There were 41 days until Christmas when the theater marquee in Joliet heralded the fourth annual Rialto Showcase of Creative Arts.
Inside the historic theater last weekend, shoppers found holiday crafts, homemade baked goods and coffee and raffle items, assembled for the purpose of raising enough money to replace the stage at the Rialto Square Theatre. The event was sponsored by the theater’s Volunteers, a group of about 300 organized in 1986. Joyce Hecht of Joliet and Judy Steffes of Minooka co-chaired the event.
“Last year we raised $5,000 at the holiday fair and the money went toward the volunteers’ pantry and kitchen,” said Hecht. “We need a total of $18,000 to complete the Rialto Theatre’s new stage. We raised about $7,000 from a dance we recently held.”
Preliminary figures after the event indicated profits would amount to $4,000 to $5,000.
“We like to refer to the stage project as `Bucks for Boards,’ ” Steffes said. “The stage has never been replaced since the Rialto opened in 1926.”
Two levels of the theater were transformed into a Christmas shopping land. Jim Hardy of Frankfort shopped the balcony level, admiring colorful holiday cloth books.
“I really enjoy shopping this fair because everything I see is of the highest quality and shoppers can find things here that you don’t see at any other fairs.”
On the main floor Irene Burgos and Carmen Spudec, both of East Chicago, were doing a brisk business with their Christmas items.
“People are spending more money this year,” said Lois Evans of Crest Hill, who specializes in sweatshirts adorned with poinsettias, Santas and reindeer.
Delores and Robert Massey of Joliet exhibited an array of wreaths, dolls and jewelry at a nearby table. “We work all year on almost everything you see here,” Dolores said.
