Rialto Theatre

This article posted at the web site of Augusta Magazine on July 31, 2018 says “[o]riginally the Rialto was to open on Wednesday, September 18, [1918] but due to unforeseen problems that the Chronicle never mentioned the opening was delayed until Monday, September 23.”

The article also says that the announcement of the Rialto’s imminent closure appeared in The Augusta Chronicle on January 6, 1956. The house was scheduled to close January 18. The building was then remodeled into an office for Augusta Federal Savings & Loan, then in 1985 was converted into offices for an optometrist, which it remains today.

One inexplicable claim the article makes twice is that the Rialto operated as a movie theater for more than 60 years. By my count, September 23, 1918 to January 18, 1956 is several months short of 38 years.

Miller sat close to 1500, while the IMPERIAL sat 881 in my days there.

thanks so much,rivest266.

Thanks for adding to our theatres,hope you have many stories.

Hot August day in 1947 and the RIALTO is playing “SIX GUN SERENADE”

Thanks Joe.

This weblog post from the Augusta Chronicle says that architect G. Lloyd Preacher designed the Rialto Theatre.

Hi Chuck,

Sorry if this is off topic but, I’m trying to contact Chuck1231. He sent me an email saying he had pictures of the Colonial in Hartford, CT when it was a Cinerama theatre. I would love to see them!

Thanks,

Roland

August 3 1953 NOW PLAYING at the RIALTO

JOEL McCREA in THE LONE HAND also color cartoon. Second Feature is DANGER UNDER THE SEA.

For a news paper ad very nice size from what the RIALTO usually ran.

GREAT STORY, Ray,you have some postings on SOUTHSIDE CINEMA. also do you have anything on the GRAND THEATRE in Waynesboro? I WANT TO WORK SOMETHING UP ON IT BUT HAVE NO INFO.

Hey guys, I know exactly where the Rialto theatre was located. I work as Guitar Tech at Rock Bottom music in Augusta, Ga. All I have to do is look across the Street and see the Casella Opticians Office (767 Broad St).Here is a true story: When I was about 4 yrs old my Dad, Mom, Sister Annette and me would go to the Rialto and Modjeska to see westerns. One night Dub Taylor (Cannonball Taylor) was in person at the Rialto. He played in many Weterns as a sidekick. You may not know this but Dub was from here in Augusta, Ga. Anyway he was on Stage, he sang, Danced, and played his Xylophone. Then he went down into the Crowd with a mic and the Spotlight was on him. Mom was holding Annette, she was about 2 years old. Dub commented on her and asked to hold her. He said what a cute little Girl etc. I was a “big deal” to us.
Years later in 1983 Dub was going to be in Augusta at a gun shop and the Public was invited. My Dad, my Friends Mike Rogers, Billy Barkley and I went to see him. We also took snapshots and Autogaphs. etc. I told him about the Rialto that night around 1945-6 and he said beleive it or not I really remember that night, saying he never had picked up a child in the Audience before that night or since. He was an OK guy.
Thanks for reading,
Ray Hutto

Having taken another look, I realize I was going in the wrong direction. Thanks to Mike Rogers for pointing out my

There is a small storefront at what Google Maps says is 787 Broad Street, but is probably in actuality 767 Broad Street. I suspect this was the entrance to the Rialto once upon a time. If you look down the street to your right(photo’s left), you see the Imperial Theatre, and to your left(photo’s right), the former Modjeska Theatre.

It appears the auditorium has been demolished, and is now parking.

After looking at Bing and Google Maps, I can conclude that this theater was either in the News Building, or it’s entrance was the small facade to the News Building’s right(viewer’s left). Whether or not the auditorium is still around is an entirely different question.