Rialto Theater (Omaha, Nebraska) facts for kids
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Rialto Theater in Omaha, Nebraska, showing the film In Old Kentucky, circa 1919
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| Address | 1424 Douglas Street Omaha, Nebraska United States |
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| Coordinates | 41°15′32″N 95°56′07″W / 41.2590°N 95.9353°W |
| Owner | Blank Realty Co. |
| Type | Movie theater |
| Capacity | 2,500 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | Memorial Day, May 30, 1918 |
| Years active | 1918–1929 |
| Architect | John Latenser & Sons |
The Rialto Theater was a large movie theater located at 1424 Douglas Street in Downtown Omaha, Nebraska. It was a popular place to watch films for many years. Sadly, the building was torn down in 1986. The area where it stood is now part of the Union Pacific Center, a large office building.
Contents
History of the Rialto Theater
Building the Theater
The Rialto Theater was designed by a company called John Latenser & Sons. It was built for the Blank Realty Company. The theater was very big, with seats for 2,500 people!
The building was made with a strong steel frame, along with concrete and masonry walls. The outside of the theater was decorated with light ivory and terra cotta materials. It also had colorful blue and red designs.
There were three big arches above the main entrance, which was on a corner. These arches were used to advertise movies. Inside, the theater had special features like a nursery for children. It also had a screening room and a large space for an orchestra, complete with a pipe organ.
Opening Day and Early Films
The Rialto Theater opened its doors to the public on Memorial Day, May 30, 1918. It was built mainly for showing movies. The very first movie shown there was Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman. This film starred famous actors John Barrymore and Evelyn Brent.
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When it first opened, the Rialto Theater showed silent movies. These movies had no spoken words, only music and written text on screen. Later, the theater was changed so it could show talking movies, which had sound and dialogue.
Later Years and Demolition
The Rialto Theater closed suddenly on August 2, 1929. After it closed, the building was divided into smaller spaces for different businesses. Over the years, it was used as a bus station, a bowling alley, a clothing store, and even a cafeteria.
Finally, the building was torn down in February 1986. The large pipe organ from the theater was given to Omaha Central High School. The school planned to put it in their auditorium, but this never happened. The organ was later taken apart and sold for scrap.
The Rialto in Pop Culture
The Rialto Theater was even mentioned on a TV show! In an episode of "That Girl" called “The Phantom of the Horse Opera,” a character talks about an old organ he owns. He says he got it from “...The Rialto Theater in Omaha, NE...”
See also
