Stop 02 of 8
Rialto Theatre
Opened in 1920. The show never really ended.
The History
Built by the same architectural firm as the nearby Hotel Congress, the Rialto opened in 1920 and featured vaudeville acts, singing, comedy, and the occasional silent movie. In the 1930s the "talkies" flipped the movie industry, and the Rialto adapted. But business dwindled as downtown Tucson changed and people moved toward the suburbs.
The theater closed for a time, becoming a furniture store, then reinvented itself in 1971 as El Cine Plaza, showing high-quality Spanish films. When attendance faltered again, it was adult films that saved the theater. "Deep Throat" showed daily for over a year. Church groups protested, and one woman was so angry she snuck into the balcony and set the seats on fire. The Rialto opened for business as usual the next day. The theater we see today began in 2002 under new ownership and with major renovations.
The Hauntings
In the mid-1940s, the piano player in the orchestra pit was killed when his bench collapsed and the piano fell on him. His spirit is said to haunt the theater. Footsteps heard upstairs at night, mutterings and murmurings, and a shadowy presence seen moving across the stage area have all been documented through paranormal investigations.
Through the decades many performers have graced the Rialto's stage. Whether the piano player is responsible for all the activity, or whether former performers have returned to relive their days in the spotlight, remains an open question.
This is stop 02 of 8 on the full tour route. The tour covers all of them in 90 minutes.
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