Rialto Square Theatre

Rialto Square Theatre is the 1926 movie palace on Chicago Street that anchors downtown Joliet. Rapp and Rapp designed the building in a neo-baroque style, with a marble lobby modeled on Versailles, a 1,966-seat auditorium and a Barton theater organ that was restored for concerts. The theater marked 100 years in 2026 with a free centennial celebration on May 3 and a silent film and organ concert in April. VenuWorks manages the building, and the box office at 102 N. Chicago St. sells tickets for concerts, comedy, symphony dates and lobby tours.

What to know

• The theater opened on May 24, 1926, designed by architects C.W. and George Rapp.
• The auditorium seats 1,966 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
• The Barton Grande theater pipe organ plays for silent film screenings and spring concerts.
• The centennial season in 2026 included a free celebration on May 3 with behind-the-scenes tours.
• The box office is at 102 N. Chicago St.; the administrative office is at 15 E. Van Buren St.