Rialto Cinema, Bebington Road, Bebington

• Date Opened     Thursday 27th July 1933
• Date closed        Summer of 1961
• Demolished        2002
• Seating                 1274.

 The Rialto Cinema was sited at the junction of Bebington Road and (the now demolished) Alma Street close to Bebington Railway Station.

THE RIALTO, BEBINGTON - Orthodox designs suitable for thickly populated city and suburban areas are generally true to type, but in the opinion of some experienced kinema architects there is now a call for more enterprise in the treatment of buildings to be situated in purely residential districts, far removed from the hurly-burly of traffic. 

E. S. Gray, partner of the firm of Gray and Evans, kinema architects. 51. North John Street, Liverpool, in an interview with the Kine. Weekly a few days ago, stated that in the designs of the Rialto Kinema. Bebington, upon which building operations have just been started, keen regard was shown for the amenities of the neighbourhood. and for aesthetic considerations. “All new houses, especially those which are part of new estates," said Mr. Gray, " have plenty of open space both at the front and at the back, and it cannot be expected that householders will be enticed to places of entertainment if they are in the least bit cramped or stuffy. Economy in planning. is. of course. a paramount consideration. but the demand of the public for spaciousness must be responded to, otherwise patronage will suffer." 

The Rialto Kinema, Bebington, which will have seating accommodation in the stalls for 925 persons, and in the balcony for 400 persons. is an endeavour to approach the ideal. One innovation is that there are no under-balcony seats. A superstructure, carrying the balcony will commence where the rear stalls end. No matter how well-ventilated the space may be, there is always with people a feeling of crampedness in this part of the house," said Mr. Gray. The ceiling is too low and, although the hygienics may be perfect, many people simply will not patronise that part of the theatre. They feel they are just tucked away.' " 

The frontage of the Rialto to Bebington Road will be constructed of stone and brick and will harmonise with the architecture of the surrounding property. Three pairs of swing doors will lead to the entrance hall, whence there will be a staircase to the balcony and foyer. Doors at each side of the pay-box will give access to the stalls waiting room, 20 feet deep by about 50 feet wide. Further doors lead to the stalls promenade. which is separated from the rear stalls by a brick wall. Thus, ample precautions are taken to prevent outside noises entering the theatre, even when patrons make their way in during the performance. There will be no pillars to obstruct the view of the patrons. 

The balcony extends from the rear wall of the auditorium over the stalls waiting room and promenade. the front being 9 feet above the rear stalls floor. It is interesting to note that there will be only twenty-five steps comprising the staircase from the entrance hall to the rear balcony. A separate waiting-room has been provided for patrons of the front stalls. Special consideration has been given to the exits, which have been arranged that people leaving the theatre will not pass through the waiting-rooms and clash with incoming patrons. 

Projection will be from a room over the rear balcony, which will be equipped with the most up-to-date plant. the projectors having a throw of about 94 feet. The proscenium opening will be 40 feet wide. The building contract is in the hands of George Platt and Son Ltd, Westmoreland Street, Liverpool. Regent Enterprises Ltd. of Stanley Street Liverpool, whose circuit includes the new King's Kinema (London Road), the Victoria (Queen's Drive) and several other cinemas in Liverpool, are responsible for the bookings. The approximate open date of the new Rialto is August Bank Holiday. 1933. [Kinematograph Weekly - 17 November 1932 page 22 and 27]

CONTRACTS - Most of the contracts for the new Rialto Kinema at Bebington have now been placed.  Seating will be installed by Frisby, Dyke and Co Ltd. Liverpool; decorations and drapery by J. Nixon Hough Ltd Birkenhead; electrical work by Mr. C. P Ribton. of South Castle Street, Liverpool. Kershaw Projector Co. of Leeds, will install their latest type of Kalee machines. [Kinematograph Weekly - Thursday 08 June 1933 Page 38]