Welcome to the Rialto Square Theatre
There are landmarks along Historic Route 66 that stop travelers in their tracks — not because of kitsch or nostalgia, but because of sheer, undeniable beauty. The Rialto Square Theatre in downtown Joliet, Illinois is one of those places. Nicknamed the “Jewel of Joliet,” this breathtaking 1926 vaudeville movie palace stands as one of the finest examples of Neo-Baroque theatrical architecture in the United States, and it sits directly on the original Route 66 alignment through northern Illinois. Whether you are a dedicated road tripper tracing the Mother Road from Chicago to Santa Monica or a lover of classic American architecture, the Rialto Square Theatre is an essential stop that will leave a lasting impression.
Where Is the Rialto Square Theatre?
The Rialto Square Theatre is located at 102 North Chicago Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432. Joliet sits approximately 30 miles southwest of Chicago along the original Route 66 corridor and is one of the first major cities travelers encounter after leaving the metropolitan area. The theatre stands in the heart of downtown Joliet, near the intersection of Chicago Street and Jefferson Street, making it easy to find and a natural anchor point for exploring the city’s Route 66 heritage. For more on the broader Joliet Route 66 experience, visit our full guide to Joliet, Illinois on Route 66.
The History of the Rialto Square Theatre
Origins: A Palace for the People
The story of the Rialto Square Theatre begins with ambition and civic pride. In the mid-1920s, the six Rubens brothers — prominent Chicago-area entertainment entrepreneurs — formed the Royal Theatre Company and set out to build what they described as a “Palace for the People” in Joliet. Their vision was nothing less than world-class: a theatrical venue that would rival the grand movie palaces of Chicago and New York, bringing European-inspired opulence to an Illinois city of working families and industrial workers.
To bring that vision to life, the Rubens brothers hired the Chicago architectural firm of Rapp & Rapp — C.W. and George L. Rapp — one of the most celebrated theatre design firms in the country, also responsible for landmark venues including the Chicago Theatre and the Uptown Theatre. Construction was handled by Kaiser-Ducett, a firm that would later serve as the main contractor for exhibits at Chicago’s 1933 World’s Fair. The project carried a price tag of nearly two million dollars — a staggering investment in 1924 dollars.
Opening Night: May 24, 1926
The Rialto Square Theatre opened on May 24, 1926, with a grand premiere featuring the silent film Mademoiselle Modiste starring Corrine Griffith. The evening before opening, the Joliet Herald-News declared that when the doors opened, Joliet would have “one of the finest theaters in the United States.” The prediction proved accurate. The first talking picture was screened on October 9, 1928, with Lights of New York, and by 1953 the theatre had been equipped with stereophonic sound, keeping pace with the technological advances of its era.
Notably, the Rialto opened the same year Route 66 was officially commissioned — 1926 — making the theatre and the highway exact contemporaries. Both were conceived as democratic institutions: the highway to give ordinary Americans the freedom to travel, the theatre to give them a palace worthy of their leisure time.
Decline and the Campaign to Save the Rialto
For decades, the Rialto served as Joliet’s premier entertainment destination. But by the early 1970s, as suburban multiplexes drew audiences away from downtown venues, the theatre fell into decline. By the mid-1970s, the Rialto faced the very real threat of demolition.
The community responded. In 1972, Dorothy Mavrich, president of the Cultural Arts Council of the Joliet Area, launched a grassroots “Save the Rialto” campaign that rallied citizens, local businesses, and government officials. With assistance from businessman Christo Dragatsis and former State Representative LeRoy Van Duyne, funds were secured from city, state, and federal sources. In 1978, the Rialto complex became public property under the newly established Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority. That same year, the theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Restoration work began in April 1980, and within a year the Palace for the People had been returned to its original glory. In 2006, a $5 million capital campaign — “Polish the Jewel of Joliet” — raised funds for further improvements, with contributions from individuals, businesses, and all levels of government. The Rialto continues to be managed by the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority and is operated by VenuWorks.
Architecture and Interior: The Jewel Up Close
A Neo-Baroque Masterpiece
The Rialto Square Theatre is recognized by the American Institute of Architects as one of the “150 great places in Illinois.” Its architectural style blends Neo-Baroque, French Renaissance, Neo-Classical, Rococo, and elements of Byzantine and Venetian design into a unified theatrical experience that overwhelms the senses in the best possible way.
The Rotunda and Lobby
Stepping through the entrance, visitors enter a promenade foyer of exceptional grandeur. The rotunda — modeled after Rome’s Pantheon — features soaring scagliola columns rising into a celestial dome covered in intricate sculptural detail. A magnificent Duchess chandelier dominates the space, casting warm light across cream-colored marble walls polished by Conrad Schmitt Studios, the same firm that undertook major restoration work in 1980.
The inner lobby, known as the Esplanade, draws direct inspiration from the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Crystal chandeliers, gilded ornament, and stately proportions give the Esplanade a sense of theatrical arrival before the main performance even begins.
The Auditorium
The main auditorium seats 1,966 guests and is surrounded by intricate plaster reliefs depicting figures from Greek and Roman mythology: Apollo, son of Jupiter and Leto, appears in the arch alongside his twin sister Diana, Goddess of the Hunt. The woman at the center of the arch evokes Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus.
Cherubim flutter across the transition between lobby and auditorium, and the ornate proscenium arch frames the stage in a cascade of gilded detail. The overall effect is one of theatrical enchantment — exactly the atmosphere the Rubens brothers and the architects of Rapp & Rapp intended.
The Barton Theatre Organ
One of the Rialto’s most celebrated features is its original four-manual, 28-rank Barton theatre organ. Installed when the building was constructed, the organ’s pipework is housed in two chambers flanking the stage, and the console is mounted on a movable platform that can be raised to stage level or lowered into the orchestra pit. The organ underwent extensive restoration and is the centerpiece of an annual organ extravaganza concert held each spring, maintained by the dedicated volunteers of the Joliet Area Theatre Organ Enthusiasts.
The Rialto Square Theatre and Route 66
The Rialto Square Theatre’s connection to Route 66 is not incidental — it is foundational. The theatre sits directly on the original Route 66 alignment through downtown Joliet, and it opened in the very same year the highway was commissioned. For travelers heading southwest from Chicago on the Mother Road, Joliet and the Rialto represented the first major cultural landmark of the journey.
Route 66 brought a constant stream of travelers through downtown Joliet, many of whom would have attended performances at the Rialto during the highway’s golden age in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. The theatre was part of the fabric of life along the Mother Road — a place where working families, long-haul drivers, and travelers pausing on their westward journey could share in a moment of beauty and entertainment. To understand the full northern Illinois Route 66 experience, be sure to read our guide to Route 66 in Illinois.
What to See and Do at the Rialto Square Theatre
Attend a Performance
The Rialto Square Theatre presents a robust schedule of concerts, Broadway-style musicals, comedy shows, dance performances, and special events throughout the year. Performers across all genres have graced the Rialto’s stage, drawing audiences from across the Chicago metropolitan area and beyond. Checking the current event calendar at rialtosquare.com before your Route 66 trip is strongly recommended — timing your visit to coincide with a performance is one of the most memorable ways to experience the theatre.
Take a Guided Tour
For Route 66 travelers who cannot attend an evening performance, the Rialto offers family-friendly guided tours on most weekends. Tours take visitors through the rotunda, the Esplanade lobby, the auditorium, and backstage areas, with expert guides explaining the history, architecture, and restoration of the building. The tours are reasonably priced and provide an intimate look at one of Illinois’s most magnificent interior spaces. Check the theatre’s website for current tour schedules and pricing.
The Annual Organ Extravaganza
Each spring, the Rialto hosts its beloved Organ Extravaganza concert, showcasing the restored Barton Theatre Organ in all its glory. For organ music enthusiasts and Route 66 history buffs alike, this annual event is a rare opportunity to hear one of the finest surviving theatre organs in the United States played in its original architectural setting.
Private Events and Weddings
The Rialto’s Grand Ballroom and various spaces are available for private events, corporate functions, and weddings. A wedding or special event at the Rialto is an extraordinary experience — one of the most opulent and historically significant event venues in northern Illinois.
Nearby Route 66 Attractions in Joliet
The Rialto Square Theatre is the crown jewel of a city with considerable Route 66 depth. While in Joliet, consider exploring these additional highlights, all documented in our complete Joliet, Illinois Route 66 guide:
- Joliet Area Historical Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center — Located at 204 Ottawa Street in a repurposed 1909 church, this museum features the Route 66 Experience exhibit and is the ideal first stop for any Route 66 traveler entering Joliet.
- Old Joliet Prison — Famously featured in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, the Old Joliet Prison is one of the most atmospheric landmarks in northern Illinois.
- Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 — A celebration of Illinois’s contributions to rock and roll history, located along the Route 66 corridor.
- Dick’s on 66 — A quirky, Americana-soaked towing business across from Route 66 Park, with old cars, oil drums, and a classic roadside aesthetic.
- Rich & Creamy Ice Cream — A beloved Route 66 Park fixture serving classic soft-serve to travelers since the highway’s golden era.
Continuing South on Route 66 from Joliet
After exploring Joliet and the Rialto Square Theatre, Route 66 continues south through some of northern Illinois’s most rewarding stops. The highway follows Illinois Route 53 out of Joliet toward Wilmington, Illinois — home of the iconic Gemini Giant, the towering fiberglass astronaut that has greeted Route 66 travelers since the space race era. Further south, the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac offers one of the most comprehensive explorations of Mother Road history in the entire state. And for travelers beginning at the very beginning, don’t miss our guide to the Route 66 Begin Sign in Chicago, the official eastern terminus of America’s most famous highway.
Climate and the Best Time to Visit Joliet
Joliet shares Chicago’s continental climate, with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. The most comfortable seasons for a Route 66 road trip through northern Illinois are late spring (May–June) and early fall (September–October), when temperatures are mild and the weather is generally settled. Summer visits are entirely practical but come with higher humidity and the possibility of afternoon thunderstorms. Winter visits are possible but challenging, as ice and snow can complicate driving the original Route 66 alignments.
Practical Tips for Visiting the Rialto Square Theatre
- Address: 102 North Chicago Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432
- Phone: 815-726-6600
- Website: rialtosquare.com
- Tours: Guided tours available most weekends — check the website for current schedules and pricing.
- Performances: Check the online calendar well in advance, as popular shows sell out quickly.
- Parking: Downtown Joliet offers street parking and nearby public parking facilities. The theatre is walkable from the Route 66 Welcome Center and Route 66 Park.
- Accessibility: The theatre is ADA accessible. Contact the box office for specific accessibility accommodations.
- Photography: Interior photography may be restricted during performances; tours typically allow photography in public areas.
- Combine your visit: Pair the Rialto with the Joliet Historical Museum, Old Joliet Prison, and a walk along the Route 66 corridor for a full day of northern Illinois Route 66 exploration.
Final Thoughts on the Rialto Square Theatre
The Rialto Square Theatre is a reminder of what ambition, craftsmanship, and community pride can produce — and of what those same values can preserve. Built in 1926 as a palace for ordinary people, restored in the 1980s by a community that refused to let it disappear, and still thriving today as one of the Midwest’s great performing arts venues, the Rialto is a living monument to the era when Route 66 was young and the open road promised everything.
For Route 66 travelers, the Rialto Square Theatre is not a detour or a bonus stop. It is one of the genuine architectural wonders of the Mother Road — a place that deserves to be seen slowly, with attention, and ideally with a performance on the stage and the Barton organ filling those magnificent vaulted spaces with sound.
Nearby Route 66 Highlights
- Chicago, Illinois — The official eastern terminus of Route 66 and starting point of the great American road trip.
- Joliet, Illinois — Full guide to Joliet’s Route 66 history, attractions, and travel tips.
- Wilmington, Illinois — Home of the legendary Gemini Giant and classic Route 66 roadside Americana.
- Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum, Pontiac — One of the finest Route 66 museums in Illinois, about 100 miles southwest of Joliet.
- Route 66 in Illinois — Complete Guide — The full overview of the Mother Road’s Illinois corridor, from Chicago to the Mississippi.
