Community Corner

Contractors Begin Work on Rialto Sign

Lessee, Landmark Theatres, is fronting the cost of these renovations after the city said the sign needed to be taken down in March.

Contractors have begun working on the structural re-enforcement of the historic Rialto blade sign Monday, according to Friends of the Rialto's Facebook page.

Lessee of the now closed-down theater, Landmark Theatres, is fronting the cost of these renovations after the in March due to safety concerns.

“The [South Pasadena] Chamber [of Commerce] has been working toward getting the Rialto Theatre revitalized for years,”

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“We knew it was vital to make sure that the sign was preserved. One day it’s going to be polished up and relighted. The Rialto should be re-opened, and we’re going to need that sign.”

Will we see it reopen anytime soon? Friends of the Rialto Founder, Escott Norton, is raising funds to hurry along the process. He wrote on Facebook Monday:

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As soon as someone with the funds and the desire gains control of the theater! Friends of the Rialto is trying to raise funds to create a realistic business plan based on the not-for-profit model. There are also other parties interested in acquiring the Rialto, and if they make a deal with the owners we will work with them to protect the historic fabric of the theatre. There are many ways the restoration can happen, we will have to see which one works out fastest!

has also applied for a $30,000 matching grant from the Route 66 Corridor Restoration Program to fund renovations.

The Rialto has has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. Its ownership remains in a trust fund involving numerous heirs of a deceased former owner. Landmark holds a 99-year lease that expires in in 2023.

To donate to the theater, click HERE.

Related: 


Check out Laurie Allee's attached video for Rialto history.


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