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Rialto Theatre, South Pasadena

Rialto Theatre, South Pasadena

Architect: Lewis A. Smith

First Opened: 17th October 1925 (98 years ago)

Status: Currently in use by a church group

Website: www.mosaic.org/south-pasadena Open website in new window

Address: 1023 Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030 Show address in Google Maps (new window)


The Rialto opened in October 1925 and was designed to showcase both movies and vaudeville. It was one of the last theatres designed by noted architect Lewis A. Smith (Smith also designed the ever-popular Vista Theatre on Sunset Blvd), and is executed in a mix of styles including Egyptian and Spanish Baroque, however is mainly Moorish Fantasy.

Featured Photos

Detailed Information

Originally announced as a 1,600-seat house, the Rialto ended-up with around 1,200 seats. According to the National Park Service the current capacity is 1,143. When it opened in 1925, its policy was to run feature length movies and present vaudeville on Thursdays and Saturdays in addition to the movie. The Rialto was a try-out stage for vaudeville produced by Fanchon and Marco. As an alternative to vaudeville, at times live drama was also presented, again in conjunction with a movie screening,

Auditorium in 2018
Auditorium in 2018

The auditorium is decorated with bright colors and stenciled features, with mythical creatures in some key locations: harpies support the organ grilles from below and, located centrally above the proscenium, is a gargoyle with glowing red eyes – lit-up before, during and after performances. A Batchelder tile drinking fountain is located in the lobby.

In addition to the theatre’s features enabling it to present full-scale productions (dressing rooms, fly tower, 30ft deep stage, large orchestra pit) the building also includes retail store fronts on either side of the entrance, plus independent apartments above the retail spaces.

From the 1930s the Rialto was operated by Fox West Coast Theatres, and it was at this time that the current Art Moderne neon marquee replaced the original marquee. According to the National Park Service, for about ten years, beginning in the middle of the 1930s, the Rialto had an interesting distinction: each year when the Academy Awards were announced for the best picture of the year, it was already playing at the time at the Rialto. The theatre suffered a backstage fire in 1938 necessitating closure for several months. After reopening neither vaudeville nor live drama played again at the Rialto.

In the 1960s operations turned-over to Mann Theatres. Notable organ concerts were given by George Wright playing the 2 manual, 10 rank Wurlitzer pipe organ. The organ was later removed as a result of a fire in 1968, when water hoses had to be aimed at one of the organ grilles to help put out the fire.

Landmark Theatres took over in 1976, and in 1977 South Pasadena citizens circulated petitions to save the Rialto from demolition to make way for a parking lot. The theatre was designated a Historic Cultural Monument in 1977 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. By the 1990s Landmark was planning to multiplex the theatre. The multiplex plan never came to fruition and in 2007 Landmark Theatres closed the Rialto due to dwindling ticket sales, the last screening being “The Simpsons Movie”.

The restored exterior, with retail units and apartments flanking the theatre’s entrance
The restored exterior, with retail units and apartments flanking the theatre’s entrance

In 2014 the theatre was purchased by Los Angeles developer Izek Shomof with the intention of bringing live entertainment back to the Rialto. In mid-2017 it was announced a 20-year lease had been signed by Mosaic Church.

The exterior of the theatre was restored in 2020, in a deal with the tenants which saw the owner take responsibility for restoring the exterior and leasing the retail units at street level, and the tenants taking responsibility for the interior. Scaffolding covering the exterior came down in June 2020 and new neon was installed onto the marquee and vertical sign in November 2020.

The Rialto is no stranger to the movies and is most notable for its prominent appearance in La La Land (2016) Link opens in new window. Amongst many other movie appearances the Rialto has also been seen in Kentucky Fried Movie (1977) Link opens in new window, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 (1988) Link opens in new window, The Player (1992) Link opens in new window, and Scream 2 (1997) Link opens in new window.

Movie, TV & Music Video Appearances

Movies

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Documentary

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Listed/Landmark Building Status

How do I visit the Rialto Theatre?

The Rialto is currently operating as a church, however they occasionally host movie screenings as well. Check out the Mosaic Church’s website Link opens in new window for more details and forthcoming screenings.

Further Reading

Online

Photos of the Rialto Theatre

Jump to Photo Section:

  1. Auditorium
  2. Backstage
  3. Exterior
  4. Public Areas
Auditorium

The auditorium seats 1,200 patrons and is executed in a mix of styles including Egyptian and Spanish Baroque, however is mainly Moorish Fantasy.

Backstage

The theatre features an Armstrong-Power single rod counterweight flying system, original to the theatre.

A paint frame was provided at the rear of the stage, however there is no trough in the stage floor for the paint frame to descend into, neither is there a bridge for painting backdrops from a height.

The original lighting switchboard is still in situ and parts of it are still operational.

Exterior

The exterior is most recognizable from the movie “La La Land” (2016) Link opens in new window. You can see some insider photos from the movie’s location shoot at the Rialto on the Friends of the Rialto website Link opens in new window.

Two retail units were provided on either side of the theatre entrance at street level, and on the level above were two residential apartments.

The exterior of the theatre was restored in 2020 by the owner, Izek Shomof, in a deal with the tenants (Mosaic church group) which sees the owner responsible for restoring the exterior and leasing the retail units at street level, and the tenants responsible for the interior. Scaffolding covering the exterior came down in June 2020 and new neon was installed onto the marquee and vertical sign in November 2020.

Public Areas


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