Rialto Cinema Upper Parliament Street/Berkely Street, Liverpool

The site on which the theatre and ballroom stands will be remembered by an older generation as that on which stood the stables and offices of Masons, the proprietors of the horse omnibuses which before the era of the tramcar, maintained communication between the then suburbs and the city. Its accessibility since those days has been immensely improved by the excellence of the Corporation tramway services, and cars pass the site at the rate of one per minute. Within a radius of one mile of the theatre, there are over 40,000 substantial homes, and this being a district of Liverpool favoured for residential flats, there is a rapidly increasing population. 

The frontage of the building in Upper Parliament Street is 172 feet, and in Berkley Street 150 feet, and in drawing up the plans. Messrs Gray and Evans of North John Street, Liverpool, cinema architects of wide repute (responsible, by the way, for the designing of several Merseyside halls), have fittingly interpreted the idea that the modern theatre must be a recreational centre, likely to enhance the amenities of the district, such as in the provision of facilities where none existed before. The buildings have brightened what otherwise would have been a very dull corner. Both the important street frontages are occupied by a suite of shops, six on each side of the imposing main entrance and in adopting this lay-out due regard was paid to what may be succinctly described as the theory of site value. Rialto (Liverpool), Ltd was registered in August 1925. the directors being all gentlemen of experience in the entertainment world with some of the most successful entertainment enterprises in the South Lancashire and Cheshire territory,

Some idea of the organisation involved in the erection of the modern entertainment house may be gathered from the fact that over one thousand working drawings, covering every detail, were prepared by the architects and contractors for the Rialto buildings. General principles were decided by a study of details. which were developed to form a symmetrical whole. Nearly 2,000 people may be accommodated in the Rialto at any one time, and the services which have been provided for their comfort and enjoyment will, throughout, conform to a superlative standard. 

In designing the Rialto Messrs Gray and Evans had a visionary conception that in the theatre, decorative arts are passing through a transitory epoch which has not yet found expression in, but is tending toward, the magnificent entertainment palaces of America where theatre embellishment eschews the ornate. Such effects leave no scope for the artist and compel the acceptance for all time of limitations in artistic treatment of the inside walls, The architects recognised that in the "whirligig of time " new ideas must evolve such as will completely uproot the restraint of the age in which we are living. Artists of the future will appreciate the prescience shown in the planning of the Their efforts will find just as much scope as have those who have executed the existing right-up-to-the-minute scheme. Should. at some distant date
the directors. who from the very outset have courage in endeavouring to anticipate the public taste, decide to introduce a new plan of decorations, the creativeness of the artist will not be circumscribed by the artificial limitations of the "canvas." The absence of ornamental projections from the walls of the theatre, the ballroom and cafe. in fact, throughout the building, is noteworthy; it is really giving succeeding generations of artists a free hand to improve on the best that the present can offer.

Building operations were not commenced until March 1926 and due to the labour troubles of last year delays occurred, which have made the opening date later than was originally contemplated. Between 100 and 200 men have been regularly employed on site during the last twelve months, in addition, of course, to a number of men preparing work in local factories, for erection at the Rialto.The Rialto building is classical in design, being Greek in feeling, although the huge shields which break the long sweeping lines are typically Italian. The jazz panels below the windows are interesting, with their grotesque heads flanked by ukuleles, banjos and other jazz instruments, and lend the right tone to the building. 

The main entrance, through which the public will flow to all parts of the building, is spacious and inviting, and forms a splendid corner Two great pylons stand either side towering into the sky, and in giving to the entrance the importance that from an architectural point of view it demands, it not only forms a splendid connecting link between the cafe and the ballroom, but adds dignity and charm to the whole project. 

The copper domes are embossed. copper sheets laid with vertical rolls. the joints being welded with intersecting rolls on the hips. Each tower is surmounted with a copper moulded finial, all worked to the designs the architects In turn, the pylons are connected and well tied together by a colonnade of superimposed columns rounding off the corner to a pleasing curve. Through the lower colonnade, patrons will tread on white marble paving on the way to the entrance hall. access to which is gained hv no less than five pairs of double doors. Above this is the ballroom lounge portico, which will afford a place of respite for the less energetic dancing enthusiasts, who may sit and watch the busy thoroughfare below. The entrance being the lead-up as it were to the richness of the interior, it is only appropriate  that it should have such a voluptuous appearance.

White marble steps cross the imposing corner entrance, 48 feet wide, leading up to the entrance vestibule, which is 31 feet wide. The paving is segmental and rectangular in white marble with 
squares of the same material, with black border and simple squares of white laid diagonally. The black line is repeated around them, spaced at interesting intervals the plain, squared ground. The pavement and steps are entirely of the non-slip finish. Beautiful terrazzo flooring is laid in the entrance hall. the three main cases to balcony and lounges, landings, stalls, waiting room, ladies and gents' toilet etc.  The main feature of the terrazzo, with which the floors are paved, is its resemblance to marble. 

The treatment of the three main staircases consisted of the steps being covered with small Hoptonwood stone chippings in white cement. including square nosings and returns to form strings to staircase. The entrance halls and stalls. waiting rooms are treated in the same manner excepting that Hoptonwood stone. [The Bioscope - Thursday 6 October 1927 page 77-78]

RIALTO OPENS, NEW LIVERPOOL SUPER - The Rialto which has been erected on a commanding and central site at the corner of Upper Parliament Street and Berkeley Street, Liverpool, and which will be open to the public for the first tune to- morrow (Friday) will be a handsome addition to the city's many houses of entertainment. The promoters are to be congratulated on their bold enterprise in building this magnificent picture theatre and dance hall in a thickly populated and good-class district which is so near to the centre of the city. The proprietors are the Rialto, Ltd.,
 
An imposing entrance leads to a large waiting room for patrons of the theatre, and to the stairway leading to the spacious ballroom and café. One of them most beautifully designed halls in the country, the theatre will hold 1,700 people, 1.200 In the auditorium and 5m in the balcony. All the seats are of the tip-up type of the latest pattern and have been supplied by Beck and Windibank. The decorations, by Waring and Gillow, are very pleasing, with long panels on each side of the theatre and the lighting is a 
feature, especially the subdued lights. The projecting unit comprises an apartment of about 74 feet in length. and includes a projecting-room. Winding room and generating room. Kalee projectors have been installed. Special attention will lie given to the musical programmes, which will be provided bv Harold Gee.

The splendid Ballroom will accommodate about 500 couples on a special spring floor. The decorative scheme includes a number of views of Venice. The installation has been arranged so as to give a different setting for each dance. On the same floor as the ballroom is a café with sixty tables. The decorative scheme and the carpet give an old-world garden effect. Scenes of the Wye Valley are 
painted on the walls with lattice work frames, in which are arranged artificial flowers and leaves—similar to the ballroom— the general colour-scheme being cream and art green. Music from the theatre and the ballroom will be broadcast to the café. The entire staff will number 120. 

The architects were Gray and Evans, North John Street. Liverpool. and the building contractors Wm. Griffiths, Sons and Cromwell. Upper Duke Street, Liverpool. [Kinematograph Weekly 6 October 1927 page 82]

Reference    The Bioscope - Thursday 6 October 1927 page 77-78
Reference    Kinematograph Weekly 6 October 1927 page 82