Rialto Theatre (El Dorado, Arkansas)

The Rialto Theatre is a historic performing venue at 117 East Cedar Street in downtown El Dorado, Arkansas. Built in 1929 during El Dorado's oil boom years, the theater is one of the best local examples of Classical Revival architecture, and is one of the largest and most elaborately decorated performing spaces in southern Arkansas. It was designed by the local firm of Kolben, Hunter and Boyd, and seats 1400. Its main entrance has Egyptian Revival details, and is flanked by storefronts. The brick of the front facade is laid in a basketweave pattern, and is topped by a stone frieze, cornice, and parapet. The interior of the theater is elaborately decorated. The theater was owned for many years by the McWilliams family.[2] It was closed from 1980 to 1987, and was operated as a three-screen movie theater until 2007. It has since been reconverted for use as a live performance space after being completely empty for several years and serving as a bar for a time.

Rialto Theatre
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Location	117 E. Cedar St., El Dorado, Arkansas
Coordinates	33°12′38″N 92°39′47″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1929
Architect	Kolben, Hunter & Boyd
Architectural style	Classical Revival
Part of	El Dorado Commercial Historic District (ID03000773)
NRHP reference No.	86001888[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	August 21, 1986
Designated CP	August 21, 2003

The theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986,[1] and included in the El Dorado Commercial Historic District in 2003.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Union County, Arkansas

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. "NRHP nomination for Rialto Theatre" (PDF). Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved 2014-05-20.