Rialto Theater
219 S. Jefferson Avenue,
Peoria,
IL
61602
219 S. Jefferson Avenue,
Peoria,
IL
61602
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Balaban & Katz Corp., Kerasotes Theatres
Architects: Frederic J. Klein
Previous Names: Hippodrome Theater
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The Hippodrome Theater opened on October 21, 1913 with a seating capacity of 1,674. The theater was originally a vaudeville house. In 1931, the theater was renamed the Rialto Theater and switched to a movies-only policy, operated as part of the Balaban & Katz chain of Chicago. Later Great States Theatres. On September 1, 1951 it became part of the Kerasotes Theatres chain of Springfield. It was closed on January 18, 1979 with Clint Eastood in “Any Which Way But Loose” which attracted a total audience of 20.
The Rialto Theater was razed in 1979, to make way for the Peoria Civic Center.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
For some reason I liked the Rialto best of all 6 downtown Peoria theaters in my time. It was considered 3rd among the first-run houses (after the Madison & Palace) but it sometimes got the “big” pictures held over from the Madison, which never ran any movie more than a week in the ‘40’s & '50’s. It’s a real shame that they couldn’t incorporate it into the Peoria Civic Center as a performing arts center, as some preservationists implored them to do.
On 8/27/51, the Dixon Evening Telegraph announced that the Rialto had been sold to Kerasotes Theaters by the Great States Theater Group. The transfer would be effective as of September 1, 1951.
Here’s a link to a vintage shot of the Rialto:
View link
My moviegoing years in Peoria, IL were from the early to mid-1960s. We either attended films at the Madison, Palace or Beverly – no idea why we never attended anything at the Rialto.
last film i saw there was star wars [8 times or so] last time was september of 77 i think. im here cause i wish i could go back.. if others are also we must realize its also and probably more the people who helped make those memories..perhaps if some of those people r still living and are kind souls we should seek them out and say ‘'hey’‘ etc.
My Mom went into labor with me while she was working at the Rialto. 1972.
The Hippodrome must have been a combination house from the beginning, not just a vaudeville theater. It is mentioned at least twice in The Moving Picture World in 1913.
The February 9, 1916, issue of The Moving Picture World said that the Hippodrome in Peoria was set to begin its vaudeville season, and shows would include three reels of movies at each performance. The Princess Theatre, under the same management, had just discontinued vaudeville.
1971 marquee photo added, photo credit Peoria Public Library.
In 1976, the Peoria Civic Center project targeted a number of longstanding Peoria downtown buildings including the Rialto Theatre. With demolition all but guaranteed and business down to 142,000 annual tickets (roughly 97 people per show in a 1,400 seat capacity house), the Rialto was DOA.
Give Kerasotes credit for booking “Star Wars” there as that title, alone, sold over 110,000 tickets in a 27 week run making it the highest grossing film in Rialto history. A plan and a Save the Rialto movement started and a plan to retain the Rialto was proffered. It seemed to make sense and was within the realm of possibility. So actions hastened to remove the buildings in the Civic Center’s path. The Rialto was to have closed with a vaudeville show and classic movie but those plans were scrapped. 20 people attended the last showing of “Every Which Way Bit Loose” on January 18, 1979.
The salvage auction was held on January 25, 1979. In that prep for the auction, they found an archive of movie posters that were in a “lost” closet in the basement. In early February 1979, the demolition began.