Very true, Danny The Rialto Theater is in Loveland, Colorado. I was wrong, this was the 85th celebration.
Here is the city's main page on the Rialto: http://www.ci.loveland.co.us/rialto/rialto.htm The Rialto is a success story for theater restoration. Ted and Mabel Thompson, as a young married couple, were sent to open up the Rialto in 1920. It was equipped for films and minor vaudeville. The Thompsons became stalwarts of the Loveland community, with Ted serving as Mayor of Loveland, building "The Dude Corral" motel and restaurant across from Lake Loveland and providing heart and heritage for the community. They are best remembered outside of Colorado as Loveland's Sweethearts, who started Loveland's Valentine re-mailing program in 1947. The Rialto went through many of the cycles of small theaters, eventually ending up with a plastic or vinyl façade in the 1960s in an attempt to look modern. I remember seeing the lobby cards for the original Stepford wives there in the lobby while a scant crowd waited dutifully for popcorn and Cokes. One owner turned it into a mini-mall which failed economically. Still, under the plastic? Vinyl? Façade, the original existed and could be restored. It was then ripped up inside and left until Felicia Harmon, of the then Downtown Development Agency, made it her mission to make the Rialto a vibrant, restored magnet for downtown. It took considerable political skill on her part for the City of Loveland to agree to buy the building and many, many donations and grants to get it restored. It was restored and is now a well-used and loved performing arts space in addition to showing movies, often with an orchestra. Felicia is now a consultant with the KRH Group which has helped to restore several historic theaters and other treasures. The history page on the site: http://www.ci.loveland.co.us/rialto/history.htm The Museum is the Loveland Museum & Gallery, which has a sort of split mission - honoring the history and heritage of Loveland and as promoter of our considerable community of artists. Here's that page: http://www.ci.loveland.co.us/Cultural_Services/cultural_services_museum.htm Loveland is best known artistically for its several big sculpture shows. Currently in the museum is the Colorado Governor's Art Show (14th Annual, I believe.) Link to our big annual sculpture show: http://www.sculptureinthepark.org/ Colorado State University, in Fort Collins, has several renowned professors who make fine art posters and for thirteen years hosted the only international poster art show in the U.S. They discontinued last year, I think because Bob Coonts retired from the program, but they have a great digital archive. CSU also hosts a yearly workshop in theater organ playing on the 3/19 Wurlitzer at the Lory Student Center. Thanks for asking, Danny. Cindy Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
