Rialto Theatre

DavidZornig on February 16, 2023 at 7:21 pm

January 1950 photo as Colony Theatre in Facebook post below.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=485065586957746&set=pb.100063629260284.-2207520000.&type=3

rivest266 on April 30, 2020 at 10:10 am

Opened April 1st, 1942 Colony theatre opening Wed, Apr 1, 1942 – 8 · The News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina) · Newspapers.com

raysson on November 2, 2015 at 2:42 pm

Information concerning this theatre will be revised for the Cinema Treasures site. I do have the original grand opening ads from it’s April 1, 1942 opening which contains vast information with seating capacity and other features. If you need to see the ads from 1942 please feel free to contact me at

From 1942 until 1981 it was known as the COLONY Previously operated under Consolidated Theatres and later under Schneider-Merl Corporation and Martin Theatres. Martin Theatres closed the COLONY in 1981 when it was a second-run discount house.

From 1983 to the present it became the RIALTO under Harp Theatres from 1983 until 1994 when it was restored and showing independent films and foreign features. Ambassador Entertainment took over operations in 1994 under owner Bill Peebles.

The RIALTO at Five Points opened on October 7, 1983 under new management with the grand opening feature TENDER MERCIES starring Robert Duvall.

raysson on July 29, 2013 at 2:18 pm

When this theatre was formerly THE COLONY at Five Points

Jim Brown-Jim Kelly and Fred Williamson in “3 THE HARD WAY” in the summer of 1974.

raysson on July 20, 2012 at 7:46 am

When this theatre was formerly THE COLONY…….

A lot of Roadshow Attractions played here that were Eastern North Carolina Reserved Seat Engagement Showings:

“FUNNY GIRL”–[70MM]– Played here on October 1, 1969.

“PAINT YOUR WAGON”–[70MM]-Played here on February 20,1970

“FIDDLER ON THE ROOF”-Played here on May 24,1972.

“MAN OF LA MANCHA”-Played here on June 15, 1973.

Mikeoaklandpark on March 3, 2011 at 10:59 am

I was in Raleigh this past weekend and even though I didn’t go to the theater I have to sayt it is really very nice looking from the outside.

travistarrant on September 15, 2008 at 4:45 pm

I loved the Rialto when it was the Colony. I used to go there in the summer of 1980 and catch the $1.00 matinees of “Star Trek The Motion Picture and all of the horror movies such as Friday the 13th and American Werewolf In London. I even used to play in a Rocky Horror cast from 1990 to 1993.

mrpibbles on July 19, 2004 at 10:30 am

But now, the colony is another 2 screen theater in Raleigh.