Rialto Square Theatre: The Jewel of Joliet

The Rialto Square Theatre, an iconic landmark in Joliet, Illinois, opened its doors on May 24, 1926, as a lavish vaudeville movie palace. Constructed by the Rubens brothers at a cost of $2 million, the theater was designed by Rapp & Rapp, renowned Chicago architects, in the Neo-Baroque style. Its architecture is a blend of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Rococo, Venetian, and Baroque influences, making it a unique and stunning structure.The interior is just as breathtaking, with the esplanade modeled after the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles and a rotunda reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome. The theater boasts 18 Corinthian-style columns and a Duchess chandelier that dominates the rotunda. Eugene Romeo, a Sicilian immigrant, was the sculptor behind the theater's magnificent European architecture.After facing possible demolition in the mid-1970s, a community-led campaign saved the Rialto, leading to its restoration and reopening as a performing arts center in 1981. Today, the Rialto Square Theatre hosts a diverse range of events, including musicals, plays, concerts, and comedy shows. It is also available for public and private functions. The theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered one of the '150 great places in Illinois' by the American Institute of Architects.