Rialto Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Rialto Theatre is a performance theater and concert venue
located in downtown Tucson, Arizona
in the United States of America. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2003.
s, playing primarily silent films per the time period. In addition, the theater was host to Vaudeville
shows, another popular form of entertainment at the time.
By the 1930s, the Rialto was hosting talking pictures in addition to weekly Vaudeville shows and plays. During this time, and beginning in 1929, the theater was bought out by Paramount-Publix, a theater-owning consortium that controlled a significant number of American movie theaters (and would soon be broken up by the American government). During the Paramount-Publix period of ownership, the theater was significantly revamped. This included buying new seating, new interior decorating, and the installation of evaporative cooling, a fixture which lasted in the theater until the early 21st century.
During this time period the theater's name was changed to The Paramount, reflecting its corporate ownership. Though the studio-movie theater monopoly was broken up by the Supreme Court in 1948 (see Paramount Decree) it took many more years for Paramount Pictures
to comply. Hence, the ownership would remain the same for at least another decade.
In 1963, while downtown Tucson suffered a recession
, The Paramount was closed as a motion-picture house, citing lack of sales, first-rate films, and a general demographic move away from downtown Tucson. From 1963 to 1971, the vacant theater served as storage for a furniture store.
In 1971, the Rialto suffered another name change, this time being re-christened El Cine Plaza. For a while, the theater was transformed into a strictly Spanish
movie house, until 1973, when it was resold again and re-opened as a pornographic theater, initially showing Deep Throat
. Though the city of Tucson attempted to block The Rialto in its capacity as a porno theater, they were initially unsuccessful, and it remained in this capacity for five years. During this time, sexologist and one-time porn star Annie Sprinkle
got her start in the adult industry working as a vendor at the theater.
During its run as a porno theater, there were several incidents of attempted arson, purportedly stemming from one offended local woman; she succeeded at one point in burning the balcony stairs in 1978, and was never caught.
In 1978, the theater was transformed once again into a Spanish-language cinema, still under the name El Cine Plaza, and continued showing Latino films until 1984, when a boiler
explosion devastated the theater, collapsing the stage and resulting in the theater's condemnation.
The theater remained closed until 1995, when it was re-opened once again as a concert venue under the original name. Despite a few monetary-related closures, it remained, for the most part, open until 2004, when the theater was purchased by the City of Tucson, as part of Rio Nuevo, a downtown revitalization project. The Rialto Theatre is now operated by a nonprofit organization, the Rialto Theatre Foundation, which has leased the theater from the Rio Nuevo District for 50 years. The executive director of the foundation is Douglas Biggers.
The Rialto Theatre is one of several historic theater and concert venues built along Congress Street, the others being Club Congress (directly across the street) and the newly renovated Fox Theatre several blocks to the west.
districts of downtown Tucson, across the street from Club Congress. It bears much similarity to the neighboring Hotel Congress, being built in the same year and by the same contractors.
In its capacity as a concert venue since 1995, The Rialto was in need of many repairs, as it still sported an ancient swamp cooler
(rather than more modern air conditioning
) and much peeling paint and decrepit interior. Since its latest revitalization in 2004, the theater still boasts its original historic interior with a distinct art nouveau
motif, along with new and much-needed air conditioners.
Primarily holding music concerts from all genres, The Rialto hosts other shows and events as well, from dance, performance, and occasional film screenings. Approximately 150 events occur at the Rialto annually, with reported attendance of more than 100,000 patrons.
Music venue
A music venue is any location used for a concert or musical performance. Music venues range in size and location, from an outdoor bandshell or bandstand or a concert hall to an indoor sports stadium. Typically, different types of venues host different genres of music...
located in downtown Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
in the United States of America. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2003.
History
First conceived of in the early-to-mid 1910s, The Rialto Theatre was built jointly by William Curlett and Son along with the neighboring Hotel Congress across the street. Upon its opening in 1920, The Rialto Theatre was one of Tucson's first movie theaterMovie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
s, playing primarily silent films per the time period. In addition, the theater was host to Vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
shows, another popular form of entertainment at the time.
By the 1930s, the Rialto was hosting talking pictures in addition to weekly Vaudeville shows and plays. During this time, and beginning in 1929, the theater was bought out by Paramount-Publix, a theater-owning consortium that controlled a significant number of American movie theaters (and would soon be broken up by the American government). During the Paramount-Publix period of ownership, the theater was significantly revamped. This included buying new seating, new interior decorating, and the installation of evaporative cooling, a fixture which lasted in the theater until the early 21st century.
During this time period the theater's name was changed to The Paramount, reflecting its corporate ownership. Though the studio-movie theater monopoly was broken up by the Supreme Court in 1948 (see Paramount Decree) it took many more years for Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
to comply. Hence, the ownership would remain the same for at least another decade.
In 1963, while downtown Tucson suffered a recession
Recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
, The Paramount was closed as a motion-picture house, citing lack of sales, first-rate films, and a general demographic move away from downtown Tucson. From 1963 to 1971, the vacant theater served as storage for a furniture store.
In 1971, the Rialto suffered another name change, this time being re-christened El Cine Plaza. For a while, the theater was transformed into a strictly Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
movie house, until 1973, when it was resold again and re-opened as a pornographic theater, initially showing Deep Throat
Deep Throat (film)
Deep Throat is a 1972 American pornographic film written and directed by Gerard Damiano and produced by Louis Peraino and starring Linda Lovelace ....
. Though the city of Tucson attempted to block The Rialto in its capacity as a porno theater, they were initially unsuccessful, and it remained in this capacity for five years. During this time, sexologist and one-time porn star Annie Sprinkle
Annie Sprinkle
Annie M. Sprinkle is an American former prostitute, stripper, pornographic actress, cable television host, porn magazine editor, writer and sex film producer...
got her start in the adult industry working as a vendor at the theater.
During its run as a porno theater, there were several incidents of attempted arson, purportedly stemming from one offended local woman; she succeeded at one point in burning the balcony stairs in 1978, and was never caught.
In 1978, the theater was transformed once again into a Spanish-language cinema, still under the name El Cine Plaza, and continued showing Latino films until 1984, when a boiler
Boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:...
explosion devastated the theater, collapsing the stage and resulting in the theater's condemnation.
The theater remained closed until 1995, when it was re-opened once again as a concert venue under the original name. Despite a few monetary-related closures, it remained, for the most part, open until 2004, when the theater was purchased by the City of Tucson, as part of Rio Nuevo, a downtown revitalization project. The Rialto Theatre is now operated by a nonprofit organization, the Rialto Theatre Foundation, which has leased the theater from the Rio Nuevo District for 50 years. The executive director of the foundation is Douglas Biggers.
The Rialto Theatre is one of several historic theater and concert venues built along Congress Street, the others being Club Congress (directly across the street) and the newly renovated Fox Theatre several blocks to the west.
Description
The Rialto Theatre is located in one of the more urbanUrban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
districts of downtown Tucson, across the street from Club Congress. It bears much similarity to the neighboring Hotel Congress, being built in the same year and by the same contractors.
In its capacity as a concert venue since 1995, The Rialto was in need of many repairs, as it still sported an ancient swamp cooler
Swamp cooler
An evaporative cooler is a device that cools air through the evaporation of water. Evaporative cooling differs from typical air conditioning systems which use vapor-compression or absorption refrigeration cycles. Evaporative cooling works by employing water's large enthalpy of vaporization...
(rather than more modern air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
) and much peeling paint and decrepit interior. Since its latest revitalization in 2004, the theater still boasts its original historic interior with a distinct art nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
motif, along with new and much-needed air conditioners.
Primarily holding music concerts from all genres, The Rialto hosts other shows and events as well, from dance, performance, and occasional film screenings. Approximately 150 events occur at the Rialto annually, with reported attendance of more than 100,000 patrons.
See also
- Rialto TheaterRialto TheaterRialto Theatre may refer to:in Canada*Rialto Theatre , a former theatre that is a National Historic Site of Canada*Rialto Theatre , 1943-1991; demolished 1991, within one year of acquisition by Cineplex Odeon and renaming as "The Phoenix"...
- Plaza Theater (Tucson)Plaza Theater (Tucson)The Plaza Theater was the crowing jewel of 1920s development on West Congress Street in Tucson and the only indoor Spanish language theater in Southern Arizona. The theater was designed by renowned local Tucson architect Roy Place in 1930 for A. Kaufman a local commercial developer and pioneer...
- Fox Theatre (Tucson, Arizona)