Rialto Theatre

204 S. Broadway,
Siloam Springs, AR 72761

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Additional Info

Previous Names: Midway Theatre

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Rialto Theatre

The Midway Theatre was launched by grocery store operator Ed. C. McCullouch in Siloam Springs opening in 1911 at 204 St. Nicholas Avenue (now Broadway). The Midway Theatre was run by the Henry Brothers against the Lyric Theatre until 1918. In 1918, the Henry Brothers sold the theatre to G.W. Sherman who changed the name to the Rialto Theatre while the Lyric Theatre burned and was replaced by the Liberty Theatre.

During the 1920’s, the Rialto Theatre transferred from Sherman to E.D. Luna to J.J. Kriewitz to T. C. Killebrew who remodeled the Rialto Theatre in 1926 to include better air handling and a balcony increasing seat count. Killebrew closed the Rialto Theatre in January of 1930 for two months to equip it with RCA Photophone sound to keep the theatre relevant while the Liberty Theatre had closed.

In 1939, Killebrew launched the 550-seat Grand Theatre on Main Street retaining the Rialto Theatre. During World War II, on September 9, 1942, Killebrew would close the Rialto Theatre until after the War. After the War, a new theatre – the Spot Theatre – is built opening November 9, 1946. The three theatre town drops to two when – on March 3, 1948 – the Rialto Theatre suffered a major fire that ended its run. That left the Grand Theatre and The Spot Theatre for the Siloam Springs movie dollars.

Contributed by dallasmovietheaters

Recent comments (view all 2 comments)

SethG
SethG on August 27, 2024 at 12:09 pm

Needs to be listed as demolished. Was probably destroyed in the fire. The little store there now has sills at the very top that match the second story in the photo.

SethG
SethG on August 27, 2024 at 12:32 pm

The historical address was 1004 St. Nicholas Ave. That changed to the current scheme between 1936 and 1948.

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