Letter to the Editor: A chance for the Rialto
By Marlene Alves
Editor:
(This is an open letter to Lynn Duggan of the Duggan Family Partnership, owner of the building that houses the Rialto Cinemas Lakeside on Summerfield Road.)
Dear Mr. Duggan:
The news that a change in management of our favorite theatre comes as a shock.
In recognizing your ownership of the company that holds the lease on the Rialto, there is no question you can lease to whomever you please when the lease expires.
We write to ask you to consider reversing the recently signed lease and allow the present lessee, Ky Boyd, owner of the Rialto, to be part of the bidding process for this new lease.
We want to guarantee the continuity of entertainment options for Sonoma County theater goers. The large and loyal following that Ky Boyd and the Rialto have built in this community value his commitment to independent and foreign films. As faithful customers for these 10 years, we have been educated and entertained by what we see at the Rialto. We treasure his decisions in the programming he offers to a large variety of tastes and cultures.
The reasons for such support are many: a high percentage of the Rialto’s attendees are senior citizens. The venue offers easy access for those with limited mobility in both the interior and exterior of the building, especially an ease in parking. The amenities in the lobby are always clean and attractive with cafe seating and reading materials available. It’s a place to socialize, to meet friends before start times and to review films after shows.
In addition, the formerly plain exterior has been given an attractive retro-image upgrade, which reminds us of the early days of Hollywood while enhancing the image of the whole block.
Without doubt, Mr. Boyd and his staff have contributed generously in support of many good causes by offering a venue for nonprofit fundraisers, as many others have already noted. These contributions go beyond our city to the whole county and because of this, Ky Boyd has built a personal following through his generosity and wise business choices. You may not be aware of the strength of “brand commitment,” however, in Sonoma County, Ky Boyd is a brand.
As you are now aware, there has been a wave of shock and sadness to thousands of us regarding the change of lease agreement. We, the undersigned, ask that you give Mr. Boyd the opportunity to discuss a new lease before any more time elapses or any move is seriously contemplated. Thank you.
Sincerely submitted.
Marlene Alves
Santa Rosa
And 18 additional signatories
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The loss of the Rialto Theatre is a great loss for the Sonoma
Community. This theatre was the only venue in Sonoma that
consistantly provided an alternative to the Hollywood Big Features
with offerings of lovely small films, films from all over the world,
informative documentary films and Opera from the Metropolitan
in New York.
In a climate when our access to diverse points of view remains
vital to maintaining a healthy democracy and a knowledgable
world view; I feel the decision of the owners of the property
leased by the Rialto to not even offer this important busines an
opportunity to renegotiate their lease is extremely short sighted and civicly unresponsible.
by Rosalie Steward
What is wrong with the Santa Rosa community that we let a huge buisness concern like the “roxie” gobble up the Rialto Lakeside ?
We so desperately need an ART THEATRE in SANTA ROSA !
One by one all the art theatres in Sonoma Cty have been eaten up…..Do we really not care that we can see, hear and feel the beauty of the Met Opera @ lakeside ? Wonderful small film festivals of older movies ? Do we only care for the crass commercilaism of Hollywood ?????
Wake up, Santa Rosa!!! Save some of the best things in our town !!!!
by kate mulcahy