Advertising Sign
2022.0813.001
from the collection of
Dimensions
28.25in H x 7.5in W x 28.25in L
Description
A large painted letter ‘L’ from the Rialto theater marquee. The inside is painted white and has eleven round lightbulbs equally spaced. The top, sides, and bottom are painted red. The back side has wood to attach to the original sign and is otherwise unembellished, only having bolts and cradles for electrical wiring.
The Rialto Theatre was constructed in 1915 as a local movie theater before transitioning to foreign arthouse films in the 1960s. It was razed in 1991 to make way for the State Job Service Office on the Southwest corner of Lake Street and Chicago Avenue. The demolition followed years of community protests as the theater had been operating as an adult movie theatre since the early 1970s.