The Jones Family

By Megan Maharry

The lights are low as people file in to claim their seats. With one hand holding a tub of popcorn and the other holding a drink, it is time to settle in and enjoy the movie.

The Rialto theatre has been a long-standing business in the Alva community. Its origin dates back to the 1920s when Homer Jones came to Alva in 1929 to manage the original theatre.

In 1949, Homer opened the new Rialto at its existing site on the Alva square. The building underwent extensive construction, adding in all new seating. The first movie to play in the new Rialto theatre was “It’s a Great Feeling”, starring Doris Day, Jack Carson and Dennis Morgan.

The Rialto stayed in the Jones family for many more years as Johnny Jones, Homer’s son, eventually took over managing the theatre.

Johnny was born and raised in Alva. He graduated from Alva High School before attending Northwestern where he earned his degree in sociology and business. He graduated from Northwestern in 1968 and was then drafted in the Army.

Johnny in front of the historic ticket office.

Once out of the Army in 1970, Johnny returned to Alva to help his father with the new drive-in theatre in 1971. The drive-in was located on south Lane street.

The old drive-in theatre ran and owned by the Jones Family was called the Stadium Theatre.

Johnny and his wife, Donna, managed the drive-in for seven years. Donna ran the concession stand while Johnny operated the projectors.

Johnny said one of his favorite memories of the drive-in was Ranger Night, when Northwestern college students were able to attend a free movie.

“It was always kind of a fun deal,” Johnny said, “to have all those kids in one spot.”

The drive-in closed in 1985, and the main focus turned to the Rialto theatre. In 1981, the Rialto went from one large theatre to three separate screens.

While the theatre shows movies on-screen, Johnny said they also decided to go into the video business. The theatre rented out VHS tapes, and currently rents out DVDs and Blu-ray. At the end of 2019, rentals will stop completely.

Johnny said another fond memory about the Rialto theatre was all the birthday parties his dad held for him there.

“He had a trailer before the movies advertising my birthday that had my picture with it,” Johnny said.

The Rialto was passed to yet another generation in the Jones family in 2015.

Jesse Jones never thought he would go into the theatre business. He grew up in Alva and around the theatre business with his father Johnny, but always thought he would get out of Alva and do something else.

Jesse attended Northwestern and graduated in 2001 with a business degree. For a brief time, he attended the University of Oklahoma because he thought he wanted to pursue a career in architecture.

He soon realized that was not the direction for him and he returned to Alva. He met his wife, Brandy, and settled his family in Alva.

It then became clear that the theatre business was for him. He took over management of the Rialto fully in 2015.

“I kind of fell in love with it again,” Jesse said. “I love movies and I love everything about it, and I

“For it to be here this long and to stay in the same family, I think we kind of know what we are doing,” Jesse said.

Looking toward the future of Rialto, Jesse said it is important for good movies to be made in order to attract an audience.

He said when he was younger, he loved watching movies after hours with his friends.

“When I was little, I loved going down there and making myself a drink and getting me a sack of popcorn,” Jesse said. “I just loved taking my friends with me just to have them experience it too.”

Both Jesse and Johnny still support Northwestern as much as they can. They are both involved with Rowdy Rangers, which is a group of individuals had the chance to take it over and run it and keep it in the family.”

Both Johnny and Jesse said one of the most challenging aspects of keeping the theatre running is competing with all the other technology. Between programs like Netflix, Hulu and the ability to watch movies online, it has proved difficult at times to bring in people to watch movies at the Rialto.

“The biggest challenge is figuring out how we can get attendance up,” Johnny said.

Johnny also said some of the hardest parts about running a business are finding new ways to keep it going.

Johnny said it means a lot to him that Rialto has stayed in business for so long in Alva. Jesse said he thinks it shows how good his dad was in keeping it going, even through the occasionally rough times.

that helps with various events on campus, such as cooking hamburgers and hot dogs for Northwestern’s family week celebration.

The Jones have built and managed a long-time staple in the Alva community. Their strong ties to Alva, as well as Northwestern, have allowed the people of Alva to enjoy numerous films, popcorn and happy hour drinks for decades.

The legacy of the Rialto and Jones family is and will continue to be strong in the community.

Jesse and Johnny in the long-running video store.

Johnny and Jesse pose in the largest of the Rialto’s three theatres.

Hanging in the Rialto is a photo from June 11, 1960, showing patrons in line for a movie (photo by Jack Moore Photography).

“Saturday Matinee when I was a kid; cartoon and double feature, A/C in summer, soda, popcorn and the movie for about 25 cents.... lots of great memories when it was a single screen with balcony.... they even had a coin operated comb machine in the men’s room.”

—Gary D. Oakes

“Saw ‘American Graffiti’ there in 1974. Also remember seeing ‘Godspell’ there in 1973. Great theater!”

—Steve Wyatt

“I remember when I was younger going as a family to watch Raiders of the Lost Ark when it came out... I also remember getting in line for the premiere showing of Twister. LOTS of people lined up to see that show on the first day. I also remember going with friends, my dad, my sister and my friend’s dad to see Silence of the Lambs - I think I’m still scarred from that evening! At one point in the show I said out loud in disbelief - He cut off his face! Everyone found it pretty funny, and then we went for pizza afterward, and the pizza just seemed awful to look at after that!”

—Valarie

Case

“I loved the Saturday matinees. Saw all the Superman movies, etc. so much fun!! I remember I had my feet on the back of the seat in front of me.... never did that again! Homer Jones, who was the owner then, would walk up and down the aisle with his flashlight. If you got caught with your feet up on the seat in front of you, he would whack your shin with the flashlight. Ouch!!! I learned quickly.”

—Deb Haltom

“I saw “Jailhouse Rock” at the Rialto while visiting my cousin in the 60s. Fast forward, my husband and I had many dates at Rialto in late ‘60s to early 70s. It cost two dollars to see the movie and buy 2 popcorns and 2 pops. Good memories! My husband reminded me our first date was at the Rialto. We saw “Pink Jungle” with James Garner. Years later, we saw Garner being interviewed on the Tonight; he said “ Pink Jungle” was the worst movie he made. We got a big laugh out of the remark.”

—Kay Gamallo