Starting out in 1938, the Rio Theatre is a well known name that continues to impress and entertain its fans over its time in the business.
By Canmenwalker – Own work, CC BY 4.0
It’s wide variety of content has something for everyone and anyone to enjoy, from live music, to old cult classics, there’s endless memories to be made.
Speaking of memories, the first and currently only time I’ve been to the Rio Theatre myself was with my now ex-girlfriend. We went to see Donnie Darko, a movie I had never even heard of at the time. Upon entering the venue, the atmosphere was instantly present. It felt like stepping back in time! The entrance had that classic red velvet flooring, and the walls were littered with posters, recent and past mixed together to create a memorable collage of what the Rio embodied: Community and history. When we entered the main theatre, the pre-show made me think I was sitting in the late 90’s, it was almost dizzying.
In recent years, the Rio Theatre has seen several upgrades, including but not limited to a high quality art projector, surround sound installation, oh, and I can’t forget the comfortable seats! They even made it so the chair arms are adjustable, making holding your dates hand an easier accomplishment! Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to accomplish that myself, as my girlfriend was very zoned into the movie, as it was one of her favourites.
Back in 2012, the Rio found itself fighting against the BC Liquor Board to allow theatres to hold the required licences to serve of age guests. The battle ended in a win for the Rio and wound up making the Liquor Board adjust the laws accordingly. Since then, the Rio Theatre has had an active bar space, giving local breweries the opportunity to show their product to Vancouver.
The Rio Theatre is located in the heart of Vancouver’s Commercial Drive, making it easily accessible to many in the way of walking, driving, and taking public transit. As well, the theatre has made accessibility a key priority, actively working to make the building more accessible over time.
Overall, the Rio Theatre is a place for anyone to come and nerd out, be it to a new local favourite, a long time classic, comedy tours, or even to the occasional burlesque show!