During an online discussion a few weeks ago about local movie houses in general, readers eagerly volunteered their support for Ky Boyd’s Rialto Cinemas in Santa Rosa.

Everybody weeps and wails when an old favorite is suddenly gone, but the true measure of the Rialto fans’  sincerity is simply this:

At the time the fans declared their love for the cozy art film house, no one knew there was any danger of ever losing it.

Today, the news broke that the Rialto is losing its lease Aug. 31 to the owners of the Roxy Stadium 14 and Airport Cinemas, who say they’ll book the same kind of films.

But Rialto loyalists also will miss the cozy, homey feeling that Boyd created, not to mention his constant support for causes of all kinds.

I knew Boyd was born to run a movie theater when I interviewed him a couple of years ago for a feature on the rising popularity of independent and specialty films.

When Boyd was a boy, he used to show movies at his house for the neighborhood kids. “I used to even make tickets and sell popcorn,” he said.

Today’s Press Democrat news story on the Rialto’s impending departure was already in the works when Boyd called me to bring me up to date.  He vowed to continue his art film programming locally.

“I’m going to take it on the road until I can find a new venue,” he said.

I’ll be very surprised if the Rialto’s loyal fan base doesn’t follow Boyd wherever he goes.