On the left in this picture the old Rialto Theater in Searcy Arkansas is shown. It has had major changes since opened in 1923 as the Grand Theater. In 1929 it had the name changed to Rialto.
In 1949 it was remodeled to include the addition of a 67 foot high neon marquis.
Searcy Arkansas and White County have enjoyed the Rialto for about 86 years.
There is a movement right now by some residents of Rose Bud High School led by Liz Clark and Julie Chism to take it on as a project and assist in trying to raise funds to make needed repairs to the old building.
An article by Warren Watkins, Daily Citizen writer, reports that the 
Rialto, once owned by the Lightle family, was given to the city by the Lightle Family in the 1980's. In 1994 it was leased to Victor Weber for $175 a month. Weber shows only family-oriented movies at $2 per ticket and charges a lot less for concession items. When his lease expired the city let him continue with a verbal agreement where Mr. Weber pays no rent.
Most needed repairs are to the entire electrical system and the roof needs replacing. The balcony is completely unusable.
What totally shocked me was the article's statement that the basement floods in the winter and the water stands until it evaporates in the summer. I DIDN'T KNOW THE RIALTO HAD A BASEMENT..... The Rialto was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
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