Historic Hood River
Save a Balcony Seat For Me
11-30-2015
Notes
Every time I see an interior view of the Rialto Theater I wonder how it could be this big on the inside and so small on the outside. Even though this was a relatively small theater, I’ll bet it was a thrill to see a movie or a show from this balcony.
This image is likely from 1921. It is part of a set including a lobby view with 1921 releases. Notes on the reverse boast that the light fixture was 8 feet diameter and made of parchment.
The museum has a painted curtain from the Rialto in its collection. I’ll need to check whether it is the one we see in this view. I know that Wurlitzer is in our collection, awaiting restoration. We saw Vera Kolstad playing it in a very early HHR post.
Charlott
If I remember correctly those "boxes" had been sealed off in my childhood. I assume that behind that lattice work were where the pipes were to the organ and that was all gone in my era. My sister-in-law should take a gander at this as she worked there during high school….
Would be interesting to know who did the beautiful curtain……..I think it was just a plain one there in the ’50’s.
Kenn
Wondering if the openings are boxes or just decorative. The angle of the walls does not allow them to face the stage.
I have never seen such a beautiful curtain in a theater, hope it has been preserved.
Arlen Sheldrake
WOW, lots of memories…..one is that father John L. did some moon lighting counting patrons in either the late 40s or early 50s…..Roger and I still have his hand counters. I think he did that for the movie distributors so that they could either keep the theater honest or audit billings…not sure…maybe movie rental was by attendee count. The original movie The Thing scared the daylights out of me in this theater……….No idea the interior looked so nice back in the 1920s…….
Arlen Sheldrake
the curtain painting sure looks like a great view of Lost Lake and Mountain Hood
Buzz
Is that the same theater we went to in the late 50’s?
Tom Kloster
Ditto on the Mount Hood from Lost Lake painting, Arlen! That would be quite a treasure today if it had survived. What a wonderful rendition!
Tom
tanner whitmore
this reminds me of my childhood
Jill Stanfprd
I have several diaries from the mid-20’s to the late 30’s from both my great-aunt Betty Jones (buried by her sister, my grandmother, at Idlewilde) as well as my mother. One of the things they mention quite a bit was going to the movies at the Rialto. And I think that is Lost Lake and Mt Hood too. We had a similar theater, The Princess, in Edmonds, Washington where I spent Saturday matinees in the balcony during 1946-1954. I went back to Edmonds this summer and went to the theater – hasn’t changed a bit!
Judy
My late friend, Phyllis Dalleske Mocker worked there selling tickets. I did not see the theater until the 60’s and it was pretty run down by then.
Jennifer Mockler Ashley
Your friend, Phyllis Dalleske Mockler was my mom. She was sitting in the ticket booth when my dad drove by upon his return from the Korean war. My dad leaned over to HIS mom, and said "I’m gonna marry that girl." Next thing you know, Dad was working at the Rialto too, as an usher. Spent every Saturday at that theater as a child.
Robert Barclay
The first movie I remember seeing was The Music Man (1961?) with my mom and dad. Baines McSwain (spelling?) was the owner as I recall. Popcorn and Flecks chocolates! More than once I got into trouble for returning late after a matinee.
Cliff Elliott
I remember well the Rialto Theater, and I was very disappointed when they tore it down. The first show I recall seeing was Walt Disney’s 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea in the late 50’s Mr. McSwain would raffle off prizes and my brother won a transistor radio.
Jeffrey W Bryant
P. L. Manser painted a curtain for the Rialto in 1922 showing Koberg’s Columbia Beach. I couldn’t find an article indicating who painted the Mt. Hood scene.
Jeffrey W Bryant
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn97071110/1922-11-09/ed-1/seq-9/
William C. Seaton
One of the early movies I remember seeing at the Rialto was The Best Years Of Our Lives. I’ve always thought ir was such an accurate reflection of the post-WWII-years.