Rialto Theater
80 Forsyth Street NW,
Atlanta,
GA
30301
80 Forsyth Street NW,
Atlanta,
GA
30301
2 people
favorited this theater
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Seeing a 1954 reissue of Walt Disney’s PINOCCHIO at the original Rialto was one of the most delightful experiences of my childhood. In the years that followed, I saw a number of other films there. The Rialto might have been a Keith Orpheum theater at one time because they seemed to rely heavily on late RKO, Columbia, and United Artist releases, as well as Walt Disney (who had released his pictures through RKO before forming Buena Vista) pictures. Here’s a link to a 1954 photo of the original Rialto:
View link
By 1962, the Rialto had deteriorated badly. When I saw Ray Harryhausen’s MYSTERIOUS ISLAND there (one of the last movies they showed) in early ‘62, I never forgot the sensation of walking down the aisle and literally feeling the floorboards give under my weight (and I was just a kid!). Everything seemed to be on the verge of collapse. The upholstery on the seat was tattered. The springs in the seats were broken or breaking through the upholstery. It was easy to imagine the theater caving in on you!
It was no surprise when the theater was demolished. In it’s final condition, it was hard to believe that anyone would miss it. The second Rialto Theatre opened in 1963 and it was a certainly a good theater. Seeing a 1963 reissue of Disney’s 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA there was memorable (yes, another Disney reisssue!). However, the newer theatre had a limited number of prime years. Atlanta changed enormously during the next twenty years. A downtown movie house was probably no longer viable.
All things considered, I’m glad the Rialto was preserved and put to such good use by Georgia State University.
Things got so bad at the end of Martin’s operation of the Rialto (late 70’s-early 80’s) that they didn’t even dim the lights during the show. A beauty that was just built too late.