Loveland’s Rialto to celebrate 100th anniversary

LOVELAND — Loveland’s Rialto Theater will celebrate its 100-year anniversary this May.

Actually, the city-owned structure is older than 100, but pandemic protocols limited celebrations on what would have been its 100th birthday.

The Rialto, an entertainment staple in downtown Loveland, opened its doors May 26, 1920, as a silent movie theater. According to a history provided by the theater, it opened “to rival two other theaters in the region by prominent Loveland businessman William C. Vorreiter and was touted as ‘the finest theater north of Denver,’ by the Loveland Daily Herald. At its opening, the theater contained 1,014 wooden seats as compared to the more comfortable 478 seats today. A Wurlitzer organ was added in 1927, eliminating the need for a full orchestra at every silent film showing and providing fun 

sound effects like horse hoof-beats and train whistles. In addition to showing movies, the Rialto gave  Loveland a seating area and stage large enough to host traveling vaudeville shows and meeting space for recitals and graduations.” a

The building was not always used as a theater. At one point, it served as a mini retail mall. But in 1987, the Downtown Development Authority and a group of volunteers began to restore it. 

Today, the restored theater includes a large LED video wall along with sound and lighting equipment that enables its use by touring performers, local performing arts groups, in addition to serving as a theater to show films.

The centennial celebration begins the week of May 17 with several free events concluding on May 21 with a concert on Fourth Street by Grammy Award winner Marc Cohn.

The schedule:

• May 17 Rialto Open House — Noon until 7 p.m. at 228 E Fourth St. with tours on the hour.

• May 20  Silent Films — 7 p.m. screening of silent films Dew Drop Inn, the first film shown at the Rialto in 1920, along with a showing of The Kid featuring Charlie Chaplin with Denver pianist Hank Troy accompaniment. Admission is free but advance registration is required. 

• May 21  Centennial celebration concert with Marc Cohn and Face Vocal Band — Cohn is best known for his song “Walking in  Memphis” from his 1991 album. Admission is free and no registration is required; the event is outside of the Rialto on Fourth Street. Face Vocal Band will begin at 7:30 p.m. followed by Cohn at 8:15 p.m.

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