Williams Center

Until 1977, this was the Rivoli Theater, which had opened as a vaudeville house but was soon converted to a movie house. The air-conditioned palace was also used for convocations such as the Rutherford High School commencement exercises.

In January of 1977, a projection room fire gutted out the front building and damaged the interior. Renovations continue to this day; the complex reopened in 1981 as the William Carlos Williams Center for the Performing Arts.

The complex features the main hall, the original Rivoli, with the stage, central chandelier, and about half the original seats intact. Rutherford High returned to the Rivoli in 2005 for its graduation, after using other facilities for 28 years. In 2012, they left the building and started holding commencement at Tryon Field. In addition, there is a small performance hall, Marcus Hall, in the front portion of the building, and a restaurant and two movie screens on the bottom floor.

A side view, along Spring Dell.


The Rivoli stage, during a Rutherford High School commencement.


The crystal chandelier, which was restored after the fire.


Rear view of the high-rise Rivoli stage. The Art Deco lettering "Rivoli - Rutherford" is still faintly visible on the building.