Rialto Theatre
1023 Fair Oaks Avenue,
South Pasadena,
CA
91030
1023 Fair Oaks Avenue,
South Pasadena,
CA
91030
37 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 247 comments
If the theater was in Los Angeles, of course.
A tv production i was working on just shot there. As an L.A. native I’d heard about this place. I had always imagined it to be a small theatre like the Vista just down the street from where i live. So I was awed by the scale of the place. I went up and wandered around the balcony. Sadly the place looks like it needs major structural repair. Various crew members pointed out cracked, sagging beams, severe water damage, etc. Yet the place still looks amazing..the red-eyed demon, the carved harpies…if this place bites the dust it will be further proof of how little LA values its cultural heritage..
OK, it was a bad guess. Thanks.
Actually it is the South Pasadena Middle School – they must be using the theater for their production. The school is about 3 blocks south of the Rialto.
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” is on the marquee today, presented by the SPMS. I’m guessing that’s South Pasadena Musical Society.
He tried his best to get the print, but there were so many complications and time constraints that he had to settle for buying the rights to the dvd. Hopefully it will come out okay, he’s going in a couple of days earlier to test it out. The projection room is supposedly haunted, right? Good luck to him….haha.
Is it a print or the dvd?
There is going to be a free showing of E.T. at the Rialto on April 18th. My friend wanted to rent it out to benefit the AIDS Marathon at a later date but was told it would be unavailable for rent 2 days after the 18th, so I guess it may be the very last movie showing there. If you want your last chance to see the theater, invite anyone and everyone for the free showing!
They say at NAI Capital that it is not for sale but only for lease.
Would anyone know what the monthly upkeep cost was for the Rialto?
Thanks!
Those are indeed great photos. The lighting is normally so terrible in there that most of the details are hidden. The balcony looks scary.
The screen should’ve been torn out years ago. No one ever bothered to even straighten out the right side. Slackers.
Great Photos thank you, Dose anybody know if the Rialto Theatre
is for sale and what they are asking for it.
theater is listed for rent on loopnet very fair!
OK ….THAT MAKES SENCE..
Not unless you want to use it for a movie shoot or a party, I think.
is this theater still open???
Why isn’t South Pasadena doing anything to protect this theater? It’s disgusting.
The story of the Rialto is really sad, especially the way it was allowed to deteriorate. Last time I went there was no heat, the sound was muddy, the screen fuzzy, and even the gargoyle light was off.
They really need to do something to the “historic landmark” designation. What’s the point if it can be sliced up, neglected, or closed?
The silver lining is that the theater was NOT sliced up. It can still be preserved.
How about contacting the folks in Glendale who preserved the Alex?
DVD’s are licensed by the studio’s for Home use. When films are played in theatres that are new or old they are licensed to be played there. A theatre is a public venue even if the showing is just for your friends. Some DVD companies even go as far as to spell it out like: bars, hospitals, buses, hotels, nursing homes.
Is the performance public if you are showing a film to your friends. Just like having some friends over and watching a movie?
But remember you still need a public performance license from the studios to play a film, even on just a DVD. Without a license the theatre could be sued and you party to it too. Most public performance license fees go for a $100 and up depending on the film.
Without it, it becomes a copyright issue.
Xanadu? Maybe you should have asked for a break on the rental charge.
I rented the Rialto the other night for my wife’s birthday party for only $100 an hour. We watched our DVD of “Xanadu” (believe it or not), which was projected on their screen in a quality that surprised me. Honestly, we couldn’t see any reason to think it wasn’t a film reel. They let us bring in food for all of our friends and staffed the concession stand to we could all buy popcorn and candy for the movie. They were very friendly and we were all shocked at how cheaply one can rent out this beautiful theater. If anyone needs a place for a screening, or even if a group of friends want to chip in for a 2-hour rental and watch their favorite flick, I strongly recommend calling them. Their number is 626-799-1824. (Man, this really sounds like an ad. If I could think of a way of writing it that didn’t sound like I’m the manager of the place, I would, but there you go.)
Stopped by the local Von’s which is located accross the street from the Rialto for a quart of milk (literally) last night and noticed that there is a sign on the southeast side of the building listing the building that houses the theater for sale. Anybody know if the owner is selling the building? As mentioned nothing is going on with the Rialto and though you can lease the theater through Landmark for special occasions or filming, the theater remains dark for the most part. Sometimes I see the young guy who managed the theater under Landmark when it was open through the front doors about the theater and lobby. He’s taken to listing fake movies on the marquee and turning on the Rialto’s neon marquee at night which is nice because it just looks so sad dark. This week he’s showing “What’s My Appeal” starring Hugh Grant and last week it was “Flesh Eaters.” I guess fake films are better than no films at the Rialto. Anyone with any info about The Rialto being up for sale would be appriciated and who, in fact, owns the building.
Re: posted by patinkin on Oct 18, 2007 at 10:59pm
I just read the post referenced above and feel compelled to answer and defend the historic preservation community. I’ve been a volunteer with the Los Angeles Conservancy since 1988. While I can’t speak for the Los Angeles Historical Society, to my knowledge, the Conservancy has never been accused to any of the things patinkin references. There has never been an effort to strip fixtures from a building for profit. That’s ridiculous. In fact, the Conservancy helped locate missing fixtures from Bullocks Wilshire and the Wiltern.
St. Vibiana’s Cathedral was a big victory for the Conservancy. The Catholic archdiocese planned to demolish it and sell the vacant land. The Conservancy helped orchestrate the purchase by developer Tom Gilmore, who owns several historic buildings in the area and restored it with his own money – not taxpayers'. Preservationists cannot dictate the function of a building. A blacksmith shop doesn’t have to remain a blacksmith shop. Even the church is pleased. “We couldn’t be happier that the former cathedral is being put to such a worthy civic use,” said Tod Tamberg, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Archdiocese. “We’re very pleased with it.” View link
I barely remember the California theater battle, but if the Conservancy was suing to prevent demolition, why are those trying to demolish it the good guys? I agree Needleman did a great job with the Orpheum, but the California is gone.
Volunteering in preservation is a lot of hard work and painful losses and taking flack like this doesn’t make it any easier. ANYBODY can write a landmark nomination, ANYBODY can lobby a city or a foundation or an enlightened developer to purchase endangered properties. I encourage all of you to help – not to berate the hard work of those who care.