The Riviera Theatre first opened its doors to the public on December 23, 1925. It was neither the first nor the only movie house in Three Rivers – historical records indicate that there were several movie theatres operating in the early 20th century in Three Rivers as patrons flocked to see the new ‘moving pictures’ and the ever-popular vaudeville acts. The movie shown at the Riviera on opening night was “The Lucky Devil”, starring Richard Dix. There was also a performance by McDonald’s Music Mixers, a group that played a large variety of instrumental selections and comedies. Advertised as “Southern Michigan’s Most Beautiful Amusement Palace,” the Riviera was, without doubt, the grandest and most ornate facility in the area, rivaling similar venues in the much-larger cities of Chicago and Detroit in style if not in size.
