Rialto Gets Thumbs Down From Joliet

The lights are dimming at the Rialto Square Theatre, perhaps for the last time, as the Joliet City Council opposed in intergovernmental agreement Tuesday that would provide theater funding in exchange for an investigation into the theater's operations by Joliet's city attorney general, according to Herald-News reports.

The council twice opposed the agreement, 5-3, which Mayor Bob O'Dekirk said Monday was a "last ditch attempt to keep the Rialto open."

Even if the city board had approved the measure, the Rialto board would also have to agree to the terms. However, the proposed agreement never made it that far.

"The city already has paid late payroll taxes owed by the theater amounting to about $120,000," said the Herald News. "Joliet also expects to pay about $200,000 this week to cover the costs of two performances by Pauly Shore and Jeff Foxworthy at the Rialto."

It is undetermined how much money the theater is likely to need from the city. Until then, O'Dekirk said he is not recommending anything until that amount is made clearer.

Via Herald News >>