Description
What a unique discovery! A lifetime Society member has donated one set of the six large neon letters spelling R-I-A-L-T-O, from the old Rialto Theater in Lowell, Massachusetts. Part of this building still stands at 240 Central Street. It first served as a workspace for the Boston and Maine Railroad in the 1870s. It became the Owl Theatre in 1911, and it was renamed the Rialto Theatre around 1920. The theatre closed in 1960, when the building was converted into the Rialto Lanes, a duckpin bowling alley. After this business closed in 1984, the place stood empty for many years. In the 2010s, all but the front façade was torn down, to make way for a new purpose. It is now the home of the Richard and Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center for Middlesex Community College. You can take a tour of the Center here: https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/academicartscenter/.
Nevertheless: What we have is one of the three original sets of neon R-I-A-L-T-O letters from the marquee. The letters stand about 30-31 inches tall. Their widths range from 7.5 inches (the letter I) to 31.5 inches (the letter O). The front of each letter is hollowed out and is 10 inches deep, since it once held the neon light tubes. Although the letters are hollow, there is metal all around and the neon tubes would come from behind through holes in the front and rear panels, which are not visible. The back of each letter is solid. Samples of some of the letters are included here. Let us know if you want to see more.
Save a piece of Lowell history! Remember: Jack Kerouac (1922-1969) was a fan of Henry David Thoreau and was a native of Lowell. He probably passed by or entered the Rialto Theatre.
Item Special Note
PLEASE NOTE: The winner bidder should be based somewhere in New England, so that these letters can be delivered in person. We cannot ship them.