Rialto Theatre
1625 N. Franklin Street,
Tampa,
FL
33602
1625 N. Franklin Street,
Tampa,
FL
33602
2 people
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The Rialto is being operated as an event space. Here is their web site.
This reopened as Cinema on April 29th, 1945. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
This opened on November 24th, 1924.
Ad and article below
Found on Newspapers.com
Great shots Andy,glad I am checking on my Tampa theatres today,a lot of NEW pictures to enjoy.You are right about Downtown areas Nick,Be careful guys.
Just saw your posting Andy. Great shots! You were lucky to have gotten inside. Nice shot of the proscenium arch…looks like the theatre had a nice-size screen. I drive down Florida Avenue at least once a week when I leave downtown. I always look towards the rear of the building as I pass by and see the faded “Rialto Theatre” lettering painted at the top rear. As much as I would love to see the interior I never had the nerve to park and walk to the building with all those unsavory characters lurking about in that area. I’m glad to hear the building is at least being used and not abandoned to deteriorate further. Thanks for the photos!
I visited the Rialto again last week. I was able to get inside the theater and take a look around. It’s still being used as a warehouse and has more or less been gutted. The projection window is still visible, as is the giant arch over the stage. My two interior and two exterior shots are visible here.
Love the pictures,Nick. I saw the “JAWS” AD with Bill.Great.
Here’s the photo I was searching for. A crowd awaits entrance to “HOTEL BERLIN” in 1945.
Note the banner now signifying the name change to Cinema.
View link
Beautiful pictures,Just got in from working BEAUTY and the BEAST what a killer show. Almost a five hour out.I mean Killer show,nothing went right Backstage,Charlie knows. Catch you later nick,this old stagehand is beat to the DAWG BONE.
I had seen a really nice photo showing a crowd of people lined up outside awaiting entrance to a movie called “Hotel Berlin” What’s unique about this photo is that it shows the name of this theatre had apparently been changed from Rialto to The Cinema. But now I can’t seem to find this photo anywhere! I thought it was part of the photo collection at the library but it’s not listed within the collection. If it was ever part of the collection then it’s been removed. If I ever see it again I’ll post it.
Here’s another view of the building taken on 11/19/31:
View link
And another view taken on 5/2/25:
View link
This is SO awesome…never knew a theater was there! Love this site! The site of the abandoned area is visually “haunting” in its own way.
Please provide any stories or information that you might have about this theatre (or any single-screen theatre in Tampa) here… http://historictheatresintampa.blogspot.com
This will assist us in preserving the history surrounding these theatres in Tampa. Thank you!!
Listed in the 1941 & 1943 editions on Film Daly Yearbook with a seating capacity of 375. The 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook lists it as the Cinema, 1625 N. Franklin Street, Tampa, FL with a seating capacity given as 530.
Looks like they want to put in a private club.
View link
Here is another photo from the Tampa Library. I could do without the annoying logo:
http://tinyurl.com/38tr4d
The website listed by Ken MC doesn’t come up when I click on the URL. I’d surely like to see if the pic he references is of Orlando’s Rialto Theatre.
This photo is a Rialto theater in Florida. There is a vague resemblance to the old picture posted by Lost Memory, but the top of the buildings don’t match. This Rialto may be a new building designed to look like a classic theater:
http://tinyurl.com/ns368
Also it seems to be currently empty or a warehouse as opposed to an auto repair shop.
Current address (according to Hillsbourgh County website) is 1617 N. Franklin. St. Architect according to the great photo posted above was P. J. Kennard and Son.