Loveland’s Rialto Bridge!

Groundbreaking has begun in my hometown on a great project that also involves Brian and Todd's "Habba Jeeba Good Time Variety Happy Hour Comedy Show!"

Read more to get the details and watch some demolition video --that's always cool!

One of downtown Loveland's treasures is The Rialto Theater. Built around 1920, showing silent films and then moving into "talkies".

I remember my dad taking me to see "Herbie Rides Again" there in 1974 and seeing Star Wars with my buddies at The Rialto in 1977!

However, in the 70's the larger movie theaters starting opening- including the The Orchards Twin on the other side of Loveland, forcing The Rialto to shut down as a movie theater. According to the City of Loveland, the last film to be shown there was "The Rescuers" in 1977.

In the 80's, as crazy as it would seem today, the theater was transformed into a small mall. My mom worked downtown for a while- I remember her, my brother and I getting some great burgers and onion rings at a diner there!

However, that little mall closed down as well, and in the late 80's volunteers set to restoring The Rialto to its 1920's charm.

From The City of Loveland's website:

One of the most exciting moments was the discovery of the original leaded glass transom window in the lobby. This beautiful detail had been hidden behind cardboard and paneling for more than half a century."

With all that hard work and some funding, The Rialto Theater was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995; and for almost 20 years now, the renovated theater has hosted hundreds of plays, school programs, movies and other community minded events including Brian and Todd's annual comedy show!

However, the theater- as Brian and Todd can attest, is just too darn small. So the city has started work on---

The Rialto Bridge!

Here's the scoop on what will be the future of The Rialto

So- the work has begun -- here comes the demolition stuff!!

Courtesy of The Reporter-Herald-- here's building one getting razed:

and then building two....

Here's a picture from The groundbreaking ceremony...

I think this is going to be a great thing for downtown Loveland- and for

Brian and Todd's Habba Jeeba Good Time Variety Happy Hour Comedy Show"!

The ribbon cutting of the 20,000 square foot building/extensioin is slated for January of 2012.

Get more on the story from The Reporter-Herald.

You can follow the project with The Rialto Theater's Facebook Page.