The Riverside Theater in Milwaukee opened its doors in the roaring 20's.  It was on the site of a former hotel where the first stone was laid.  The intersection of Plankinton and Wisconsin Avenues has never been the same since the Riverside Theater opened its doors, and turned on the marquee lights. 

The first thirty years of Riverside history included Vaudeville acts, off Broadway touring companies, 1950's crooners and 1960's rockers.  It all went up in smoke, when a careless smoker changed the interior of the theater.  The Riverside Theater would have burned to the ground if it were not for the fire suppression system.

The owners patched the interior with minimal investment, and United Artists felt it was adequate enough to be one of their movie theaters.  Milwaukee residents watched a slow death of the Riverside Theater for the next twenty years. After United Artists declined to renew their lease, the building owners were ready to build a shopping mall on the site. 

When the people of Milwaukee got word of that plan, the organized outcry was loud enough to convince the owners to renovate the theater.  Additional fees were added to the price of admission, and the restoration fund took in enough money to restore the Riverside Theater interior to its former glory.

The Riverside Theater is as opulent today as it was eighty years ago.  The restoration project and some foundational repairs to the basement kept the theater on solid footing for the next twenty years. 

At the turn of this century, new Riverside Theater management took over the booking of entertainment.  Patrons will be happy to know that they can still see a great rock and roll show.  Solo artists, touring theater productions and comedians can be also found on the bill from time to time.