This photograph of the front entrance of the Rialto Theatre, showing the marquee and a North Coast Limited sign, was taken for the Northern Pacific Railroad in April of 1931. There was a special double bill playing at the Rialto beginning on April 12th. Along with the feature "Dishonored," starring Marlene Dietrich and Victor McLaglen, they were showing a special feature titled "No.1." The first transcontinental trip to be filmed in sound, "No.1" took viewers from Chicago to Tacoma, with scenes of the Rockies and Cascades. Produced by the Northern Pacific, the film contained some splendid advertising for Tacoma. According to the NP ticket agent, it was scheduled to play in every major city in the United States. Bowen # 310-163

Hundreds of children lined up outside the Rialto Theater to see Bette Davis and Douglas Fairbanks in "Parachute Jumper" and Will Rogers and Marian Nixon in "Dr. Bull." They were waiting for admission into the free Tacoma Times-Rialto Theater double feature, part of a party sponsored by the pair for Tacoma's youngsters. The year 1934 also saw the beginning of the film industry enforcing the Hays Production Code, in an effort to eliminate sex and violence from the movies. Under these guidelines, Hollywood began to turn out more family fare. TPL-161; BU-11239 (T. Times 5/21/1934, pg. 12)

Seated at the Rialto Theater's baby grand piano on December 19, 1924, was Miss Esther Stayner. Dressed in a lovely sleeveless sequined gown and wearing fashionably bobbed hair, the pianist had her foot on the pedal and hands gently atop the keyboard. Miss Stayner was the organist at the Rialto and a pupil of noted organist Clarence Eddy of Chicago. (TDL 10-31-24, p. 5-article)

Pianists--Tacoma; Pianos; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stayner, Esther;

Having changed her dress to another stylish outfit, Miss Esther Stayner resumed her performance on the Rialto Theater's baby grand piano on December 19, 1924. A freestanding fringe-topped lamp provided lighting for the pianist. Miss Stayner had been named organist at the Rialto in October of 1924, succeeding Alice Piercy on the Wurlitzer. She had spent the previous three years at the Clemmer Theater in Spokane. G40.1-052A (TDL 10-31-24, p. 5-article; TNT 10-31-24, p. 8-article)

Stayner, Esther; Pianists--Tacoma; Pianos; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lamps;

Dressed in an elegant sequined gown, Miss Esther Stayner is pictured in this late December, 1924 print as she prepares to play the baby grand piano at the Rialto Theater. Miss Stayner had been named organist at the Rialto and had given her first concert on November 1, 1924. She succeeded Alice Piercy in the job. Miss Stayner was photographed on the stage with massive curtains as the backdrop. A framed "window" with accompanying foliage is also part of the decor. She had spent the three previous years at the Clemmer Theater in Spokane. G40.1-052B (TDL 10-31-24, p. 5-article)

Pianists--Tacoma; Pianos; Stayner, Esther; Rialto Theatre (Tacoma); Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Nearly leaping off the Rialto Theatre stage is the drummer of a 8-piece jazz band pictured above. His band mates pose more sedately with their instruments on January 23, 1925. This may be Eddie Hillabrand and his Hollywood Studio Jazz Band who shared the bill with the Glenn Hunter film, "Merton of the Movies." Hillabrand's band performed three times daily, at 3, 7 and 9 pm. The massive organ in front of the stage would have provided accompanying music for the silent films of that era. (This print has been sliced and torn.) G40.1-010

Musicians--Tacoma--1920-1930; Rialto Theatre (Tacoma); Organs; Musical instruments--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The most important marketing function of a film is getting it out before the public. On December 15, 1925, H. T. Moore (with pen), general manger of the Moore Amusement Company, and Paul R. Aust, seated left, representing the Associated Exhibitors, signed a contract sealing the world premier of the H.C. Weaver Production "Hearts & Fists," the first Tacoma made full length motion picture. Observing for film producer Weaver who was out of town were, left to right standing, J.H. Green, of the News Tribune; W.R. Rust, Tacoma capitalist and vice president of Weaver Productions; Peter Shamray, production manager Weaver; and George Greenlund, manager of the Rialto Theater. The photograph was believed to have been taken in Mr. Moore's office in the Rialto. The world premier would take place January 2, 1926 at the Rialto Theater. (TNT 12/16/1925, pg. 8) Boland B13848

Moore, Henry T.; Rust, William R.; Rialto Theatre (Tacoma); H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc. (Tacoma);

On June 22, 1925, Hazel Green, right, and Arline Abel posed boldly in front of the Rialto Theater, clutching pipes in their mouths. They were demonstrating the newest fad, how young ladies were discarding their cigarettes in favor of pipes. The women were performers in the Ziegfeld Follies "Phantograph" advertised on the sign boards. The Follies novelty act preceded the movie and starred six beautiful bathing beauties, a comedian and a German police dog in a live action skit. Each audience member was given an early form of 3-D glasses that brought them up close and personal with the action. Viewers ducked falling ladders and water from the garden hose, screaming and laughing. The act was followed by the feature film "If I Marry Again." (TNT 6/24/1925, pg. 6- picture; TDL 6/21/1925, pg. H-3) g65.1-086 BU-11,224 (filed)

Rialto Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma; Vaudeville shows; Green, Hazel; Abel, Arline;

Crowds braved the cold weather to line up for the film "Summer Bachelors" in early February of 1927. It was showing at the Rialto, 310 South 9th St. The movie starred Madge Bellamy, a stage and screen actress who had appeared in "Lorna Doone" and "The Iron Horse," the latter previously shown at the Rialto. Bunting decorated the theater building and also was strung across the street; the Broadway Theater at nearby 9th & Broadway had just celebrated its grand opening the night before. The First Baptist Church at 9th & Market Sts. is up the street from the Rialto. TPL-1892; G65.1-090; BU-11,229;

Rialto Theatre (Tacoma); Crowds--Tacoma--1920-1930; First Baptist Church (Tacoma);

Seven usherettes in bat capes and bat ears line up outside the Rialto Theatre where the silent film version of "The Bat," the world's greatest mystery play, was showing in 1926. L-R: Rose Travaglio, Mary Marko, Lillian Hansen, Ann Brower, Irene Carnahan, Helen Morley (chief usherette) and Florence Lloyd. They received many favorable comments on their costumes from patrons of the theater. Based on Mary Roberts Rinehart's 1920 play which ran an impressive 867 performances at the Morosco Theatre on Broadway, "The Bat" was produced and directed by Roland West. It features a mysterious masked master criminal called The Bat whose identity is unveiled only in the last moments of the movie. Cartoonist Bob Kane was so impressed with the film when he saw it as a young boy that his memories of its images formed the basis for his cartoon character Batman. The film opened in Tacoma to rave reviews and could be seen at the matinee for 35 cents or in the evenings for 50 cents, 10 cents for kiddies. (TNT 8-17-26, p. 8) Boland B15500, TPL-2038

Rialto Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Ushers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motion picture industry--1920-1930; Morley, Helen; Travaglio, Rose; Marko, Mary; Hansen, Lillian; Brower, Ann; Carnahan, Irene; Lloyd, Florence;

W. S. Perutz, resident manager for West Coast Theaters, and Sam Allen, president of the Allen Lubricating Co., are shown outside the Rialto Theater following a downtown parade with General Gasoline trucks and cars owned by General Service Station owners. Signs on the vehicles and the letters on the marquee indicate that the Rialto is playing the 1927 smash hit "Wings," starring Clara Bow. Four model aluminum airplanes, similar to those in the motion picture, were being given away by the Daily Ledger and Sam Allen for the best 50 word essays on the motion picture. "Wings" was the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the only silent film to ever do so. In addition to Bow, it starred Charles (Buddy) Rogers and Richard Arlen doing their own stunt flying. A young Gary Cooper also appeared in a small role. The film was a drama about two WW I aviators, with Bow thrown in as a love interest, that showed the tragedies of war. It is still considered one of the finest silent films ever made. Screenwriter John Monk Saunders was a graduate of the University of Washington. The Broadway Theater can be seen in the background, playing the "Cardboard Lover" and the "Violin Idea." TPL-647; BU-11240 (Tacoma Daily Ledger 10/29/1928, pg. 3)

Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Motion pictures; Rialto Theatre (Tacoma);

George Williams and eight College of Puget Sound Tamanawas ad department students parked in front of the Rialto Theater in April 1946. The Tamanawas group was in charge of publishing the annual yearbook. They selected photographs that represented school year activities as well as general student body photographs. The motion picture "Road to Utopia" starring Tacoma native Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour and Bob Hope is "now showing." (1946 Tamanawas, p. 102)

Motion picture posters; Motion picture theaters--Tacoma; Marquees--Tacoma; Rialto Theatre (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Williams, George; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On February 27, 1947, the Rialto Theatre played host to Tacoma twins at a special party in honor of the opening of "The Dark Mirror," starring Olivia de Havilland and Lew Ayers. Any area twins over the age of 16 were invited and 106 (53 sets) attended. The youngest, Deloris and Doris Johnston at 17, and oldest, Mrs. Helen Barth and Mrs. Lillian Hibbard at 60, were photographed in front of the theater. The movie was about two identical twins, both played by Olivia de Havilland, who fall in love with the same man; the twist being that one is a psychotic murderess. (T.Times 2/28/1947, pg. 14)

Johnston, Deloris; Johnston, Doris; Barth, Helen; Hibbard, Lillian; Twins; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motion picture posters; Motion picture theaters--Tacoma; Motion pictures; Rialto Theatre (Tacoma);