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Rialto Theatre 616 S. 4th Street, Louisville, KY

Front of house photo courtesy of Lyn Caufield 1955, advertising the appearance of Elvis Presley for Phillip Morris

Back-ground - The Rialto was considered the finest and most costly (at one million dollars) theatre in Louisville.

It opened in 1921 and was closed in 1968 and demolished in 1969. It had chandeliers of Bohemian crystal, a great marble staircase, walls of Rockwood tiles. It was Louisville’s first grand movie palace, but is now the site of a parking lot - Notes by Chuck Van Bibber

clzoeller on June 27, 2006 writes - I was assistant manager of Louisville Rialto Theatre from January 1968 until it closed on July 31, 1968. I was the last person to leave the theatre the night it closed. It was a sad day for Louisville and me.

Scottoro on October 3, 2006 writes - I met Robert Wise about five years ago when he was giving a lecture at DreamWorks, where I work. I told him I was from Louisville (Mr. Wise perked up because was from Indiana) and that The Sound of Music had played at the Rialto, Louisville’s grandest movie palace, for an entire year, reserved seat. His face lit up and he seemed genuinely surprised and immensely pleased.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -