Rialto Theater

26 Market Street,
Potsdam, NY 13676

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Rialto Potsdam

The Rialto Theater opened on October 27, 1924. Seating capacity given in 1930 as 929. The Rialto Theater is still listed in 1955 with 850 seats.

Contributed by Lost Memory

Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

Tinker3cat
Tinker3cat on April 13, 2012 at 9:37 pm

The “RIALTO THEATER” marquee was a colorful sight for many years in the center of downtown Potsdam. My dad and I spent many Saturday nights watching a double-bill in the 40’s & 50’s. Lobby and window showcards were colorfully displayed inside and out. The theater was attractive and modest in design and plenty roomy. In addition to the popular ‘B’ movies shown on weekends, I remember – “NIAGARA”, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”, and the 1954 version of “TITANIC”. For me its pretty hard to beat a Randolph Scott western and a Bill Stern Sports Reel. Ahh !! Those were the days. Ray , Charlotte, NC. (formerly Winthrop, NY)

Tinker3cat
Tinker3cat on September 25, 2013 at 11:11 pm

I remember going inside after it was converted to a furniture store and I could still see the maroon walls and the sculpturing near the ceiling that remained. I didn’t like what had happened. It still makes me somehow a little upset.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 9, 2017 at 2:22 am

The Rialto Theatre was mentioned in the September 20, 1924, issue of The Moving Picture World:

“A big electric sign made its appearance in front of the new Papayanakos house in Potsdam during the past week. Harry Papayanakos will manage the house, which will be known as the Rialto.”
Members of the Papayanakos family still operated the Rialto at least as late as 1952, when Peter Papayanakos was mentioned as its manager in the April 12 issue of Boxoffice.

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