Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena on the market

The historic but shuttered Rialto Theatre of South Pasadena, California — after sitting in limbo for many months — finally will be put up for sale.

According to a Facebook post Monday by Escott O. Norton of Friends of the Rialto:

BIG NEWS! The Rialto will be going up for sale! It was announced today that the Rialto Theatre building will be listed shortly for an undisclosed amount. I have talked to representatives of the family trust that has owned the Rialto, and the point man for the firm that will be handling the listing. I have offered myself as a resource for potential buyers and hope to help find someone who will bring the Rialto back to life! It is good to see movement, now we need to make sure the movement is in the best direction for the Rialto and the South Pasadena community. If you know anyone who has always wanted to take on the project and has the resources to do it, NOW is the time to come forward!

The South Pasadena Now newspaper also reported today about movement on doing something with the theater, according to mayor Dr. Richard Schneider:

The mayor, Gonzalez and South Pasadena City Councilman Robert Joe plan to meet with members of the trust in the next couple of weeks. The ad hoc committee plans to report back to the City Council. “So there is some movement on the Rialto,” said Dr. Schneider. “Hopefully, it will bear fruit in the near future.”

The theater, at 1023 Fair Oaks Ave., is part of the original 1926 alignment of Route 66. Built in 1925, the theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

However, the theater will need a lot of work; its vertical neon sign, for example, worked itself loose two years ago to the point where city officials thought it would become a safety hazard to pedestrians and motorists.

(Image of the Rialto Theatre in 2008 by waltarrrrr via Flickr)

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