Rio Theatre

[David Sechrest]

Upon Margo's request, here is a Folder to share any and all memories regarding this Theatre.

The Rio was located on 5th Street. I'll have to drive by there to see what's there today.

I don't know, or have much history regarding the Rio. I know it was owned by the Rembusch family, as they owned all the Theatres in Columbus (including the Drive In) at one time. I think I'm going to have to try and contact Mike Rembusch, who lives in Franklin, to see if he has any pictures or memories he can share with the readers of the website and this message board.

If you haven't checked it out, there is a GREAT picture of the Rio in the More Columbus Indiana pics section. The picture is taken back when the old Evening Republican building was on the corner of 5th and Washington, and captures that as well.

I look forward to reading your memories regarding this Theatre that once was!

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

Dave,
I finally found some time to jot down some memories of the Rio. It was located on the alley, I believe between Washington and Franklin on 5th street. Next door was Dwight Pope's barber shop. He and his wife, Ruth were good friends with my Mom and Dad, Nellie and Rex McCalip. i was always fascinated by the Barber Pole that twirled around out in front. I could never figure out where all the red stripes went, as it spun around.

We used to get together in the evenings and the adults would play cards such as Rook, Canasta, and one I can't remember the name of, but if you got caught with the Queen of spades it added 13 (?) points to your score. Low score won.
We 4 girls usually played monopoly with their two boys, Don (the oldest) and Johnny. Oh, those were great memories! The lived on the corner of 7th or 8th and California streets, and we on 5th, so both families did not have far to walk.
But I digress again...back to the Rio.
This was not a fancy Theatre by any means. But to the 4 McCalip girls it was our Saturday afternoon treat, if we had been good, and Dad had the money. I understand now, that Mom did not go with us as Dad did not have enough money for her. Or else she may have enjoyed the peace and quiet at home, while we four girls were gone.

Saturday afternoons started out by Dad walking with us from 5th and California to Town. If Dad had extra money, we would first go to Kitzinger's bakery on Washington Street for a bologna sandwich and a root beer.This was a rare treat, and did not happen very often.

Oh, my, I can still taste that ice cold Root Beer !! Have never found one yet that tastes the same. Although when I worked at Beck's Root Beer Stand on 25th, theirs came close. I do not recall much about the interior of the Rio like I did the Crump. I do know it had a balcony and Dad always made us set back under the balcony by 2 or 3 rows , so no one could throw popcorn or coke down on us! This really spoiled any chance of setting down close to the screen, and I'm sure that was much better for us.

Movies were probably the second run ones, and Sat afternoon seemed to be reserved for Cowboy movies! I spent many days enjoying Hop a Long Cassidy, Lash La Rue, Gene Autrey, Roy Rogers, and a host of others. Dad was always so proud that he knew Ken Maynard and grew up with him.
Also, the special treat at the Sat movie was the serials they ran each week. Neither the Crump or the Mode had serials. I was entranced with Tarzan, Jane, and Boy. Johnny Weismueller will always be my favorite Tarzan !! He killed so many Crocodiles, and I loved to watch him ride elephants, and hear his Tarzan Call !
Funny, but I do not remember who played Jane or Boy. I believe there was another one named "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle". Does any one else recall this ?
However, I did not wish to live in the Jungle like them ,as I was so scared of snakes and bugs.

I later found out my husband, Bill, used to go to the Rio on Saturdays also. He sat up in the balcony with his boy friends. They would shoot hairpins at the movie screen! He said they would smuggle in several cards of hair pins they had purchased at the Dime store, and would shoot them at either the screen, or down to the unsuspecting audience who sat in front of the balcony. I guess they stopped the movies several times,when they were there. The Manager told them to show him the hairpins ,and he confisticated all of them. So, if you were ever hit by a hairpin at the Rio, it may have been my husband!
I also know one of my one classmates, Betty Emerick, said her brother used to work there, and actually rotated between all three Theatres down town.

Although, I'm not sure I would classify the Rio as a Theatre. It surely was not nearly as fancy as the Mode or Crump. But to a young girl in her pre teen years it was a very, very , special treat to look forward to through the week.
Thank you for the opportunity to share . Enough for tonight. I am hoping some one will add to these memories ... WHO'S NEXT
Margo McCalip Hughey~ ~ one of the 5th Street Bunch

[nanc]

Me next!!! ;-) And think I put Rio memories in another section some time back.

Margo, you mentioned Ken Maynard. And I believe there was also a Kermit Maynard, brothers, who also did lesser movie roles.

My recollection of Ken Maynard comes in a couple of thoughts. Seems, in my thinking, that his parents lived over on some street that ran the same way as Central, near Garfield. Dixie Bolar (pretty sure that is right) lived near them. As I recall, when the father passed away Dixie took up a collection at school to purchase something in the way of a rememberance for the family.

My other thought, again, whatelse, horses. When Ken Maynard was in town, he stabled his horse, and gad, I forget the name, out in a barn at the fairgrounds. The horse traveled in a fairly good sized truck with writing on it that advertised "it's contents and the owner." This truck would be parked at the fairgrounds and it was always easy to know "they were in town."

We'd always ride along the barns until we found his horse, so that we could get a peek at a "movie horse." For whatever reason, my dad always cautioned me that this was not a good idea, as Daddy was convinced that the horse had "shipping fever." No clue if that was true, and think it was NOT, as I always would sneak a peek, and my horse never got sick!!!!!

Upon coming to CA, there was Corriganville out here, and gad, that was up in the San Fernando Valley somewhere. Think that the area was where many Western films were made. Know we made a trip up there when we first moved here-----somehow, and I am guessing, another former Columbus person that gained fame of sorts, was Max Therhune (Sp) and I remember my dad chatting with him because, for whatever reason Daddy knew him, and he showed me a bunch of card tricks. Think the roles that he played were along the lines of Gabby Hayes in the Westerns.

Have mentioned the jr. horse club, Junior Trail Blazers, in the past. One year we used the proceeds from the horse show we sponsored, and purchased tickets for the Roy Rogers Rodeo show up in Indy for all the kids. There was a contest in the Star where one wrote "why you wanted to meet Roy Rogers" and my mom wrote telling about our group, etc, and that we would all love to meet Roy.

One night, as the date neared, the phone rang at 1817 E. 7th St., my home, and oh, my goodness!!!!! It was Roy Rogers, for reals!!!! The letter Mom had written was NOT the winner, but Roy felt that our group was worthy of recognition and made arrangements with my dad to acknowledge us during the show------AS WELL AS, during intermission, we were to go to some corridor within, and Roy would meet us and shake our hands. Now that was a WHOA, and a DOUBLE WHOA!!!! Daddy made all these arrangements, and then told Roy that his daughter was "dancing up and down" by the phone, and would he say hello to me!!!!!!!! And I got to talk to him. And probably, these are two of my most treasured experiences. Think it was Joy Cheek that told her mom that she couldn't wash dishes, as she didn't want to "wash off that handshake." ;D

Might add here, that, until the Roy Rogers Museum went to Branson, here a couple of years ago, it was out in Victorville, en route to Las Vegas from here. Have been there numerous times. AND, still being his fan, when I had my barn built about 3 years ago, I stopped there and purchased a number of "Roy Rogers" things to adorn the walls of my tack room. Still love him!!!!!! With reminders all around me!!!!

And the Gene Autry Museum is near by up in LA, but have never been there. The one thing about him, actually his horse, Champion, was the bit that he used. The side pieces were like a six-shooter. Always wanted one of those!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Other memories will have to wait til later.

Nanc

[Jeff]

If I'm thinking right, the rio would have been right where the parking lot is behind the home federal downtown. The building just to the right of the Rio is still there, but the Rio is just a parking lot now.

By the way. The website is amazing!

[nanc]

Hi again, and having been rushed for time as I first wrote, I just had to check!!!! I have a "thing" about the names of various cowboys' horses, and was about "ballistic" not being able to recall Ken Maynard's horse's name!!! ;D An internet search----and I found it, TARZAN! And as my memory serves me----even tho' it was a "movie horse" certainly not a Trigger, by any means. And not particularly giving the appearance of being well cared for----but could certainly be attributed to Ken Maynard's declining career at this point in time, probably the late 40s. And my recollection and my dad's warnings----well------------!!!!!

In the internet search found more info---things that I knew, but had hesitated to say----but it is all there for the world to read. My recollection was Ken Maynard was sort of a black sheep, and Kermit Maynard, quite an alright guy. Confirmed by bios on the internet.

As to Max Terhune----that, too, confirmed, as well as what I recalled about Corriganville. He was born in Amity, IN, and my guess, close enough then to Columbus, to indeed be someone that my dad knew. Heaven only knows why, but such was the case.

The info on Max Terhune was quite extensive, and for anyone interested, worth checking out. Another search, for another day, would be finding out about the western serials that always preceded the main show at the Rio.

Just had to clarify and confirm my recollections.

Nanc

[Babs]

Hi Jeff, You are right on target;after you crossed the alley there sat the Rio, where all the cowboy movies ran. Look behind the new fancy Home Federal offices and just across the alley would be the exact site. Spent many hours there. Our mom would let us go see the movie, serial and cartoons and I believe our allowance was 25 cents. You could get in to the movie for 10 cents, buy a candy bar for 5 cents and popcorn for another 5 cents and still have 5 cents left to spend at "The Greeks" for a coke later on. We either went on Friday nights or Saturday afternoons and yes, I would say it was definitely a theater though not nearly as nice as either the Mode or the Crump.

Our mom would come in to get us after the movie was done and we would usually "beg" to stay through the serial and cartoons again. Most of the time she would agree so we would get to see it a second time. She would just ask the ticket lady to come in and pick up her children and they let her in. I doubt any place would do that today!

Anyone remember the little popcorn stand that sat diagonally at the corner of Washington and 5th Street?

Have a great day.
Babs

[Deleted]

Nancy, Maybe you already know, Kermit Maynard was a 1916 grad of CHS and is in the log. He went on to IU and was a star football player,and then on to Hollywood where in alot of ways did better than his brother.Ken had everything and threw it away, or drank it away.

[David Sechrest]

I plan on paying a visit to the library in the near future and scanning some of the ads from the old Evening Republican regarding the movie offerings from the Rio, as well as the Crump and Mode.

I find it peculiar that, if I understand the messages from Nanc and others on this board, that the Rio was the only theater that showed the serials and westerns. I wonder why the Crump and Mode didn't? I guess, maybe, since all three theaters were owned by the Rembusch family, that they could offer more of a variety to the movie-going crowd by doing it this way.

[nanc]

Hi David, and that would be an interesting search. Seems to me-----and just a "memory" that the only "extras" at the Mode and the Crump were the newsreels and a cartoon that preceded the feature show. Anxious to hear "the official."

Nanc

[nanc]

Hi George, and I "sorta" knew about Ken and Kermit Maynard's careers/life, altho' not the specifics in regard to Kermit, that you mentioned.

Until I checked the bios on the internet, I was only "operating" on what I recalled my dad saying. And that had been rather stated at the time, in terms that a young girl could comprehend, and be honest, but not elaborating on too many of the facts.

Thanks for sharing and clarifying for me, and others.

Nanc

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

If I recall correctly, The Rio was the only one in town that ran serials on a weekly basis.

I believe the marketing reason was to draw people back to see the next episode. It surely worked for our family, as we discussed during the week what would happen when we went back on Sat. Margo

[Babs]

As I recall the Rio was the only one with the "serials" each week (always Western-theme), cartoons, newsreal and then the movie. Crump and Mode just showed newsreals, cartoons and the main feature.
And "dadatz all folks"!

Babs

[nanc]

Hi, and figured that since the Rio has generated quite a bit of interest that this would be the best place to post this. In amongst the clippings my mom had saved, and on the back was this ad for the 'picture shows' currently showing, with a date of September 17, 1945.

Would be willing to bet that a lot of us managed to see the one featured at the Rio. ;D



Happy trails to you!

Nanc

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

I surely remember the Roy Rogers Movie!! I'm curious as the bill states today and Tuesday... wonder when the today was? Evidently they were not open every evening. It states the same on the Mode and Crump.

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

I surely remember the Roy Rogers Movie!! I think wqe saw every RR movie that was made!! The other two I do not recognize. Margo

[nanc]

Hi Margo, I checked a calendar and Sept. 17, 1945, was a Monday. I am pretty sure there was a change of movies on Wednesdays, but don't recall that there was an evening when the theaters were dark, but could be. As I go through the clippings I will "watch" for theater ads that might be on the other side.

Nanc

[nancs]

Good morning to one and all,

Debated where to put this thought, as actually think this memory comes via The Mode, but would have been the case in any theater in the 40s til when???

Another member on these message boards and I were reflecting-----

Do you recall the small "holes" high up on the back wall of the theater through which the film was shown?

Do you remember the "little series of dots" in the upper right hand corner of the screen that would come up and be the signal for the projectionist to put on the next reel?

And do you remember the "cat calls" if the projectionist was not speedy with this change over, or when a film would break during a showing?

Not quite certain just why, but on at least one occasion, my dad and I were in that projectionist's booth, and my recollection "sees" some very bright "sticks" providing the light to show the film. And it seems to me that these "sticks" would "wear out" and need to be replaced. And I think there were two of 'these sticks' and they seemed to me, to be "burning." On this, I need a lot of clarification, as I don't think they were "bulbs" as we know them. Help!

I do believe that there were two projectors so that the reels could be changed without interruption.

Just some thoughts on "way back when!"

Have a great day.

Nanc

[Deleted]

Nanc, Would you happen to remember the name of the ticket taker at the Rio? I remember him being a small man and the name Boaz comes to mind. I had heard that he was a pawn broker on the side,I do recall that he wore alot of rings on this hands and a watch that could be seen. It seems like his wife was fairly large and worked at the Ellis and Harris ice cream store at 14th and Washington streets. Have a great one.

[nancs]

George, that is a name I can't provide, altho' JK and I did come up with some names for the Mode! Sorry, I can't help on the Rio names.

But you did trigger another thought----Ellis and Harris ice cream store? Was that near a RR track, and perhaps the place that sold "Raspberry Salad" sherbet/ice cream?

On a hot summer evening, out for a drive, it was always a toss up which "treat" our family would prefer----that "Raspberry Salad" or a little farther drive for a Dairy Queen.

Nanc

[JamesK]

HI GEORGE....I CAN PICTURE THE GUY THAT WAS THE TICKET TAKER AT THE REO BUT DON'T RECALL EVERY KNOWING HIS NAME. HE WAS INDEED A SMALL MAN AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT HE SHOULD BE IN PICTURES AS A GANGSTER. ARE WE THINKING OF THE SAME GUY?