Rialto Theater (Fort Wayne, Indiana)

 theatre, abandoned / shut down

The Rialto Theater opened on Aug. 21, 1924 as a 700-seat movie house. Located at 2616 South Calhoun Street, it was originally owned by the James Heliotes family and it became the home for many great Hollywood showings during its rich history. In the 1940’s, the theater was remodeled to add a 300-seat balcony.

Unfortunately, after many wonderful years of distinction in the community, the grand Rialto began to decline in the 1960’s as people moved to the suburbs and competing, multi screen theaters opened in shopping centers. The Rialto remained in the hands of Heliotes' family until it was sold in 1967. In the '70s, it showed martial-arts movies and had a brief stint as a Spanish-language theater. By the early 1980’s it was the site of daily pickets protesting the X-rated movies that were being shown there. The Rialto’s unfortunate end was as an adult theater and alleged site of prostitution. Closing in 1989, it's been vacant for nearly 15 years now.

In 1990, the historic-preservation group ARCH Inc. placed the Rialto on its Endangered Structures List. In 1993, the City of Fort Wayne named the Rialto a locally designated historic building. Its glazed, terra-cotta tile façade, blonde brick side and rear walls, as well as its ornate interior have fallen into disrepair, but the Rialto's original and distinguishing dome ceiling remains intact.

In October of 2003, The Reclamation Project finalized the purchase of the theater and the adjacent Tobacco Road store. Three additional vacant lots were also purchased for parking behind the building.

In May of 2004, for the first time in 14 years, ARCH voted to remove the Rialto from its most endangered structures list. Phase 1 of the reconstruction is now complete, and in June of 2007, TRP will be poised to begin construction on Phase II. This will include the full transformation of the lobby, upper rooms and balcony areas into a café (serving trade free coffee of course) with educational, office, and secondary performance space interspersed throughout.

Completion of this phase will enable TRP to offer the Rialto as a warm, inviting and catalyzing gathering space for community outreach efforts and as a venue for artistic events and cross-cultural gatherings to include live theater, concerts, dances, art exhibitions and films.