Riviera 4 Theatre
714 4th Street,
Sioux City,
IA
51101
714 4th Street,
Sioux City,
IA
51101
1 person
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It was just announced the Riviera will become the home of several businesses. After 50 years, about 40 as a movie theater, a few years as 2 different night clubs and a few years vacant, the Riviera will be gone for good. There will be a small theater to rent, but no more 50, or in later years 40 foot screens.
This opened on September 24th, 1971. Grand opening ad in the photo section and below
Found on Newspapers.com
The riviera closed a week ago.
Just realized one nice thing about digital projection: no splices, scratches, or other flaws.
This theater is now a 4 screen, all digital 2nd run theater. The two large theaters were divided in half and the lobby and restrooms were remodeled.
I remember seeing several movies here growing up. I saw Empire Strikes Back when it first came out in May,1980 here,as well as the Blue Brothers,Blue Thunder and several others. I also remember going to the Cameo Theatre in Sioux City,which isn’t on this site (It had a light up “cameo” sign on the front,and was a double screen theatre as well ,it was across for JCPenny to the west.)
the Riviera Theatre was designed by the architectural firm of DeWild, Grant & Rickert (DGR).
Eric Hilsabeck is the embodiment of Goodness and Beauty. My sister named her first born son after him in honor of his humanity to man. Also I went to college with him so I might be a little biased.
This is a win/win situation. Not only was the Plaza too small and primed for closing, the Riviera was begging to be used again.
Eric Hilsabeck Rocks!!! He is a wonderful human being!
I live in Atlanta now and we have a Madstone Theater. I’m sure you’re familiar with them. They seem to have made it a flourishing business.
No never been there but I used to be in the theatre business, both booking and operating and I hate to see the whole second run business dry up. There are alot of people who cant afford or wont pay $10 (NY price right now) to see a movie. The second run discount policy makes good use of theatres that were never palaces or first rate plexes. In NY second run is just about dead.
Did you ever see a show in the Riviera Robert? You sound maybe like you have or have a personal interest in the theater. The Riviera is an architectural example of what was wrong with architecture in the 70’s. There isn’t much soul with this place and it’s total utilitarian design is a yawn. Now, the Sioux City Orpheum, that’s a theater with some chutzpah! Probably the greatest theater in Iowa of it’s type right now, the Adler in Davenport and the Paramount in Cedar Rapids included.
The location across the street from a busy multiplex should also give it alot of free publicity. There are always audiences who will pay the first run prices, as well as the bargain movie goer. Even with 14 screens across the street, it is possible The Riviera will play some second run films that never even played at the multiplex across the road.
Since the late 90’s (1998 I think, or 97). It’s a huge theater by today’s standards, surprised that a 2nd run theater could support so many seats (440 on side, 660 on the other). I can’t even count how many times I saw a movie here in the 70’s/80’s. Saw the first Star Wars movie. Scared witless by “Halloween” in 1978 (enamored with Jamie Lee Curtis though…). This will replace the Plaza Twin theaters in Marketplace Mall which were torn down to renovate the mall. This is quite a trade up as the Plaza theaters would have both fit in the smallest of the two Riviera auditoriums. Since closing the Riviera has been a live music venue (Big Head Todd & The Monsters in fact have a CD called “Riviera” which features the theater on it’s cover). That closed a year or two ago and the building has been for sale. I had heard rumors that it was being looked at as Funny Bones Comedy Club on one side and a blues&jazz music/nightclub on the other but that didn’t materialize. Right across to the east from the Riviera is a massive new movie theater complex going up with 14 stadium seat theaters on the top 2 levels and restaurants and high vaulted ceiling lobby on the bottom level.
Should give the 12 stadium screen plex at Southern Hills Mall some pretty good competition.
How long was this theatre closed?
THE RIVIERA THEATER IS GETTING READY TO RE-OPEN. ERIC HILSABECK IS A CO-OWNER OF THE RIVIERA. HE SAYS THE THEATER, WHICH WAS BUILD IN THE 1970’S, NEEDS A LITTLE WORK BEFORE IT’S READY FOR MOVIE-GOERS. HILSABECK MANAGED THE PLAZA THEATER IN THE MARKETPLACE SHOPPING CENTER BEFORE IT CLOSED TO ALLOW FOR RENOVATION OF THAT MALL. HILSABECK SAYS THE SCREENS WILL BE THE SECOND LARGEST IN SIOUX CITY â€" ONLY THE HISTORIC ORPHEUM THEATER’S IS LARGER. THE RIVIERA IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN ON FEB. 27.
This theater is now about to reopen as a 2nd run theater with seats selling for $3. Go to http://www.rivieramovies.com This will be right next door to the new 14 seat cineplex being built in downtown Sioux City set to open this fall, 2004.