About This Location
Known as the "Jewel of Joliet," this vaudeville movie palace opened in 1926 when the six Rubens brothers formed the Royal Theatre Company. The ornate theater has hosted countless performers and, according to many, still houses several resident spirits. Even Ghost Hunters has investigated and documented strange occurrences.
The Ghost Story
The Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet opened on May 24, 1926, at a cost of nearly two million dollars. The "vaudeville movie palace" was considered the jewel of Joliet and remains one of the most beautiful performing arts centers in North America. It is also home to multiple restless spirits.
The Woman in White, also known as The Bride, haunts the theater's back staircase. Staff report numerous sightings: "We've had numerous people see her. A lot of times people will encounter her when we're having wedding receptions. She's wearing a white dress, so we think that it's possibly a wedding dress, hence the name The Bride." She is most often seen walking along the promenade overlooking the rotunda, believed to be a former performer or a bride from a past event.
Theater staff believe the woman haunting the star's dressing room is named "Vivian," possibly a former Vaudeville performer. Professional ghost investigators using specialized instruments claim to have detected Vivian's spirit attempting to communicate.
The most mischievous spirit is "Colin," a little boy around age four who loves the stage. "He likes to tug on your clothing, poke you in the body or tug on your hair," staff explain. Legend holds that Colin was hit by a car on a downtown Joliet street and rushed inside the theater, where he died. However, exhaustive research has found no newspaper accounts of a child dying at the Rialto in this manner.
The paranormal television show "Ghost Hunters" visited multiple times over the past decade. Their episode "Curtain Call" (2012) captured remarkable evidence: Colin's telltale laugh appeared on tape, along with his voice saying "My name is not Kevin." Even more striking was the physical appearance of The Bride, glimpsed for a few seconds moving along the theater's second-level walkway.
The Rialto now offers paranormal tours allowing visitors to experience the supernatural activity firsthand within this stunning historic venue.
Researched from 6 verified sources including historical records, local archives, and paranormal research organizations. Learn about our research process.
