Rio Theater

Rio Theater is a historic single-screen cinema in Monte Rio, Sonoma County, California. Its origins date to 1949, when local merchant Sid Bartlett acquired a surplus U.S. Navy Quonset hut and began converting it into a movie theater. The venue opened to the public in 1950 and became a long-standing cultural institution for the small Russian River community. The theater has operated under several management arrangements and names. From 1972 to 1974, it was leased to Dr. Robert Newport and operated as Cinema Rio, with Gregory Hill serving as general manager. During that period, the venue was described as a low-cost “dollar house,” offering a varied program that combined films from the Janus classical catalog, popular commercial movies, children’s cartoons, Three Stooges programs, and an avant-garde cinema series curated by Ken Valentine. Local artist Wilbur Paola created the marquee, reinforcing the theater’s community-oriented character. Rio Theater’s most distinctive physical feature is a major surviving section of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Running Fence. The artists installed the 24.5-mile temporary artwork across parts of Sonoma and Marin counties in September 1976. After the installation was dismantled, theater owner Thomas Dean, a personal friend of the artists, obtained a section of the fabric and had it installed above the auditorium seats. The theater continues to house what is described as the largest intact and continuous surviving piece of Running Fence, making the building both a cinema and an informal site of public art history. The business encountered financial difficulty in the 1980s and entered foreclosure in 1984. It was subsequently acquired by the Mandelbrot family, who appointed a manager to operate the venue. In January 1993, Monte Rio residents Don and Suzi Schaffert purchased the theater. Their ownership became associated with efforts to preserve the cinema as a locally rooted, affordable entertainment venue. Shortly after the acquisition, a dispute involving the former management arrangement led to damage inside the theater, including spray-painting on the screen and damage to an electrical panel. The Schafferts also faced a local legal dispute over allowing neighborhood children to perform chores at the theater in exchange for admission and refreshments. A judge reduced the resulting fine after parents and other residents testified in support of the activity. The episode illustrates the theater’s role as a community institution rather than solely a commercial movie venue. By 2013, changes in film distribution technology created a major operational challenge. First-run films increasingly required digital projection, while the theater needed approximately $60,000 in equipment funding to remain competitive. The Schafferts launched a Kickstarter campaign in March 2013, reaching the target on May 1 with support from 440 backers. The campaign included a $500 contribution from actor Zach Braff. Rio Theater is therefore notable not only for its age and distinctive architecture, but also for community-backed efforts to sustain independent cinema in a rural California setting.

Rio Theater began as a conversion of a surplus Quonset hut purchased by Monte Rio merchant Sid Bartlett from the U.S. Navy in 1949. Bartlett adapted the structure for cinema use, and the theater opened in 1950. Its early history reflects the importance of small local theaters in rural communities, where a single screen could provide both mainstream entertainment and a shared civic gathering place. Between 1972 and 1974, the venue was leased to Dr. Robert Newport and operated under the name Cinema Rio. Gregory Hill was the general manager. The theater was known as a low-price “dollar house,” and its programming was unusually broad. It showed selections from the Janus classical film catalog, popular films, children's cartoons, and programs built around the Three Stooges. It also presented an avant-garde cinema series curated by Ken Valentine. Local artist Wilbur Paola designed the marquee, contributing to the theater's distinctive community identity. The venue later came under the ownership of Thomas Dean, who was personally acquainted with artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. In 1976, the artists created Running Fence, a temporary fabric installation extending approximately 24.5 miles through Sonoma and Marin counties. After the artwork was dismantled, Dean acquired a section and installed it over the auditorium seating. This surviving piece became the theater's defining cultural feature. It is described as the largest intact and continuous surviving section of Running Fence in the world, linking the local cinema to one of the most recognized land-art projects associated with the region. Rio Theater entered foreclosure in 1984 and was acquired by the Mandelbrot family. The family hired a manager to operate the theater. In January 1993, local residents Don and Suzi Schaffert purchased the property. They initially planned to retain the existing manager, but a dispute arose after they learned that the manager had allowed a friend to live in the theater and participate in illicit activities. When the Schafferts instructed the manager to have the person removed, the two men vandalized parts of the building, including the projection screen and electrical panel. The Schafferts also became involved in a separate legal dispute concerning the participation of neighborhood children in theater chores. The children reportedly received a movie ticket, a hot dog, and a drink in exchange for their work. The Schafferts were fined $4,000, but a judge reduced the fine by half after parents and other local residents spoke favorably about the activity. The incident reflected the theater's informal community role and the difficulty of applying conventional regulatory standards to a small, locally managed venue. Technological change later placed pressure on the theater's business model. As first-run film distribution moved toward digital projection, Rio Theater needed new equipment to continue presenting current releases. In March 2013, the Schafferts launched a Kickstarter campaign with a $60,000 goal. The campaign succeeded on May 1, 2013, attracting 440 backers, including a $500 donation from actor Zach Braff. The fundraiser demonstrated the value local audiences placed on preserving the theater as an independent screen and community landmark. The available reference material does not establish the theater's current ownership, operating status, programming schedule, or legal structure. Its documented identity rests on three interconnected features: a long-running single-screen cinema, a history of community-oriented programming and ownership, and the preservation of an important surviving section of Running Fence.

1. 2013Digital projection fundraiser succeeds

   A Kickstarter campaign reached its $60,000 goal on May 1 with 440 backers.

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2. 1993Schaffert ownership begins

   Don and Suzi Schaffert purchased the theater in January.

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3. 1984Foreclosure and change of ownership

   The theater fell into foreclosure and was acquired by the Mandelbrot family.

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4. 1976Running Fence section installed

   After Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Running Fence was dismantled, Thomas Dean installed a surviving section above the theater's auditorium seats.

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5. 1972Cinema Rio lease begins

   Dr. Robert Newport leased the theater, which operated as Cinema Rio under general manager Gregory Hill.

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6. 1950Theater opens

   The converted building opened as the Rio Theater.

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7. 1949Quonset hut acquired

   Sid Bartlett purchased a surplus U.S. Navy Quonset hut and began converting it into a movie theater in Monte Rio.

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A community-focused independent cinema combining film exhibition, local cultural programming, historic preservation, and a significant surviving work of public art.

• Single-screen theatrical exhibitionCinema services1950

  Rio Theater's core offering is public film exhibition in a single auditorium. The venue has historically shown popular releases and, when programming permitted, first-run films. Its intimate scale and rural location distinguish it from multiplex operators.

• Classic and repertory cinemaFilm programming1972

  During its Cinema Rio period, the theater presented selections from the Janus classical catalog. This programming formed part of a deliberately varied schedule that placed canonical cinema alongside commercial releases and community-oriented programs.

• Children's and family programsFilm programming1972

  The theater has historically offered children's programming, including cartoon presentations and programs featuring the Three Stooges. These screenings supported the venue's role as an accessible local entertainment destination.

• Avant-garde cinema seriesFilm programming1972

  An avant-garde film series curated by Ken Valentine formed part of the theater's historical program mix, giving the small venue a niche for experimental and non-mainstream cinema.

• Running Fence installationCultural landmark1976

  The auditorium contains a large continuous surviving section of Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Running Fence. Although not a commercial product, the installation is the theater's signature cultural and architectural feature.

• 2013Digital Projection Kickstarter

  United States

  The Schafferts sought community funding for digital projection equipment so the theater could continue showing first-run films as distribution technology changed.

  Outcome. The campaign reached its $60,000 goal on May 1, 2013, with 440 backers.

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• 2013Transition to digital projectionStrategy

  The theater needed digital projection equipment to remain able to show first-run films.

  What changed. The Schafferts launched a Kickstarter campaign seeking $60,000 from supporters.

  Aftermath. The campaign met its goal with 440 backers, although the available sources do not document subsequent equipment installation details.

  Fundraising target. $60,000 raised target (2013)

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• 1976Preservation of a Running Fence sectionOther

  Christo and Jeanne-Claude's temporary Running Fence installation was being dismantled after its 1976 presentation across Sonoma and Marin counties.

  What changed. Thomas Dean obtained a section of the artwork and installed it above the theater's auditorium seats.

  Aftermath. The theater became the home of what is described as the largest intact and continuous surviving section of Running Fence.

  Source

• 2013Rio Theater launches campaign for digital projection equipment

  The theater began a Kickstarter campaign in March 2013 seeking $60,000 for digital projection equipment needed to continue screening first-run films. The campaign met its target on May 1 with 440 backers.

  CampaignProduct launch
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• 2013Rio Theater receives community-backed digital projection funding

  The successful fundraising effort included a $500 contribution from actor Zach Braff and enabled the theater to pursue the transition from traditional projection technology.

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1. Rio Theater (Monte Rio)
2. Rio Theater official website