Rialto Theater (Tacoma, Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rialto Theater
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | 310 Ninth St., Tacoma, Washington |
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| Architect | Borhek, Roland E. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Movie Theaters in Washington State MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001041 |
| Added to NRHP | August 21, 1992 |
The Rialto Theatre is a historic movie theater in Tacoma, Washington. It was built in 1918, right after World War I. The theater was designed to look like a grand palace. This was a time when many people had more money.
The theater was created by Henry T. Moore, a businessman, and Roland E. Borhek, an architect from Tacoma. It was first built to hold 1,500 people. Today, it can hold about 780 people.
This two-and-a-half-story building is in downtown Tacoma. This area has always been known for theaters and fun entertainment. The Rialto Theatre stands alone on a sloped street. It has a beautiful front made of shiny white terra cotta.
Most of the theater's original design, both inside and out, is still the same. The Rialto has an auditorium (the main seating area), a stage with a proscenium (the arch around the stage), a balcony, and a lobby. It also has space for shops. Some parts have changed over time. For example, the original storefronts and the marquee (the sign over the entrance) were removed. Inside, the fancy ceiling in the lobby was covered up, and the snack areas were made bigger.
The Rialto Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. This means it is an important historical building.
Outside the Rialto Theatre
The Rialto Theatre is located on 9th Street. It sits between Market Street and "C" Court. The building is about 120 feet (36.5 meters) long on 9th Street. It is about 90 feet (27.4 meters) long on Market Street and "C" Court.
The 9th Street side looks like a trapezoid. This is because the street goes uphill from "C" Court to Market Street. Originally, there were three shops along 9th Street. Their doors were on the sloped sidewalk.
The theater's walls are made of light brown stucco. This simple background makes the fancy white terra cotta decorations stand out. These decorations are mostly around the main entrance. The roof over the main seating area is sloped and flat. It meets the walls at the top. The building is made of brick and hollow clay tile. The roof over the auditorium uses a steel frame. Strong concrete beams support the stage arch and the balcony.
The main entrance is rounded at the corner. It is covered in the shiny terra cotta. This area has the most detailed classical decorations. Three arched openings form a curved entry. Here you can find a ticket window and glass doors. The floor is made of terrazzo, and the lower walls have marble. A new marquee, shaped like a flower petal, sticks out over the entrance.
The second floor above the entrance is enclosed. It has a decorative top with lighted decorations called finials. The windows on this upper corner match the arches below. They are three sets of arched windows. The rest of the front of the building is simpler. The stucco walls are divided into six sections by terra cotta pillars. A decorative terra cotta top runs along the entire length of the building. It has lighted finials where the pillars meet the top edge.
Next to the main entrance, the upper part of the first three sections has windows. It also has a fancy cornice (a decorative molding). Smaller lighted finials decorate the top edge. Shops used to be in the first sections along the second level. On the Market Street side, there is a new shop front on the corner. There is also a staircase from an emergency exit for the auditorium below.
Inside the Rialto Theatre
The inside of the Rialto Theatre includes a lobby and the main seating area with a balcony. It also has a projection booth for movies. There is a shallow stage with a proscenium (the arch around the stage). Behind the stage are dressing rooms. There are also mechanical rooms and spaces for shops.
The lobby leads into the back of the main seating area. There is a ramp and stairs to reach the balcony. The balcony hangs over part of the main floor, above the lobby. Other rooms are located along the sides of the main seating area. On the second floor, along the auditorium, are the manager's office, restrooms, waiting rooms, storage, and the corner shop spaces.
The lobby has lights that are hidden in the ceiling. The ceiling is curved and decorated with plaster designs that look like plants. A ramp runs along the back wall. It splits to let people access the balcony from two different sides.
You enter the main seating area from the back. Two aisles create three sections of seats. This tall, rectangular hall was designed for showing movies. It has a shallow stage and side areas. You can see curved shapes throughout the room. The ceiling is curved, and the walls curve from the stage arch.
Fancy plaster decorations are found on the walls, ceiling, stage arch, and balcony railing. The stage arch has the most detailed plaster work. It shows a classical design with pillars. Two small angels blowing long trumpets sit on top of the stage arch. They are separated by a lighted torch. On each side of the stage arch, there is a screened area. These areas once held organ pipes. They are decorated with plaster grills topped by eagles and flags. Light comes from chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. There are also wall lights and hidden lights along the ceiling edge and under the organ grills.
Above the main entrance, there is a round room. This room used to be a waiting area for the ladies' restroom. In 1991, the upper level was updated. It now includes restrooms, a small rehearsal hall, and a recreated corner shop.
The 1991 renovation updated the theater's technical and mechanical systems. The lobby was restored. The inside colors were chosen to be similar to the original ones. The back wall of the main seating area, under the balcony, was made into a curved surface. The projection booth was moved to the balcony. The seating was restored to how it looked in 1951, not the original 1918 design. Other changes were made to make the theater easier for people with disabilities to use and to improve safety.
