Rialto Square Theatre facts for kids
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| Address | 102 N. Chicago St |
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| Location | Joliet, Illinois |
| Owner | Will County Metropolitan Exposition & Auditorium Authority |
| Type | Movie palace |
| Capacity | 1,966 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1926 |
| Renovated | 1978 |
| Architect | Rapp & Rapp |
| General contractor | Kaiser-Ducett |
| Website | |
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Rubens Rialto Square Theater
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| NRHP reference No. | 78001199 |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1978 |
The Rialto Square Theatre is a famous building in Joliet, Illinois, U.S.. It first opened in 1926. This beautiful theater was built to show movies and host live shows called vaudeville. Today, it is a popular spot for musicals, plays, concerts, and comedy shows. People can also rent it for special events.
The theater's design is called Neo-Baroque. This style uses lots of fancy details, like those found in old European palaces. The American Institute of Architects even named it one of the "150 great places in Illinois."
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Exploring the Rialto Square Theatre
The Rialto Square Theatre first opened its doors in 1926. It was carefully restored in the 1980s to bring back its original beauty.
What's Inside the Rialto?
When you step inside, you'll see amazing things. Shiny columns made of scagliola (a special plaster that looks like marble) reach up to a ceiling that looks like the sky. This ceiling is covered with detailed sculptures.
In the main lobby, a huge chandelier called the Duchess chandelier hangs down. The walls are made of cream-colored marble. Little angel figures, called cherubim, seem to fly into the main seating area.
Special Details and Artistry
The marble walls in the lobby were polished by Conrad Schmitt Studios. This company also did a lot of the restoration work in 1980. The black marble at the bottom of the walls in the hallway, called the esplanade, has also been polished. This area was designed to look like the famous Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles in France. Above the black marble, you'll see elegant red, pink, and gray scagliola.
How the Rialto Theatre Began
The Rialto Square Theatre was designed by C.W. and George Rapp in 1924. It officially opened on May 24, 1926. The very first show was a production called "The Evolution of Joliet."
Movies and Music at the Rialto
The first movie with sound, Lights of New York, was shown on October 9, 1928. In 1953, the theater added stereophonic sound, which made movies sound even better.
Since the theater was built to show silent films, it needed music and sound effects. So, a large theatre organ was installed. This organ, made by the Barton Organ Company, has 28 sets of pipes and four keyboards. The pipes are hidden in two rooms next to the stage. The organ's keyboard, called the console, can move up to the stage or down into the orchestra pit. This special organ has been fully restored. Every spring, a big concert is held to show off its amazing sound.
Saving the Rialto Theatre
By 1972, the Rialto Theatre needed help. A campaign called "Save the Rialto" was started by Miss Dorothy Mavrich. This group later became known as the Rialto Square Arts Association.
Community Efforts to Restore the Theatre
With help from local businessman Christo Dragatsis, Miss Mavrich gained support from city, state, and federal leaders. Students from Joliet Township High School East Campus also joined in. Under the guidance of ROTC Cadet Lt. Colonel Don Probst, students helped repaint dressing rooms, clean the theater, and work as ushers for early shows.
These early shows included "Hasting and Hays On Love," which featured popular soap opera stars. This event was part of the 51st Anniversary Celebration on July 30 and 31, 1977. During this time, choirs and swing groups from local high schools performed on the Rialto stage. It was a tribute to the theater's restoration and its return to live performances.
The Rialto Becomes Public Property
In 1978, the Rialto complex became public property. The Joliet Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority was created to lead the big restoration project. This group helped bring the theater back to its former glory.
Rialto's Role in Entertainment and Education
The Rialto has been a special place for many events.
Famous Events and Shows
The Rialto was even featured on TV! Actors Christopher Knight and Adrianne Curry had their wedding reception there. This was shown in the final episode of their TV show, My Fair Brady.
Learning at the Rialto
The theater used to be home to the Rialto School of the Arts. This program offered art, choir, and drama classes for children.
- A Visual Arts Camp taught kids about different art materials and techniques.
- A Choir camp gave children a chance to sing and dance. They even performed on the grand Rialto Square Theatre stage.
- Children's Theatre Workshops were also held at the Rialto by Our Town Productions, a professional theater company.
