• The Opening
  
• Many Proprietors
  
• Fire Disaster
  
• Major Refurbishment
  
• Grand Reopening
  
• Closure
  
• Later Use of Building
  

A purpose built stone cinema in the centre of the old part of Clayton village. A single deck hall with 450 seats and a proscenium width of 18 feet.

The Opening
Opened as the Clayton Picture House on Monday 22nd November 1920 with the special feature . . .

"The Melting Pot" - 1916 USA B/W Silent
Starring Henry Bergman, Doc Crane and Valentine Grant.
A shadow stage adaptation of Israel Zangwill's famous play.
followed by
"Manhattan Madness" - 1916 USA B/W Silent
Starring Douglas Fairbanks Snr and Jewel Carmen.

Many Proprietors
Early proprietors included Albert Harrison (also involved with the new Coronet) and Theatre de Luxe (Bradford) Ltd who also controlled the Theatre de Luxe in Bridge Street, Bradford. Resident manager in the early 1920's was A.N. Ardagh. Prices were 5d to 1s for the once nightly shows. By 1925 the Clayton Cinema Company had been formed with Frank Lister as manager and prices reduced to 4d and 9d and these prices were held for over a decade.

In 1932 now with Roy Firth as proprietor, its name was changed to Rialto Cinema. Firth's own sound system was installed, but by 1935 Harrison's sound system was fitted. Will Phillips, previously of the Wilsden Picture House, became manager. W.F.G. Phillips had been managing director of the Regent Picture Theatre in Manningham Lane from 1914 to 1925.

Later owners included Dean & Heggs and Joe Emmott's Dales Cinemas also controlling the Queen's Hall, Laisterdyke and Thornton Mechanic's Picture House. In later years the Rialto was owned by Alfred A. Howarth once the assistant projectionist when it was the Clayton Picture House, the Savoy in Darley Street and Theatre Royal in Manningham Lane; he was to buy the Rialto in 1952.

Fire Disaster
The Rialto closed following a fire on the night of Monday 14th September 1953 which had broken out only minutes after the cinema had closed. Smoke was seen coming out of the cinema roof at 10-45pm by Herbert Brooke who lived next door. His timely intervention in calling the fire brigade prevented the cinema becoming a total loss. John Howarth, son of the owner/manager, said "a lot of damage had been done to seating and fittings in the rear stalls". The fire brigade confirmed that between 30 and 40 seats had been destroyed and an area of flooring burnt.

The cinema remained closed for over a month whilst Alfred Howarth took the opportunity to completely refurbish and redecorate the hall and installed a new wide screen.

Major Refurbishment
Main contractor for the structural refurbishment was Harold Woodhead a local joiner, builder and undertaker. Redecoration work by Bagnall's of Shipley (who also re-decorated the Gaumont at Saltaire and the Picture Palace at Dudley Hill) with new seats, carpets and draperies fitted by L.B. Lockwood & Co of Newall Street, Bradford.

The electrical installation and lighting effects of the Rialto were originally installed by Herbert Smith (Bradford) Ltd of Longside Lane, Lidget Green only a couple of months before the fire. Herbert Smith then had to re-service and completely renovate the entire installation again.

The projection room was equipped with the latest RCA sound reproducer, "Strong" Electrical Corporation (GB) Ltd high intensity arcs and Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co Ltd "Westalite" rectifiers.

Grand Reopening
A grand re-opening performance was held on Monday 19th October 1953 at 7.00pm by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Alderman Angus Crowther, J.P., who also represented Clayton on the city council, accompanied by the Lady Mayoress Miss Annie Crowther.

The special performance included . . .

1. The National Anthem
2. Re-opening Ceremony
3. Musical Interlude
4. Paramount Newsreel - The Eyes and Ears of the World
5. "Metroscopix" in 3-Dimension
Demonstrates amazing Third Dimensional Effects on the Screen
6. Forthcoming Attractions (trailers)
7. "Singin' in the Rain" - 1952 USA Technicolor 103 mins.
MGM's Glorious feeling Musical
Starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds.

The film "Metroscopix" required the use of red/green cardboard glasses to be hand-held in front of the eyes. Newspaper announcements said: "So real it comes out of the screen almost to touch you - On the new Wide Screen".

Closure
The cinema continued for almost another three years and closed on Saturday 17th March 1956 with the final double feature . . .

"Shadow of a Man" - 1954 UK B/W
Starring Paul Carpenter, Rona Anderson and Jane Griffiths.
and
"The Blakes Slept Here" - Starring Dorothy Gordon.
(no further details available)

Following the closure of the Rialto, its proprietor Alfred Howarth was later to return to the Theatre Royal where he became a director and secretary of the company before retiring to the Dales.

Later use of Building
The premises were later converted for industrial use.
In more recent times the hall was divided by creating a new first floor for use as a storage warehouse first for pet products and since 1995 owned by Trycare wholesalers of Dental materials and equipment. The premises are now known as Rialto Buildings.