Rialto Square Theatre

Ghost Hunters next stop is the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, Illinois. After two years, it opened on May 24, 1926 as a vaudeville movie palace costing nearly $2 million to build. The first talking picture show premiered on October 9, 1928. Despite being one of the finest theaters in the United States, time and the weather took a toll on the building and in the 1970s, it came close to be demolished. After the Rialto Square Arts Association launched a campaign to save it, the theatre went through extensive restoration in the 1980s. It has seen it's share of notable performers over the years including B. B. King, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, The Three Stooges, and Taylor Swift. It is believed a few former visitors may have never left.

There are many stories about a couple of ghosts often seen in the theatre. One talks of a little boy named "Colin". He is known to be a bit of a prankster. Another common ghost is a young woman in her 20s seen dressed in white. Her true identity is unknown but some believe she was an actress who previously performed at the Rialto and I guess loved it so much she decided to never leave.

The balcony hosts a spectral couple. Many witnesses have seen a man and woman haunting the very place where they may have died. The couple has been associated with a tragic death of falling from the high seating area. Now, they continue to pop in for a show or two.

Other experiences include lights turning on by themselves, seats flipping in a down position on their own, doors open and close, being touched, and clothes tugged on. The Rialto has currently started paranormal tours.

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