Rio Theatre

[Deleted]

Hi JamesK, Yes, that is the guy, Richard found him in the 1953 City Directory, his name was Austin Boaz, and his wife did work at Ellis-Harris ice cream store. Have a good one, George

[Alan Richards]

I remember seeing 2 movies at the Rio. Apparent by the mid 60's it was only operating for "special" showings. But the 2 movies I do remember seeing there were "Guns of Navarone" and few years later, "Grand Prix". The latter I believe came out in 68 or there abouts.
I do remember thinking how small the theater actually was, with a screen about half the size of the one at Crump. I guess the final nail in the Rio's coffin was when the multi-screen theater opened next to Hill's Dept. Store (69 or 70???) because I don't recall ever seeing another movie being shown at the Rio ever again.

[Babs]

Hi Alan,
I can tell you that the theater you mentioned out by Hills Department Store was there in 1967. My husband went to Viet Nam and I returned to Columbus that year and remember going to a couple of movies at the theater. I have no idea just when it opened but it was there in 1967. (I was here in Columbus from Feb '67 thru Mar '68.)
Babs :-)

[nancs]

Don't ask, I really didn't have time right now, as my plane bound for IN, and 'the get together' on Sat., the 15th, leaves on Wednesday, but..................

For those of you that frequented the Rio in your youth, and saw all those Westerns and the serials, you might like to check a website, The Old Corral created by Chuck Anderson, that contains an AWESOME amount of information about those stars/films.

Check out:
www.b-westerns.com/trio.htm

Enjoy!

Nanc

[richard]

On Tuesday, August 8, 2006 the Looking Back column in ‘The Republic’ Columbus newspaper listed the following information.

Demolition was started on the fifth street Rio Theater building today in 1981. The building was torn down to make way for the drive-in facility of the Home Federal Savings and Load Association.

[RER]

Rio Theater Of The Past
5th Street (between Washington & Franklin Streets)
Columbus Indiana

The Rio Theater was demolished in the 1980s for a bank parking lot. The theater had a seat capacity of 700, with a single screen.

This is the first picture I have been able to find showing the Rio Theater. The picture was taken apparently after the closing of the old theater, because all the signs are gone.

Many readers and posters on the historical pages have talked about the Rio, but we haven't had any quality pictures, until this picture. My brother and I went to many films on Saturday at the Rio. I am still looking for a better picture, but until discovery this one will have to do.

Notice, the old barbershop pole is still shown in the lower left of the picture.





Source: Indiana Department of Natural Resources, by Governor Mitch Daniels web site.

[David Sechrest]

To eliminate any confusion for future generations, the American and Orpheum theaters were located in this general area prior to the Rio.

[Rhonda]

Happened across blueprints in the Columbus Indiana Architectural Architectural Archives last Thursday labeled as "Apartment Hotel for Syndicate Theatres, Rio, 1939".

Another set from 1945 are labeled as "Rio Concession Counters".

[larry]

The Mode was deluxe, the Crump was kid-friendly and the Rio was a little on the trashy side.
My friends and I went to Rio double features on Saturdays, when free popcorn refills
were served. They also showed National Geographic-type features, which showed fully
nude men and women. Pretty exciting for adolescent lads.

[David Sechrest]

I had to laugh about your comment regarding the Rio, Larry. My Grandma would not allow my mother, her brothers, or sisters, to go to the Rio.
My aunts have told me stories about sneaking in, and Grandma always found out! Ooo--not good! lol

The only movie I remember seeing at the Rio was Winning (1969), with Paul Newman.

[larry]

My older sister took me to the Crump Theater when I was maybe 6-years-old. The movie
was a Roy Rogers western, but, before the feature, one of the "shorts" was about polio.
My sister whispered that the the kids in the iron lungs "couldn't breathe." Suddenly, I felt
I couldn't breathe ! I was having a panic attack before the concept had been developed.
I asked my sister to take me home. We went to the Greeks, and she called Mom to pick us up.
It's still a vivid memory after more than 60 years.