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Rapp and Rapp
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{{Short description|American architecture firm}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox architectural practice | name = C. W. & George L. Rapp | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = | caption = | firm_type = | architects = C. Ward Rapp; George L. Rapp; Mason G. Rapp | partners = C. Ward Rapp; George L. Rapp | founders = | principals = | employees = | city = [[Chicago, Illinois]] | coordinates = <!-- Use {{coord}} --> | affiliations = | founded = 1906 | dissolved = 1965 | awards = | significant_buildings = | significant_projects = | significant_design = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> }} [[File:The historic Chicago Theater, Chicago, Illinois LCCN2011632297.tif|thumb|The [[Chicago Theatre]], designed by the Rapps for [[Balaban & Katz]] and completed in 1921.]] [[Image:Chicago, Illinois Uptown Theater1.jpg|thumb|The [[Uptown Theatre (Chicago)|Uptown Theatre]] in Chicago, completed in 1925.]] [[Image:Sheas.jpg|thumb|[[Shea's Performing Arts Center]], originally Shea's Buffalo, completed in 1926.]] [[File:USA-NYC-Paramount Building.JPG|thumb|The [[Paramount Building]] in Times Square, [[New York City]], completed in 1927.]] [[Image:20070530 203 North Wabash (2).JPG|thumb|The [[Old Dearborn Bank Building]] in [[Chicago]], completed in 1928.]] [[Image:Paramount Theater Denver CO.jpg|thumb|The [[Paramount Theatre (Denver)|Paramount Theatre]] in [[Denver]], completed in 1930.]] '''C. W. & George L. Rapp''', commonly known as '''Rapp & Rapp''', was an American [[architectural firm]] famed for the design of [[movie palaces]] and other theatres. Active from 1906 to 1965 and based in [[Chicago]], the office designed over 400 theatres, including the [[Chicago Theatre]] (1921), [[Bismarck Hotel]] and Theatre (1926) and Oriental Theater (1926) in Chicago, the [[Five Flags Center]] (1910) in [[Dubuque, Iowa]] and the Paramount Theatres in [[New York City]] (1926) and [[Aurora, Illinois]] (1931). [[File:Warner Grand Theater Milwaukee Wisconsin looking east.jpg|thumb|[[Warner Grand Theater (Milwaukee)]] Wisconsin built in 1931]] The named partners were brothers C. Ward Rapp (1860β1926) and George L. Rapp (1878β1941), sons of a builder and natives of [[Carbondale, Illinois]]. Their Chicago practice is not to be confused with the [[Trinidad, Colorado]] practice of their brothers [[Isaac H. Rapp]] (1854β1933) and [[William M. Rapp]] (1863β1920) or the notable [[Cincinnati]] architects George W. Rapp and [[Walter L. Rapp]], to whom they were not related. ==Biographies and history== Cornelius Ward Rapp was born December 26, 1860. In the 1880s he moved to Chicago, where he worked for architect Cyrus P. Thomas. In 1889, the two formed the partnership of Thomas & Rapp.<ref>"Personal" in ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=JCI1AQAAMAAJ Building]'' 10, no. 4 (January 26, 1889): 32.</ref> This was dissolved in 1895, when both opened independent offices. Rapp's major projects over the next eleven years included [[Altgeld Hall (SIUC)|Altgeld Hall]] (1895β96) and Wheeler Hall (1903β04) at what is now [[Southern Illinois University Carbondale]] and the [[Coles County Courthouse]] (1898β99) in [[Charleston, Illinois|Charleston]].<ref>[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28891900 Coles County Courthouse NRHP Registration Form] (1978)</ref> His father was superintendent of construction for both Carbondale buildings.<ref>Daniel B. Parkinson, ''A Historical Bulletin of the Southern Illinois State Normal University'' (Carbondale, 1914)</ref> Rapp was an independent practitioner until 1906, when he formed a partnership with his younger brother, George L. Rapp.<ref name=Longstreth>Richard W. Longstreth and Steven Levin, "Rapp and Rapp" in ''Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects'' 3, ed. Adolf K. Placzek (New York: Free Press, 1982): 532.</ref> George Leslie Rapp was born February 16, 1878. He was educated in the [[University of Illinois School of Architecture|School of Architecture]] of the [[University of Illinois]], graduating in 1899. He then followed his brother to Chicago, where he joined the office of architect Edmund R. Krause. Of the projects completed by Krause during Rapp's employment, the best known was the Majestic Theatre, now the [[CIBC Theatre]]. After seven years with Krause he joined his brother to form the firm of C. W. & George L. Rapp, commonly known as Rapp & Rapp. Following early success with the [[Five Flags Center]] in [[Dubuque, Iowa]], the new firm quickly specialized in theatres. In 1917 they began working with the [[Balaban & Katz]] chain of movie theatres, a relationship leading to the construction of many early [[movie palaces]]. In 1926 [[Paramount Pictures]] bought a controlling interest in Balaban & Katz, after which the Rapp office gained a national practice. C. Ward Rapp died the same year, leaving his brother to head the firm. The firm diversified its practice away from theatres during the 1930s, and designed a variety of commercial and industrial projects.<ref name=Longstreth/> During this period Rapp was joined by Mason Gerardi Rapp, son of his elder brother [[William M. Rapp]]. After George L. Rapp's retirement in 1938, Mason G. Rapp succeeded to the practice. After the death of his uncle in 1941 he renamed the firm Rapp & Rapp, which had always been its common name. In 1965 Rapp retired, and the firm was dissolved.<ref name=Longstreth/> Mason G. Rapp died in 1978.<ref>"Deaths" in ''AIA Journal'' 67, no. 9 (August, 1978): 77.</ref> ==Legacy== The Rapp brothers were among a group of highly influential American theatre architects, which also included [[Thomas W. Lamb]] of New York City and [[John Eberson]] of Chicago.<ref name=Longstreth/> They were responsible for the design of some 400 theatres, most of which were built in the 1920s. They designed many [[movie palaces]], including a number of [[atmospheric theatre]]s, which utilized [[Romanticism|romantic]] architectural elements to evoke specific times and places. Their only surviving atmospheric theatre in Chicago is the Gateway Theatre, now the [[Copernicus Center (Chicago, Illinois)|Copernicus Center]], completed in 1930. If murals were to be included in the theatres, [[Louis Grell]] of Chicago was commissioned to paint them. Many of the theatres and other buildings designed by the Rapp brothers have been listed on the United States [[National Register of Historic Places]]. ==Buildings== Some of the notable buildings that the firm designed include: ===Chicago, Illinois=== * [[Central Park Theater (Chicago, Illinois)|Central Park Theatre]] * [[Chicago Theatre]] * Gateway Theatre, now [[Copernicus Center (Chicago, Illinois)|Copernicus Center]] * [[Hotel Windermere (Chicago)|Hotel Windermere]] * [[Jackson Shore Apartments]] * [[Eitel Brothers#New Bismarck Hotel (1926β1956)|New Bismarck Hotel]], today "Hotel Allegro"<ref>At La Salle Street / Randolph Street / Wells Street. The German architect [[Eitel Brothers|Albert Eitel]] worked together with Rapp and Rapp at the facade design and was responsible for the interior design of the hotel. House builders were Emil, Karl and Otto K. Eitel stemming from Germany. See: ''New Bismarck-Hotel in Chicago. Moderne deutsche Einrichtungskunst in Amerika''. In: ''Innendekoration'' 38.1927, Seite 254-272.</ref> * [[Old Dearborn Bank Building]], also known as 203 North Wabash Street<ref>[http://en.phorio.com/virgin_hotel,_chicago,_united_states Virgin Hotel] Phorio</ref> * Oriental Theatre, now [[Nederlander Theatre (Chicago)|James M. Nederlander Theatre]] * [[Cadillac Palace Theatre|Palace Theatre]] * [[Riviera Theatre]] * [[Tivoli Theatre (Chicago)|Tivoli Theatre]] * [[Uptown Theatre (Chicago, Illinois)|Uptown Theatre]] ===Other areas=== ;[[Denver, Colorado]] *[[Paramount Theatre (Denver, Colorado)|Paramount Theatre]] ;[[Aurora, Illinois]] *[[Paramount Theatre (Aurora, Illinois)|Paramount Theatre]] ;[[Champaign, Illinois]] *[[Orpheum Theater (Champaign, Illinois)|Orpheum Theater]] ;[[Galesburg, Illinois]] *[[Orpheum Theater (Galesburg)|Orpheum Theater]] ;[[Joliet, Illinois]] *[[Rialto Square Theatre]] ;[[Streator, Illinois]] * The Majestic Theatre ;[[Davenport, Iowa]] *[[Kahl Building|Capital Theater]] ;[[Dubuque, Iowa]] *[[Five Flags Center]] ;[[Sioux City, Iowa]] *[[Orpheum Theater (Sioux City, Iowa)|Orpheum Theatre]] ;[[Wichita, Kansas]] * Miller Theater (1922-1972) ;[[Ashland, Kentucky]] *[[Paramount Arts Center]] ;[[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]] *[[The Leland Hotel (Detroit)|Leland Hotel]] *[[Michigan Theatre (Detroit, Michigan)|Michigan Theatre]] ;[[Kansas City, Missouri]] * [[Mainstreet Theater]] ;[[St. Louis, Missouri]] *[[Ambassador Theatre (St. Louis)|Ambassador Theatre]] (demolished) *[[Powell Symphony Hall|St. Louis Theater]] (now Powell Hall) ;[[Jersey City, New Jersey]] * [[Loew's Jersey Theater]] ;[[Buffalo, New York]] * [[Shea's Performing Arts Center|Shea's Theatre]] ;[[Middletown, Orange County, New York|Middletown, New York]] *[[Paramount Theatre (Middletown, New York)|Paramount Theatre]] ;[[New York City]] *[[1501 Broadway]], Times Square *[[Paramount Theatre (Brooklyn, New York)|Paramount Theatre]], Brooklyn *[[Paramount Theatre (New York City)|Paramount Theatre]], Times Square *[[Kings Theatre (Brooklyn)|Kings Theatre]], Brooklyn (formerly Loew's Kings Theater) ;[[Cincinnati, Ohio]] *[[Palace Theatre (Cincinnati, Ohio)|Palace Theatre]] (demolished) ;[[Cleveland, Ohio]] *[[Palace Theater (Cleveland, Ohio)|Palace Theatre]] ;[[Youngstown, Ohio]] *[[Powers Auditorium|Warner Theatre]] (now DeYor Performing Arts Center) ;[[Tulsa, Oklahoma]] *Akdar Theatre 1922-1964 ;[[Portland, Oregon]] *[[Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall|Paramount Theatre]] (now Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall) ;[[Erie, Pennsylvania]] *[[Warner Theatre (Erie, Pennsylvania)|Warner Theatre]] ;[[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] *[[Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts|Loew's Penn Theatre]] (now Heinz Hall) ;[[West Chester, Pennsylvania]] *[[Warner Theater (West Chester, Pennsylvania)|Warner Theatre]] ;[[Providence, Rhode Island]] * Loew's State Theatre, now the [[Providence Performing Arts Center]] ;[[Mitchell, South Dakota]] * [[Corn Palace]] ;[[Chattanooga, Tennessee]] *[[Tivoli Theatre (Chattanooga, Tennessee)|Tivoli Theatre]] ;[[Memphis, Tennessee]] *[[Orpheum Theatre (Memphis)|Orpheum Theatre]] ;[[Charlottesville, Virginia]] *[[Paramount Theater(Charlottesville, Virginia)|Paramount Theater]] ;[[Seattle, Washington]] * [[Paramount Theatre (Seattle, Washington)|Paramount Theatre]] ;[[Baraboo, Wisconsin]] *[[Al. Ringling Theater]]'' ;[[Madison, Wisconsin]] *[[Orpheum Theatre (Madison, Wisconsin)]] ;[[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]] * Bradley Symphony Center, formerly the [[Warner Grand Theater (Milwaukee)|Warner Grand Theater]] * Modjeska Theater * [[Uptown Theatre (Milwaukee)|Uptown Theatre]] (demolished) * Wisconsin Theater (demolished) ;[[Kenosha, Wisconsin]] * Gateway Theatre, now the Rhode Center for the Arts ;[[Racine, Wisconsin]] * RKO Main Street Theatre ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Further reading== * Charles Ward Rapp, ''Rapp & Rapp, Architects'' (2014) ==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Rapp & Rapp}} * [http://www.historictheatres.org Theatre Historical Society of America] * [http://www.compassrose.org/uptowntheatre/history-intro.html History of Chicago's Uptown Theatre] * [http://www.uptowntheatre.com Friends of the Uptown] * [http://www.balabanandkatzfoundation.com Balaban and Katz] * [http://www.loewsjersey.org Friends of the Loew's (Jersey Theatre)] * [http://www.rialtosquare.com/index.html Rialto Square Theater Official Website]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * [http://www.203wabashbuilding.com 203 North Wabash building website]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * {{archINFORM|arch|84730}} * [http://www.hotelwarner.com/ Hotel Warner website] * [http://www.LouisGrell.com/ Louis Grell Foundation/] * [https://explore.chicagocollections.org/marcxml/chicagohistory/30/bc3tr4x Architectural records for buildings by Rapp & Rapp, (ca. 1911-1971 (bulk 1911-1959))], held by the [[Chicago History Museum]] {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Rapp And Rapp}} [[Category:American theatre architects]] [[Category:Architects from Illinois]] [[Category:Defunct architecture firms based in Chicago]]
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