Rialto Theatre

The Rialto Theatre is not only focused on preserving the history of the brick and mortar theatre, but they continue to provide theatrical performances to the community of Tucson. The theatre is a non-profit organization and is organized by nothing but volunteers. It was just after World War I when Tucson began to move from using its natural resources as its main source of income toward a more service-oriented industry. It was tourists that drove this transition and those in the area saw a chance to create a theatre performance during the roaring '20's. The theatre was built by California entrepreneurs William Curlett and Son. While many believed the theatre would fail due to its location, it turned out that people were thrilled with its presence and it was an instant success. Motion pictures were shown at the theatre and by 1930 the marketing motto of the theatre was "Our Screen Talks!" This was a big deal back in the day, especially since Tucson was not considered as cosmopolitan as cities like New York and Chicago. Today the Rialto hosts a variety of live performances, most of them musically oriented. Show include everything from classical music to pop and rock, so there is sure to be something for everyone during a visit to the Rialto.