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 beautiful old theater in Joliet, Illinois, U.S.. It first opened its doors in 1926. This grand building was originally a "movie palace" for vaudeville shows and films. Today, it hosts many different events. You can see musicals, plays, concerts, and even stand-up comedy here. The theater is also used for special public and private parties. It was designed in a fancy style called Neo-Baroque. Many people think it is one of the best places in Illinois.
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Exploring the Rialto Theatre
The Rialto Square Theatre first opened in 1926. It was later restored in the 1980s. Inside, you will see shiny columns that look like marble. These columns reach up to a beautiful dome with detailed sculptures. A huge chandelier, called the Duchess, hangs in the main rotunda area. The lobby walls are made of cream-colored marble. Little angel figures, called cherubim, decorate the auditorium.
The Grand Lobby and Walls
The marble walls in the lobby were polished by a company called Conrad Schmitt Studios. This same company helped restore the Rialto in 1980. The black marble at the bottom of the walls is very elegant. It looks like the famous Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles in France. Above this, there is a special material called scagliola in red, pink, and gray colors. It has also been polished to shine.
Design and Early Days
C.W. and George Rapp were the architects who designed the Rialto Square Theatre in 1924. The theater officially opened on May 24, 1926. The very first show was called "The Evolution of Joliet." The Rialto started showing "talking pictures" (movies with sound) on October 9, 1928. The first talking movie shown was Lights of New York. In 1953, the theater added stereophonic sound, which made movies sound even better.
The Mighty Theatre Organ
One of the Rialto's first jobs was to show silent films. These movies needed music and sound effects. So, the theater was built with a special Barton theatre organ. This organ has four keyboards and 28 sets of pipes. The pipes are hidden in two rooms on either side of the stage. The organ's console (where the organist plays) can move. It can be raised to the stage or lowered into the orchestra pit. This amazing instrument has been fully restored. Each spring, a special concert is held to show off its incredible sound.
Saving the Rialto Theatre
In 1972, a special effort began to "Save the Rialto." Miss Dorothy Mavrich started this important campaign. As more people joined, the group became known as the Rialto Square Arts Association. A local businessman, Christo Dragatsis, helped Miss Mavrich get support. They worked with city, state, and federal leaders.
Student Help and Early Shows
Students from Joliet Township High School East Campus also joined the effort. ROTC Cadet Lt. Colonel Don Probst led the student campaign. He worked with Miss Mavrich to start the restoration. Mr. Probst organized student volunteers. They helped repaint dressing rooms and clean the theater. They also worked as ushers for some early shows. These shows happened before the big restoration began. One event was "Hasting and Hays On Love" in July 1977. This show featured soap opera stars Don Hastings and Kathryn Hays. During this time, choirs and swing groups from local high schools performed. This was a tribute to the theater's return to live shows.
Public Ownership and Restoration
In 1978, the Rialto complex became public property. The Joliet Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority was created. This group was in charge of leading the big restoration of the theater.
A Famous Wedding Reception
The Rialto was also the place for a famous event. Christopher Knight and Adrianne Curry had their wedding reception here. This was shown in the final episode of their TV show, My Fair Brady.
Rialto School of the Arts
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 tools. There was also a Choir Camp where kids could sing and dance. Their final performance was on the grand Rialto Square Theatre stage. Children's Theatre Workshops were also held at the Rialto. These workshops were run by Our Town Productions, a professional theater company.
