Flashback Friday: Windsor Locks History with Mel Montemerlo

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — The Rialto Theater opened on October 25, 1922. It was owned by Dominick Alfano and Leo Viola. We know from the 1913 Aero Map of Windsor Locks that Leo Viola had a confectionary store in the Barrett block in 1913. Dominick Alfano had a confectionary store in the same location prior to Leo Viola. According to the October 25,1922 issue of the Springfield Daily News, they built a magnificent movie theater
which held 625 people, a stage with an asbestos curtain, a fireproof projection room, concrete floors and stairways, and it was all built to the latest safety standards. It also had two stores to rent on the street level. There is one store on each side of the theater entrance.

The stage was used for putting on plays and musicals. It was often used for high school plays. Fraternal organizations used the stage for shows to raise money for charitable works. It was used as a place for politicians to give speeches, and for meetings of both the local Democrat and Republican parties. The stage was used for school graduations. In the World War II years, there were stars such as Kate Smith and
Joan Fontaine, who came to the Rialto and did war bond rallies.

According to the October 20,1929 issue of the Springfield Republican, there were two movie theaters in Windsor Locks. One was the Rialto, and the other was the Palace theater on the North side of Grove St., near Main St. The Palace Theater was previously called the Princess Theater. The owners of the Rialto, Leo Viola and Dominick Alfano, bought the Palace theater and closed it down. That was in 1927. The reason was that the competition was making it unprofitable for both theaters. They then sold the Palace theater to Harold Lavigne, the husband of Blanche Bianchi, who turned the building into a bowling alley.

In the December 16,1930 edition of the Springfield Republican, it was reported that there was a hunting accident, and one of the owners, Leo Viola, was shot accidentally by his hunting partner, Joseph Gatti, who was also his nephew. Mr. Viola died quickly. The coroner was summoned, and he declared it an accidental shooting. Mr. Viola had immigrated here from Italy. He was unmarried. He had become a successful businessman.

According to the Springfield Republican of June 10,1939, a major renovation of the interior of the theater was done. They installed new spring cushion seats, the latest sound reproduction system and extra thick carpeting in the lobby and aisles to reduce noise, a modern heating system, a complete lighting system, and the walls were modified to decrease unwanted sounds.

Dave Magliora managed the Rialto Theater for 25 years. He also owned the Brown Derby for eight years. He died on June 18, 1973. (Springfield Union, Jul 19,1973)

Leo Viola and Dominick Alfano owned the Rialto from 1922 until Leo Viola died in 1930. We can assume that Dominick Alfano owned at least part of it until it was sold to Mr. Natale Tambussi in 1947. Mr. Tambussi owned it from 1947 to 1960. After that, it was owned by Michael Halperin of Hartford.

The Rialto Theater, along with all of the businesses on Main Street were demolished in the mid-1970s during the redevelopment of the Main Street area.

To read more articles on the history of Windsor Locks, visit www.windsorlockshistory.com.

Written by Mel Montemerlo

About the author: Mel Montemerlo was a Windsor Locks resident until he went to college in 1960. He is an avid student of town history, having written over 50 articles. He is currently retired and lives in Virginia.