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Home My WebLink About10 (12) W Main St MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD For the Montana National Register of Historic Places Program and State Antiquities Database Montana State Historic Preservation Office Montana Historical Society PO Box 201202, 1410 8th Ave Helena, MT 59620-1202 Property Address: 12 W Main St Historic Address (if applicable): City/Town: Bozeman Site Number: 243 Historic District Number (if applicable): 24GA0952 County: Gallatin Historic Name: Rialto Theater Original Owner(s): H. A. Pease Current Ownership Private Public Current Property Name: Rialto Theatre Owner(s): The Bozeman Rialto LLC Owner Address: PO Box 1265 Phone: Legal Location PM: Montana Township: 2S Range: 6E SE ¼ SW ¼ NW ¼ of Section: 7 Lot(s): TRACT A PLAT C-22-F Block(s): Block A Addition: Story Addition Year of Addition: 1872 USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987 Historic Use: Post Office and Business College Current Use: Theatre Construction Date: c. 1908 Estimated Actual Original Location Moved Date Moved: UTM Reference www.nris.mt.gov NAD 27 or NAD 83 (preferred) Zone: 12 Easting: 497067 Northing: 5058380 National Register of Historic Places NRHP Listing Date: 1986 Historic District: Main Street Historic District NRHP Eligible: Yes No *Property meets the City of Bozeman's definition of an eligible property. Date of this document: 5/6/2021 Form Prepared by: R. Schields, Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. Address: PO Box 1526, Bozeman, MT 59771 Daytime Phone: (406) 219-3535 MT SHPO USE ONLY Eligible for NRHP: □ yes □ no Criteria: □ A □ B □ C □ D Date: Evaluator: Comments: Site contributes to existing historic district. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 2 Architectural Description Property Name: 12 W Main St Site Number: 243 ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION Architectural Style: Classic Revival If Other, specify: Neoclassical Property Type: Arts; Entertainment Specific Property Type: Theatre Architect: 1920s renovation: A. M. Russell Architectural Firm/City/State: Bozeman, MT Builder/Contractor: Company/City/State: Source of Information: Phillips, 2015, https://bozemanmagazine.com/articles/2015/12/31/102043-the-rialto-remembered, accessed 6/15/2021. The site is a two-story, Neoclassical commercial block, now known as the Rialto Theatre. It was likely constructed concurrently with the Gallatin State Bank Building, just to the east at 2 W Main (property 241) in 1908. The site was previously recorded by James R. McDonald Architects in 1984, with revisions by Matt Cohen in 1985, and subsequently listed on the NRHP as a primary contributing property to the Main Street Historic District in 1986 (24GA0952). An updated Montana Historic Property Record form was completed in 2016 by ThinkTank Design Group, Inc. of Bozeman, MT, likely to document the structure prior to its most recent renovation, which was completed in 2018. Metcalf visited the site in 2020 and noted the recent alterations since the 2016 update. The storefront on the first story has been changed; the two, double-door entrances have been moved forward toward the sidewalk and the double doors have been replaced with modern metal and glass. Between the entrances, the box office has also been moved forward and is flush with the sidewalk. The box office supports a set of three windows; the center is a single fixed lite flanked on either side by one-over-one hung windows. At the west end of the facade, the recessed entry that accesses the upstairs has been moved forward in line with the doors to the east. The door has been replaced with a modern metal and glass door. Above the storefront, the flat panel which previously held the marquee has been removed, revealing three multi-lite transoms, which may be original (Figure 4). A triangular back-light display board is above the box office. Between the first and second stories, a flat marquee has been added, extending out over the sidewalk. The marquee has rounded corners and is accented with chrome and neon. This marquee and the neon accented blade sign above closely resemble their historic counterparts c. 1927 (Figure 4). The second story windows have been replaced with modern metal six-lite windows that closely resemble the arrangement of the original wood windows. The rear elevation has also sustained significant alteration. The two-story rear portion of the theatre has been built up with concrete block and extended to the south property boundary. The first floor supports a side-hung door, an overhead door, and a fence that encloses a small service area. At the southwest corner is a gated entry to an exterior stair that accesses the second story. The stair is covered under a raised seam metal panel roof. The second story supports a ribbon of three, single-lite fixed windows with a concrete sill. Overall, the site is in excellent condition. Although the site was recently renovated, the design firm chose to leave the faded paint on the exterior bricks. As ThinkTank notes in their 2016 update, "The orange/red brick masonry was painted a [sic] some later date and the finish is now wearing thin exposing the brick which appear to also match the Gallatin State Bank Building." MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 3 History of Property Property Name: 12 W Main St Site Number: 243 HISTORY OF PROPERTY The building at 12 W Main, currently known as the Rialto, was likely constructed in 1908, concurrent with the Gallatin State Bank just to the east at 2 W Main. While no records can substantiate this information, the design details between the two buildings are very similar. In 1985, Cohen speculated that John R. Scahill was likely responsible for the design and construction as the bank was, "probably built by the (Gallatin State) bank as a real estate venture" (McDonald and Cohen, 1984; 1985). In a 2016 form update, design firm ThinkTank suggests Robert Noe as the architect, although they admit, "no official data was located substantiating this conclusion" (Thinktank, 2016). Whoever the architect, the building was ins use by 1912 as a Post Office with Bozeman Business College occupying the second floor. Between 1916 and 1924, the building housed the Power Implement Co. In 1925, the property was purchased by A. M. Russell who converted the first floor storefront into a movie theatre. Russell converted the second floor into apartments, known as the Rialto Apartments. A theatre mogul, Russell also operated the Ellen Theatre (17 W Main), the Joyce Theatre (219 E Main), and later the Star-Lite Drive In on N 7th Ave (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, December 6, 2017). In 1934, local architect Fred F. Willson redesigned the interior of the theatre and in 1967, much of that hard work was destroyed by a fire, which also claimed the marquee (McDonald and Cohen, 1984; 1985). The theatre was again renovated in 1982, improvements were added to the acoustics, seating, and concessions (rialtobozeman.com). In 2005, the theatre shut its doors and remained vacant until 2015 when the property was purchased by ThinkTank Design Group. The Rialto once again opened its doors in 2018 after ThinkTank completed their renovations. The building now supports a main theatre venue with a 400 person capacity, an upstairs bar, and a rentable gallery space. This renovation added the new flat marquee and blade sign to the facade, purposely alluding to Art Deco marquee and sign added in 1927 (Figure 4). The sign was built by Erik Nelson of Media Station Design Works (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, December 6, 2017). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 4 Information Sources/Bibliography Property Name: 12 W Main St Site Number: 243 INFORMATION SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY Bozeman Daily Chronicle 2017 "Sign of the Times: Rialto restores Art Deco neon." December 5, Bozeman, MT. Electronic Resource. https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/sign-of-the-times-rialto-restores-art-deco-neon/article_fa39120e-f90f-51db-9ded- 92f8bd063a29.html, accessed 5/6/21. James R. McDonald Architects 1984 10-12 W Main Montana Historical and Architectural Inventory Form. With revisions by Matt Cohen - 1985. Document on-file with the City of Bozeman, Bozeman, MT. Rachel Phillips 2015 "The Rialto Remembered: Bozeman's Choice Business or Structure You Wish Was STILL Here But Is Gone." Bozeman Magazine, December 31, 2015. https://bozemanmagazine.com/articles/2015/12/31/102043-the-rialto-remembered, accessed 6/16/2021. Rialto Bozeman 2020 "About the Rialto." https://www.rialtobozeman.com/about.php, accessed 5/6/21. Thinktank 2016 10-12 W Main Street, Montana Historic Property Record. Document on-file with the City of Bozeman, Bozeman, MT. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 5 Statement of Significance Property Name: 12 W Main St Site Number: 243 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NRHP Listing Date: 1986 NRHP Eligibility: Yes No Individually Contributing to Historic District Noncontributing to Historic District NRHP Criteria: A B C D Area of Significance: Social and Commercial History, Architecture Period of Significance: Historic More Than One Decade STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE This two-story commercial building was constructed c. 1908 and has sustained multiple renovations in 1925, 1934, 1982, and most recently in 2016. The site was previously recorded by James R. McDonald Architects in 1984, with revisions by Matt Cohen in 1985, and subsequently listed on the NRHP as a primary contributing property to the Main Street Historic District in 1986 (24GA0952). An updated Montana Historic Property Record form was completed in 2016 by Thinktank Design Group, Inc. of Bozeman, MT. The site is in excellent condition and retains sufficient integrity to convey historic character. The property is currently listed on the NRHP as a contributing property in the Main Street Historic District (24GA0952) and retains sufficient integrity to maintain its listed status. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 6 Integrity Property Name: 12 W Main St Site Number: 243 INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) The site is in excellent condition overall. While recent renovations have returned some of the earlier details of the historic Rialto Theatre, the new materials have affected the integrity of materials to a degree. All other aspects of integrity remain intact. MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 7 Photographs Property Name: 12 W Main St Site Number: 243 Feature # 1 Facing: S Description: Property 243. Primary façade. (Image #1862, 6/1/2021 SLW) Feature # 1 Description: Property 243. Façade details. (Image #1863, 6/1/2021. SLW) MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 8 Photographs Property Name: 12 W Main St Site Number: 243 Facing: SE Feature # 1 Facing: NE Description: Property 243. Rear elevation. (Image #1865, 6/1/2021. SLW) Feature # 1 Facing: SSE Description: Property 243. Historic Image of Rialto c. 1940s showing Art Deco marquee, blade sign, and multi-lite transom. (Image courtesy of Gallatin History MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 9 Photographs Property Name: 12 W Main St Site Number: 243 Museum). Feature # 1 Facing: SE Description: Property 243. Historic Image of Rialto c. 1927 showing Art Deco marquee and blade sign. (Image courtesy of Gallatin History Museum). MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 10 Site Map Property Name: 12 W Main St Site Number: 243 MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD PAGE 11 Topographic Map Property Name: 12 W Main St Site Number: 243