Relationships
I was thinking the other day of all of the relationships that have been made, and I suppose broken in that theater we all love. I know my life would have been on a completely different course had I not walked through the doors to volunteer to scrape plaster off of the gallery walls. Thinking back, some of my most memorable relationships got their spark inside the walls of the Rialto.
There was of course Jeff and Kristie, who made me feel welcome right from the start. I figured out several years later that one of the reasons they were so nice was because they desperately needed someone with the appearance of having some kind of construction experience. I met Joe that first day I volunteered. He would eventually marry my wife and I and help pave the way for Ang to become an important part of TRP. Harvey and I hit it off that first day as well. I was always amazed how he loved to work on the bricks like he did. The task back then looked even more daunting than it does today. He went brick by brick until he was finished with the gallery space. I still see him every few weeks, and he still says he’s doing as well as my hair.
There were others that have since left. I think my favorite out of all of them was Larry. We had so much fun together with the other guys on Saturday mornings. We used to wear t-shirts to work in the theater that we couldn’t (or our wives wouldn’t let us) wear in public. There was Russ, Bob, Jim and Aaron and more. For one reason or another God has moved them on to other places in life. I on the other hand, am still around.
At this point, I have a relationship with the building. It’s kind of odd to say, but it’s true. I wish it was like a CD player where if it doesn’t work, you can hit it, and it will start working again. If you hit the building, you may get hit back. It will moan from time to time when the wind is blowing, and is perfectly still during the cold winters. The upstairs room is full of light, and the basement is the darkest place I have ever been, and oddly warm in the winter. I can hear the building sigh as it waits patiently for someone to reopen its front doors again. It has so much potential that it draws me to day dream about the opening night one day. (insert harp music here) A fully lit marquee, a large stage, stacks of speakers and lighting, hanging from the ceiling, Jeff sitting in the gallery, putting the finishing touches on what will be by then, the 3rd book in the So I Go Now series….
I had the honor of tearing out the old mirror front doors and helping to install the new wooden doors. I remember that day well because of all of the light the new doors let into a dark place. The building is scarred from the past as we all are. People from the past will just walk in while I have the front doors open and share their memories of the past of what they remembered about the theater. It’s a good reminder of how important the building was for the past relationship of the community and the Rialto. I think after all is said and done, the building will be restored to be used for the community. There will be more relationships made inside of the walls. A whole new generation of people will one day be able to enjoy the space of the Rialto.
By Joe Baker, TRP volunteer, Jack of all trades, go to man and general Rialto lover
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