Rialto Theatre

915 Broad Street,
Newark, NJ 07102

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Brandt Theaters

Architects: Thomas White Lamb

Nearby Theaters

Rialto Theatre

Built in 1920 and opened on September 4, 1920 with Charles Ray in “45 Minutes from Broadway” & Katherine McDonald in “The Turning Point”. It had a concert orchestra and a pipe organ had been installed. A report on the construction of the building states: ‘The theatre is of the latest type with the rear portion of the auditorium raised to give the effect of a balcony, and which portion is easily accessible from the middle of the auditorium’. This sounds like it was a stadium styled theatre, with no overhanging balcony.

Another innovation in the construction was the use of and design of the structural steel for the roof beams. The method used enabled the scheme to reduce the heights of the brick walls to a minimum and increasing the slope of the roof to a maximum. No regular stage was provided, but the theatre was built so that provisions could be made if in the future it became necessary to have one.

It is listed as being operated by Brandt Theaters in listings for 1941 and 1950. After closing it went into retail use and has since been demolished.

Contributed by Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 16 comments)

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez on June 29, 2008 at 4:32 pm

It appears that this theater no longer exists.

teecee
teecee on July 12, 2008 at 4:38 pm

1924 program cover:

View link

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 17, 2008 at 7:23 pm

Looking at the Google photo, I would have to agree with Luis in his post of 6/29/08. The Rialto would have been across the street from City Hall. There are nothing but trees on that side of the street now. Status should be closex/demolished.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 17, 2008 at 7:33 pm

If the 915 Broad Street address is correct, then it wouldn’t be speculation. City Hall at 920 Broad, across the street, hasn’t gone anywhere in the past fifty years.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 17, 2008 at 7:37 pm

We also have your news article from 7/6/07 which puts the theater in the same block.

William
William on December 17, 2008 at 8:37 pm

All there is across from city hall is trees.

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on December 31, 2008 at 7:53 pm

I was just in Newark yesterday to photographs cinemas. This theatre is demolished.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 31, 2008 at 11:05 pm

Newark in the winter? You’re a better man than I, Roger.

iatse311
iatse311 on December 10, 2009 at 7:13 pm

View link

rialto marquee on extreme left

rivest266
rivest266 on September 18, 2024 at 7:04 pm

Opened September 4th, 1920. Grand opening ad posted.

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