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While other SPHS students were creating documentaries about powder puff football, Miranda Gontz decided to explore the status of the Rialto Theatre for her multi-media class at the high school.
"What's happening to the theatre? Why are there no more movies showing on the marquee?" she wondered as she drove by the iconic building.
Yet what began as a homework assignment her sophomore year, has now become an ongoing project inspiring many in the community. Gontz says "The Rialto: A Fading Treasure" has gone through many edits; the most recent was shown Sunday night at Encore Rialto.
Gontz' passion for old movies stems from her parents, she says.
"I became obsessed with back and white and also what the movie industry was like in the early 1900s, because it's was so different than what it is today," she explained to the crowd.
"Half way through making the documentary, my dad and I were looking online to see what else we could find on the Rialto. We went on EBay and found a bunch of playbills and tickets on sale for 35 bucks from 1928 to 1931."
"That is amazing and surprisingly cheap. If someone in the audience was the previous owner, I love you forever!" she gushed to the audience.
To view the documentary, click on the video to your right. [Editor's Note: We originally posted an older cut of the film. Currently attached to your right is the newest version.]
Check back with Patch for more on what was discussed at the theatre restoration panel Sunday night.
Click here to vote on how you'd like to see the theatre transform.
Escott O. Norton
4:56 pm on Monday, October 3, 2011
Miss Gontz has done a great service to the Rialto and the community of South Pasadena! The event on Sunday was a great success, and it was really good to see people of all ages interested in reviving the beautiful Rialto! The Friends of the Rialto is actively pursuing many options for bringing the theater back to life as a cultural and social center for South Pasadena. We are talking to all interested parties and looking at many alternatives, with the bottom line that it needs to remain a theater as originally built. There are Historic theaters around the country that have been saved from worse fates and are now thriving. We hope to do the same with the Rialto! For further info please join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheRialto
Laurie Allee
5:46 pm on Monday, October 3, 2011
Congrats, Miranda, for a wonderful documentary!
And to those of you at the event who wanted to participate in my video interviews but didn't get a chance, email me. I will continue to present your stories in my Rialto series at my column here on Patch. You can find my email address on my Patch profile.
I'm thrilled by the outpouring of support for our beloved Rialto. Thank you, Miranda, for your beautiful contribution to the cause!
Scott Feldmann
6:34 pm on Monday, October 3, 2011
The revised version of "The Rialto - A Fading Treasure" that was premiered at the "Encore! Rialto" Revitalization Symposium on October 2nd has been posted on YouTube. The previous version, which had over 600 views, has been removed. Enjoy!
Ron Rosen
6:59 pm on Monday, October 3, 2011
Video is showing up as "private" both here and on YouTube.
Kristen Lepore
10:22 pm on Monday, October 3, 2011
@Scott: Thanks! We just uploaded the newest version. @Ron: it should work now. The older version that we originally posted was taken down from YouTube.
Scott Feldmann
10:35 pm on Monday, October 3, 2011
The new link is up now. The old video was removed simply because the filmmaker was interested in putting her best work out there. The old one had some muffled sound and the new one benefits from some retakes on interviews.
On another note, we've heard from a number of attendees at the event that they'd like to know what to do next about helping to bring back the Rialto. The Chamber will set up a page with options for how people can get involved, and when it's ready, we'll let Patch know.
kay mouradian
7:07 am on Tuesday, October 4, 2011
What a great future is ahead for this young high school girl!
Kathy LaRussa
11:23 am on Wednesday, October 5, 2011
So proud of you, Miranda - a wonderful documentary! Great job!!
Jack Rhine
2:34 pm on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Great job. Wonderful to see a young person concerned with saving our history. There are many old theaters that have already been destroyed, but there are many more in the same shape as the Rialto, just waiting for someone to come along and save them. Glad to see another treasure, the Wurlitzer theater pipe organ highlited as well.