Also see: Rialto Theatre - history + exterior views
A view from the crossaisle showing the effects of the remodel William Lee Woollett did for Sid Grauman in 1919. The photo appeared the May 1923 issue of Architect and Engineer which had two articles that dealt mostly with Mr. Woollett's work at Grauman's Metropolitan. See "Concrete and Creative Architecture" by Mr. Woollett and "Grauman Theater, a Work of Art" by E. Bingham. The issue is on Internet Archive.
A closer proscenium view showing different draperies. It's a photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection where they give it a date of 1923.
A detail of the area over the front exit house left. Photo: Architect and Engineer - May 1923
The curious William Lee Woollett creations house right. Photo: Architect and Engineer - May 1923. Gary Parks comments: "The lions and the pillar between them are inspired by the city gate of Mycenae, in Greece (still extant). While the cylindrical columns are Greek in style, the scrolled ornament on top of the column on the right is Persian-derived."
The building in 2009:
A lobby view. Thanks to Deanna Bayless for her photo on Flickr. It's a shot in her 26 photo Historic Los Angeles Theatres set.
All the 2009 photos on this page were taken during a Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation tour of the building. The LAHTF is actively involved in the study and preservation of the many vintage theatres in the L.A. area. The group frequently supports events and offers tours. www.lahtf.org | on Facebook |
Hillsman Wright commented: "Checked some facts per Ed Kelsey. The earthquake retrofit happened in '83 and repaired damage done in the '71 quake. The curved lobby ceiling is from the post-war renovation. In '84, another renovation removed most of the remaining historic fabric. The Rialto closed for good in '87 and was an impetus for the formation of LAHTF."
A lobby ceiling detail showing the plasterwork from a 40s remodel. Photo: Deanna Bayless on Flickr - 2009
More lobby plasterwork. Photo: Deanna Bayless on Flickr - 2009
Another lobby detail. Photo: Deanna Bayless on Flickr - 2009
A view from the rear of the auditorium. Thanks to Rich Alossi for his 2009 photo.
Another look toward the proscenium. Photo: Deanna Bayless on Flickr - 2009
The vista from up near the booth. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF Facebook page - 2009. Thanks, Don!
A sidewall detail in the upper seating section. Thanks to Eric Lynxwiler for his photo on Flickr. His Los Angeles Theatre Set includes eight more photos of the Rialto. You can page through them by starting at one of his lobby ceiling photos. See his Los Angeles Theaters set for over 400 great photos of various Los Angeles movie palaces.
A bit of the sidewall down lower. Much of the interior was gutted during a seismic retrofit of the building. Photo: Deanna Bayless on Flickr - 2009
Stenciling under later coasts of paint. Photo: Deanna Bayless on Flickr - 2009
A closer look at what was left of the proscenium. Photo: Rich Alossi - 2009
A proscenium detail. Photo: Deanna Bayless on Flickr - 2009
A view toward the rear of the house. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF Facebook page - 2009
Looking back toward the booth. The rear of the auditorium was stadium-style seating. Photo: Rich Alossi - 2009. Thanks, Rich!
Another view of the upper seating section. Photo: Deanna Bayless on Flickr - 2009
The wood truss ceiling. Photo: Deanna Bayless on Flickr - 2009
Urban Outfitters takes the space:
A peek through the construction fence. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - August 2013. Thanks, Hunter! Keep up with his latest explorations: on Facebook | HunterKerhart.com | on Flickr
A look deep into the Rialto during the Urban Outfitters construction. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - November 2013
New brass doors getting installed. Photo: Hunter Kerhart - November 2013. Thanks, Hunter!
A November 2013 construction photo by Wendell Benedetti on the LAHTF Facebook page. Thanks, Wendell!
A December 2013 Racked story by Natalie Alcala "Photos! Inside Urban Outfitters.." included many interior photos by Elizabeth Daniels. In this one we're looking back toward Broadway. The mezzanine is new -- it was originally stadium seating back there.
Inside the store at the entrance, looking north. The reddish steel we see is part of the original framing for the upper stadium style section of seating. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
The stairs to the new mezzanine. Underneath, we're looking back toward Broadway. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
Looking toward the screen end of the building from the mezzanine. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
The back wall. The square steel columns are at the location of the original proscenium. Photo: Bill Counter - 2014
The Rialto Theatre pages: history + exterior views | back to top - interior views |
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