Construction of the New Lyric Theater.
A cornerstone since 1921
About & history
A downtown movie palace transformed into an intimate home for nationally touring music, stand-up comedy, and community events.
The New Lyric
A theater built for a booming Casper.
Henry Brennan built the New Lyric Theater in 1921. After its initial run, local businessmen including E. J. Schulte invested more than $50,000 in a major remodel designed by Casper architects William Dubois and Leon Goodrich.
The reborn Rialto opened on October 17, 1922 with the silent film Nice People and live accompaniment by the Chicago Netto Ladies Orchestra. The 800-seat theater included an orchestra pit and then-modern ventilation.
The remodeled Rialto opens on October 17.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places.
A comprehensive renovation prepares the Rialto for live events.
Then, now, next
From talkies to touring acts
The Rialto became Casper’s premier movie house during the 1920s oil boom. In 1928 it was the city’s first theater to present “talkies” using Vitaphone sound. Its downtown storefronts—including the long-running Rialto Soda Fountain—made the building part of daily life well beyond the auditorium.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993, the building endured as a landmark through Casper’s economic cycles. A comprehensive 2024 renovation created a modern stage, sound and lighting environment, a full-service bar, and an intimate guest experience while returning the room to its enduring purpose: bringing people together.