently it shows independent films. Mayor Ten was in favor of seeing more mainstream films shown there. Please let your opinion be known.
Please send email comments to:
The City Council persons and Community Redevelopment Commission. You can do this by e-mailing Sally Kilby – City Clerk, at -pasadena.ca.us or you may write to the City Council, c/o
Sally Kilby, at City Hall, 1414 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030.
We must assure that the Council persons and Community Redevelopment Commission understand that there is support for the continued existence of this unique theater.
Or Phone the Message Center:
(626) 403-7218
(Voice Mail for Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and Councilmembers)
Community Redevelopment Commission
7:00 p.m. meetings
2nd Wednesday of each month
City council Chambers • 1424 Mission Street
South Pasadena CA, 91030
Moi
The opening description of the RIALTO in So. Pasadena uses the word ‘decadence’ to describe it, but that is unfortunate since that word cannot have a positive connotation as one would see if he looked up the dictionary definition of the word. Some have thought that it was a term meaning ‘camp’ as in ‘campy’ or even ‘obsolete’ but that is not the case, and unless one wishes to denigrate a theater, the word ‘decadent’ has no place in theatre descriptions.
I grew up going to the Rialto, she is a wonderfull old theater, and I hope they don’t slice her up. There was a great theater in Pasadena that they did this too, and it was a shame.
I have a few stories of the Rialto, Movies, a Seance, Many memories!
Mc
This is a great old theater. I had the priviledge to go throught the entire place recently, to investigate the possible hauntings there. She is a theater in slow decline, but still in good shape.
Don’t expect the Rialto to be cut up any time soon. The original multiplex plan included sealing the balcony and putting two theaters up there. Then they planned on putting a projection booth on the theaters main floor.
The problem is the projection throw.
Because of the way the balcony is positioned a movie projected from the back of the theater’s 1st floor would be cut in half by the underside of the balcony. You’d have to lose almost 9 or 10 rows in the back of the main auditorium to put in a projection booth where this wouldn’t be an issue.
I worked at the Rialto for 19 years and she’s a wonderful old house filled with a lot of great memories.
This theatre is a bit run down, but seems to be doing very well. I went to see a midnight showing of “Donnie Darko” (my favorite movie) and there must have been over 400 people there. It was great so see so many people enjoying the movie and, of course, the Rialto itself. I was disapointed to find the balcony closed, but at least it hasn’t been chopped up yet.
They currently play one [independent] film at a time for about 3-4 weeks, then they start showing another. They recently played Lost In Translation there, and every month they show The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The Rialto has run into problems on its way to divvying itself up, so for the time being you can still go sit in the balcony, with its wonderfully creaky old wooden steps.
The opening sequence of “Scream 2” was also shot here.
The architect of the Rialto theatre was L. A. Smith.
The Rialto seated around 1200 people. The Rialto was one of two theatres serving South Pasadena, the other one was the Ritz theatre (700 seats). Fox West Coast theatre s ran the Rialto for many years before Mann theatres ran it and sold it. The Rialto had a organ at one time but Mann sold it also.