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Rialto Theater 219 S. Jefferson Avenue, Peoria, IL

Image - Courtesy of John Hall

The historic Rialto Theatre (originally the Hippodrome Theater) located at 207 S. Jefferson Ave. in Peoria, Illinois, screened Houdini starring Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh during its first-run theatrical release in the summer of 1953 .

The biographical film officially had its world premiere on June 25, 1953, and was distributed nationally by Paramount Pictures starting July 2, 1953. At that time, the Rialto Theatre was operated by Kerasotes Theatres, which routinely brought Hollywood’s newest Technicolor blockbusters to downtown Peoria audiences just weeks after their initial release.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -