Rialto Theatre in S. Pasadena Closes

[happyfilmluvguy]

From the Pasadena Star News:

SOUTH PASADENA - After more than 80 years of screening movies, The Rialto Theatre, one of the San Gabriel Valley's last-remaining "movie palaces" from the early 20th century, is slated to go dark forever.

Parent company Landmark Theatres, which operates classic movie houses across the country, announced its plans to close the iconic theater for good on Aug. 20.

Famous for its cavernous auditorium and gargoyle statues - but also widely known for its chipping paint and springy seats - The Railto's aging baroque-style building needs more than $1 million in renovations, said Bill Banowsky, CEO of Landmark Theatres.

Even with major work, however, the single-screen movie house likely could not sustain itself financially showing just one film at a time, he said.

"Like many aging single-screen theaters, The Rialto has become uneconomical to operate as a movie theater," Banowsky said Thursday. "If we can develop an economically viable plan to restore the theater, that is our preference.

"If we are unable to do so, we will

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make the space available for other uses that are compatible with the neighborhood," he added.
The theater had been expected to become the focal point of a pending revitalization of South Pasadena's downtown area. DECOMA, the developer selected for the project, had even set aside about $200,000 to give The Rialto's facade a face-lift.

But while The Rialto's future as a movie house is uncertain, the structure itself will not disappear from South Pasadena's landscape, vowed Glen Duncan, president of the Pasadena Preservation Society and a member of the South Pasadena Cultural Heritage Commission.

More HERE

 

[eniksleestack]

Dang, that was a cool place. I saw a number of films there. Rear Window as well as Planet of the Apes. In fact, I still have some un-used gift tickets to the Rialto that my ex-girlfriend gave me. Guess it's too late to use them.

 

[John in Covina]

It's been ages since I was there last.

 

[Bebop]

The Rialto theater was one of the highlights of my youth. I would take the bus from Alhambra to So. Pas. just to be inside this place. I did not care what was on the screen. One of my best friends worked there and would always make it special for me and my dates. I would eat at the japanese restaurant next door after a late night show. This is where I saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show a couple of Saturday nights. Later in life, when I moved to So. Pas., I would walk there to see movies. Great memories. So sorry to see it go. Too bad I am not in that part of the world anymore to see it once more. It's like learning of an old girlfriend I was not done with, dying.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

I only went to inside once. It was last year. I saw the new "The Painted Veil" there, right after work. It was one of the houses it was being shown and since it is set in the 20's, I thought it would be neat to see it in a period theater. After the film ended, I just walked around, observing the architecture around. It was great. I hope it keeps it's beauty over time. It is also a registered landmark in South Pasadena, which means it thankfully cannot be torn down legally.