Rialto Theatre
107 N. Main Street,
High Point,
NC
27260
107 N. Main Street,
High Point,
NC
27260
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Paramount-Wilby-Kincey Theatre Circuit
Previous Names: Capitol Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Capitol Theatre was opened on November 3, 1923. On November 24, 1927 it was renamed Rialto Theatre and was operated by the Paramount Wilbey-Kincey Circuit. In 1930 seating was listed at 468.
The Rialto Theatre closed in 1960.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
The Rialto building was incorporated into a department store next door around 1962-3. Some of its decorations were left as decor.
The City of High Point built a City Hall building that contained a large theater with an entry on Wrenn Street. It was built for live presentations in 1923. And the City also owned the 107 N. Main Street property here and leased that theatre to Alfred B. “A.B.” Huff’s High Point Amusements, Co., as well. The Capitol Theatre opened in November of 1923 on a four year leasing agreement. Under a new leasing agreement, the venue had became the Rialto Theatre on November 19, 1927.
The Rialto’s name was changed on April 2, 1930 to the Paramount Theatre with “Tanned Legs” supported by “His Operation.” Over a the American Theatre, it had moved away from live stage plays one year to live Keith vaudeville the next before settling on motion pictures. When Publix-Saenger took on Huff’s High Point Amusement operations on February 11, 1928 including here at the Rialto and the American - both of which would receive sound systems. Publix had also received the Broadhurst, the Broadway (formerly the Point Theatre in 1915), and the Orpheum (a live vaudeville house that it would shutter).
At the onset of the Depression, the Publix folks cut the Broadway loose first (though it was wired for sound by next operator, Wag Theatres) but would re-acquire it in the reorganized Paramount-Kincey group. The Orpheum was vacated and demolished later in the 1930s. Here, at the Rialto, Western Electric sound presentations began on October 21, 1929 with “The Man and the Moment.” The Rialto’s name was changed on April 2, 1930 to the Paramount Theatre with “Tanned Legs” supported by “His Operation.”
Soon, Publix decided to elevate the Paramount nameplate to the “A” house changing the American to the Paramount Theatre namesake. The Paramount reverted to its previous moniker in the Rialto Theatre. (The American Theatre nameplate was discontinued.) The Rialto benefitted from High Point’s growth in the 1930s going from 15,000 folks when the theatre opened to around 35,000 people by the mid 1930s.
The Rialto scuffled after the War surviving into the TV age. It went out of business on September 8, 1962 with “High Noon” and “Ivanhoe” supported by two cartoons. The Rialto was altered for Tobias Apparel retail store just weeks later with its marquee and face removed in October of 1962 and, beginning in December of 1962, its interior ending any further theatrical hopes. The Paramount would continue another eight years before closing and being demolished.