Riverside Theater Information

The Riverside Theater is a venue for many different kinds of performances. Solo artists like Aretha Franklin have performed here, as have bands and even orchestras. But the Riverside hosts plenty of events that are not musical, too. You can see comedy routines or talks with famous personalities. What you won’t typically see are really large-scale performances like full operas, musicals or ballets.

People often think of the Riverside Theater as a living relic of the past. A visit to a theater like the Riverside in 1928 was a chance for theatergoers to enjoy a luxurious experience and beautiful furnishings while they watched a vaudeville show or silent film. Most similar theaters of its kind are now gone, while the Riverside Theater has emphasized its historical aesthetic with a new, 1920s-style marquee that was installed in 2015.

Venue history

We’ve talked already about the Riverside Theater’s origins as a vaudeville venue. But you might be thinking – wasn’t 1928 near the end of the vaudeville era? In fact, it was. From the start, the theater showed films too, and in the next decade, the theater transitioned to relying on other forms of live entertainment like comedy and bands as well. 

In 1966, the Riverside’s gorgeous stage curtains and drapes caught on fire from a cigarette. They were replaced with less lush fabrics – and this was part of the theater’s slide away from grandeur. Increasingly, the Riverside was showing low-budget B-movies, and by 1982 it was in a bad condition.

Fortunately, a restoration in 1984 made the Riverside Theater a beautiful live performance theater again. Today, the Riverside is busy and full once more, offering music, comedy, and entertainment in the same baroque setting that enchanted attendees in 1928. 

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Ticket Policies:
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Seating Chart:
View the standard The Riverside Theater seating map and read about different seating options.

Parking Information:
Information about the Riverside Theater parking options.