The Riverview celebrates 60 years

by Ed Felien
published Dec. 15, 08

The Riverview Theater is celebrating its 60th Anniversary with a special
showing of “A Christmas Story” on Dec. 22 and 23 at 5 and 7:15 p.m. both days.
The story is about a young boy growing up in the 1940s who dreams about getting a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas.  Along the way, his parents, his teacher and even Santa Claus try to talk him out of it.

The Riverview opened its doors for the first time Dec. 30, 1948.  For the special showing of “A Christmas Story,” prices at The Riverview will return to 1948 levels.  Admission will be 50 cents or a canned food item for the Minnehaha Food Shelf.  All cash proceeds on Dec. 22 and 23 will also go to the Food Shelf. For just those showings, food prices at the concession stand will go back to 1948 as well, with pop (one size) and popcorn going for 50 cents. When the Riverview first opened, 50 cents was a lot to spend on a movie.

One family owned the Riverview, at 38th Street and 42nd Avenue, the Nile Theater, at 38th Street and 23rd Avenue, and the Leola Theater, at 50th Street and 34th Avenue.  Generally, a feature film would show downtown, and then would open at the Riverview for 50 cents. The next week it would go to the Nile for 35 cents and finally in the third week to the Leola for 25 cents. 

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of sitting in the Nile Theater on a Saturday afternoon watching 20 cartoons, three short subjects, two serials, and a double feature for 12 cents.  My mother would give me 12 cents for the movie, a nickel for the bus each way and a nickel for a candy bar.  It was a bargain for her and an adventure for me.