A lifelong fan of old movie theaters, Gentry began searching the World Wide Web back around 2006 for a project to embark upon close to home.
A native of Pleasanton, he and his family purchased the property from a couple in California, and were inspired by the efforts of an individual in Pennsylvania to restore the Rialto as a nonprofit organization – open to churches, schools and service organizations as a service to the Karnes County community.
