Opening on April 29, 1928, the theater primarily played vaudeville performances, big bands, and movies.

[2][3] The building was sold in 1962 to Towne Realty (now Zilber Ltd.), who leased the theater to United Artists.

[4][5] In 1966, the highly decorated ceiling and curtains were destroyed in a fire caused by a patron throwing a cigarette onto the stage.

[2] By the 1970s, the Riverside Theater was in a general state of disrepair, and had switched to showing B-movies, partially due to the growing number of multiplex cinemas.

A new marquee and a 40 feet (12 m) vertical sign were also added to the exterior, reminiscent of the theater's history.