Rialto's Young Frankenstein Delivers: Ferak Column

JOLIET, IL - I've heard more than one person complain to me how there isn't anything going on in downtown Joliet after the sun goes down. Well, on Tuesday night - a week day - there was quite a crowd downtown. Everybody was heading into the Rialto Square Theatre to watch one of the all-time great movie classics, Young Frankenstein.

The 1974 Mel Brooks movie stars Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn and Teri Garr and my personal favorite actor in the movie, Gene Hackman playing the lonely blind priest.

It was quite a night. The Rialto's organ was playing "Puttin' on the Ritz" as the crowd filled the seats. The audience roared with applause when the Rialto went pitch black and the opening credits showed on the big screen. There was a huge applause at the end of the movie shortly before 9 p.m.

Everyone had a terrific time.

For one, I couldn't believe the turnout. It was quite a wide age range, too.

Practically every seat on the Rialto's main floor was taken. Somewhere probably close to 1,000 people attended the last of the Rialto's Monthly Summer Movie Nights, which were held on the last Tuesday night of the month.

This was the first time I attended one of the Rialto's movie nights, a new event offered in 2018.

And the only reason I did so was at the urging of my uncle, Joe Vonch, a former teacher at Joliet Catholic and Laraway Schools. We turned it into an extended family event. My parents, John and Cathy Ferak, drove in from Plainfield. My 10-year-old son also wanted to tag along.

Tuesday night's showing of "Young Frankenstein" reinforced that there's something magical about stepping inside the Rialto and looking up at the rafters and the amazing architecture. It's a special place, built in the 1920s, but it's critical the Rialto's marketing staff builds upon this year's successes.

Looking ahead to November and December, there are plenty of quality shows. My uncle and I are both fans of classic rock so we bought our tickets back in August for Jason Bonham, son of the late drummer of Led Zeppelin, who performs at the Rialto on Monday, Dec. 3.

RELATED: Son Of Late Led Zeppelin Founder Books Rialto Show

Still, I think that Movie Nights are a great way to generate revenue for the Rialto and an even better way to pack the house and bring the greater Joliet community together more often.

Tickets for the Rialto's Summer Movie Night are only $5 and everything on the main floor is general admission. The Rialto also lets you bring your concessions from out in the lobby, such as beer and popcorn, into the theater.

The Rialto is a breathtaking place. Tuesday night's turnout for the 1974 black-and-white Mel Brooks classic proves you don't need to bring in a huge headliner such as Jerry Seinfeld to fill the seats.

In 2019, the Rialto would be wise to hold lots more Movie Nights and stick with the classics and the Oscar winners. Show some John Wayne movies, Clint Eastwood, maybe a couple movies featuring Tom Hanks and Robin Williams.

Instead of showing one movie a month, why not make it a weekly event?

John Ferak is Patch Editor for New Lenox, Joliet and Bolingbrook.

Images via John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor