10 things you may not have known about the Rialto Theatre

Long live the Rialto

As the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., approaches its 100th birthday, we offer some facts about the theater's history. Information came from the Rialto's website and Arizona Daily Star archives.

The Rialto Theatre opens

The Rialto Theatre opened Sunday, Aug. 29, 1920. The main feature at the opening was the full-length film ─ or photoplay ─ "The Toll Gate," starring William Hart.

Rialto Theatre and Hotel Congress forever linked

The Rialto was built at the same time as the Hotel Congress across the street and was built by the same firm.

The Rialto was for everyone

The name "Rialto" refers to plazas in medieval Italy where commoners could go for entertainment as theaters and opera houses were for the wealthy.

Vaudeville every Wednesday

In the early days, the Rialto had vaudeville shows every Wednesday evening with five acts. Ginger Rogers was one such act. She performed the Charleston in 1925, but she was not the star attraction.

One price

The Rialto advertised itself as a "one-price house," meaning all acts for the evening were one price and the price was meant to be within reach of all people.

First talking picture

The first "talkie" shown at the Rialto was on Sunday, March 24, 1929. By 1930, the theater advertised talkies on a small marquee that said "Our screen talks."

The first film on the Rialto's talking screen was "In Old Arizona," which was billed as the first talking picture filmed outdoors.

The Rialto has its own ghost

The Rialto has a ghost. In the mid-1940s a piano player in the orchestra pit fell when his bench collapsed and the piano collapsed on top of him. His head hit the concrete at the edge of the pit and he died of the head injuries. Some say his ghost haunts the theater.

The Paramount

The Rialto was renamed the Paramount in 1948 and had several names through the years as it closed, changed ownership, reopened and served many purposes.

Adult films

As the Cine Plaza, the theater showed adult films, beginning with "Deap Throat" in the 1970s. They initially caused quite an uproar.

Rialto is itself again

The Rialto Theatre now hosts live concerts and other live entertainment and once again has its original name.