A Denison legend reborn

Rialto History

A timeline of the Rialto Theater’s journey across the last century.

1919: Business partners William “Boston Campbell and Aldridge “Babe” Peebles purchased the land for the Rialto.

1920: The Rialto Movie Palace was opened on August 4, 1920.

The Rialto located in Denison was the first of 23 that was built in Texas. The word “Rialto” is a principal bridge spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The word is mentioned several times by Shakespeare as a crossroads and meeting place for all classes of people.

In the early days, the movie experience was much different as there were only silent movies. The film companies would send the film along with sheet music to insert into a player piano. The movie and the piano would start at the same time to allow music to help tell the story.

1921: The partnership between Campbell and Peebles fell through and a new owner named Louis M. Ridout took ownership. Ridout had built and ran the Star Theater in 1913 and sold it to be able to finance the Rialto.

1927: Ridout sold the Rialto to the Dent Theater Group. Ridout stayed and managed the theater until 1932 when he retired.

1929: The onset of the Great Depression had the Dent Theater Group led to the sale once again and the Publix Theater Group took over. This was also the year that the Rialto got its first sound system. The first movie to be shown with sound was in February 1929. The movie was Mother Knows Best.

1932: The Interstate Circuit took over operations of the Rialto and would operate the Rialto until 1975.

1935: The Rialto receives its first makeover. The Rialto would receive a full refurbishing. This included all new theater seats, carpet, movie screen, box office, awnings, and drapes were installed. The newly refurbished theater re-opened and showed The Little Colonel, starring Shirley Temple.

1939: This year was a big transformation for the Rialto as they were one of the first to receive the RCA Multi-Cellular Sound System which was considered at that time for near perfect sound. The sound system included a new movie screen and sound system that would hang from the rafters.

1948: The world premier of a major motion picture Red Rider starring John Wayne was shown at the Rialto on August 25, 1948.

1960’s: The movie going attitude had changed. Movies started being more risque and older adults quit going to movies. The movie theaters had to figure out a way to adjust to a younger audience so during the 60’s the Rialto once again got a new look. The interior got new carpet, seating, drapes, restrooms and glass entry doors. The ticket booth was moved to the side for the first time. The original marquee was removed and the new v-shaped marquee was put up that is still there today.

1975: Noret Theater Chain purchased the Rialto and hired Ray and Barbara Cox from New Mexico who ran 23 theaters. They hoped with the new management the Rialto could stay alive. This was the year that Jaws, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, One flew over the cuckoo’s nest, and Rocky Horror Picture Show all made their movie premier.

1977: As the beginning of ‘77 began attendance at the movies diminished and the Rialto closed its doors on August 31, 1977.

A native Denison man by the name of John D Munson stepped into saving the Rialto and re-opened it on October 17, 1977. Hopes held high as the Rialto was the biggest attraction in downtown Denison at that time however, consumers would rather go to the mall and purchase their tickets at cinemas.

The Rialto closed again in 1980.

1980-81: The Rialto was re-opened by Bill and Lynn Hightower and they introduced the two dollar ticket but it closed again in 1981.

1981-82: Jim Butcher reopened the theater and sold one dollar admission tickets but it didn’t last as he closed the Rialto in 1982.

1982: In November 1982 Gary Yost of Sherman purchased the Rialto and announced plans to restore it in its former splendor, at a cost of $250,000. The new Rialto stayed open and was successful until it closed in 1987.

1998: The doors opened again in 1998 but this time it did not show films but it featured live entertainment for the whole family. Each Saturday night the Rialto was filled with guests to watch the Main Street Country Showcase. This included country, gospel and fifties music. Shawnda Raines purchased the Rialto from Yost in 1999 after leasing it for one year. Much success was had when Shawnda owned the Rialto and many local artists all rave her involvement in helping them with their music career.

Talent such as Carrie Underwood and Kacey Musgraves played on the Rialto stage during Shawnda’s ownership.

She sold the Rialto in 2011.

2011: Greg Guymon purchased the Rialto and kept the vision that Shawnda had established by being a place for live music.

2022: Jason and Johnathon Earnhart purchased the Rialto Theatre in hopes someone would come along and re-open the venue. They used it for birthday and baseball parties.

2026: A new era for the Rialto Theatre. When owners Tim Dighton and Misty Chapman of the Rusty Chicken Saloon approached the Earnhart brothers with the idea of bringing the saloon to the balcony of the Rialto Theatre they were intrigued by the idea. The Rusty Chicken Saloon at that time was located in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. The saloon had outgrown the space and the owners were looking for a new home. They had searched all over North Texas to find the best location and it was the Rialto that stole their hearts! They knew they had found their new home.