Rialto Theater (Casper, Wyoming)

	Rialto Theater
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	West facade, 2012
Location	102 E. Second St., Casper, Wyoming
Built	1921
Architect	Dubois & Goodrich
Architectural style	Chicago, Commercial Style
NRHP reference No.	93000037
Added to NRHP	February 11, 1993

The Rialto Theater in Casper, Wyoming was built as the New Lyric Theater^[2] in 1921. It was constructed with 800 seats by Henry Brennan who had a successful Vaudeville house, on which he based the new cinema.^[3] He almost immediately sold the building in 1922 to new owners who invested $50,000 in a remodeling project designed by Casper architects William Dubois and Leon Goodrich. The reopening in 1922 featured the William C. deMille movie Nice People, a silent film that was accompanied by the Chicago Netto Ladies Orchestra. In 1928 the Rialto began to show talkies.^[2]

The Riato measures 50 feet (15 m) by 100 feet (30 m) on a prominent corner site. The brick facade is plain in form but the brickwork is extensively detailed. A tall neon sign marks the corner, replacing the original metal sign and a marquee was added, covering the original leaded glass transoms over the storefronts. A tall parapet adds to the apparent mass of the theater. Storefronts on both frontages house retail shops. On the interior a balcony is reached by two curving stairs on either side of the lobby, replacing a single grand stair from the first design.^[2]

The Rialto continues to operate as a cinema. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
^ ^a ^b ^c Starr, Eileen; Cassity, Michael (December 1992). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Rialto Theater". National Park Service. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
^ "Rialto Thater". Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2009-08-06.

External links

Photographs of the Rialto Theater at the National Park Service's NRHP database
Rialto Theater at the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office

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[nris-1] "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.

[nrhpinv1-2] Starr, Eileen; Cassity, Michael (December 1992). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Rialto Theater". National Park Service. Retrieved 2009-08-06.

[wyshpo1-3] "Rialto Thater". Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2009-08-06.

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v t e National Register of Historic Places in Natrona County, Wyoming
National Historic Landmarks	Independence Rock Tom Sun Ranch
Other historic districts	Casper Army Air Base Fort Caspar South Wolcott Street Historic District TA Ranch Historic District
Other properties	Archeological Site No. 48NA83 Big Horn Hotel Bishop House Bridger Immigrant Road-Waltman Crossing Casper Buffalo Trap Casper Federal Building Casper Fire Department Station No. 1 Casper Motor Company-Natrona Motor Company Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Depot Church of Saint Anthony Consolidated Royalty Building DUX Bessemer Bend Bridge Elks Lodge No. 1353 Grant Street Grocery and Market Martin's Cove Masonic Temple Midwest Oil Company Hotel Natrona County High School North Casper Clubhouse Odd Fellows Building Ohio Oil Company Building Pathfinder Dam Rialto Theater Roosevelt School Split Rock, Twin Peaks Stone Ranch Stage Station Teapot Rock Townsend Hotel Tribune Building
See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Natrona County, Wyoming and List of National Historic Landmarks in Wyoming