Rapp & Rapp
The architectural firm Rapp & Rapp was active in Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th Century. The brothers Cornelius W. Rapp (d.1926) and George Leslie Rapp (1878–1942) were the named partners. The firm was well-known as one of the leading designers of early 20th century movie palaces.
George Leslie Rapp once said their theaters were a shrine to democracy where the wealthy rub elbows with the poor. Along with his brother Cornelius W., Rapp & Rapp built several of the most grand, palatial theaters in Chicago. They were also responsible for some of the most ornate theaters in the New York area designing the Times Square Paramount, the Loew's Kings in Brooklyn and the Loew's Jersey, which still stands today.
Chicago's now-demolished Southtown Theater was one of their last large-scale projects. One of the most prolific theater architect firms of their day, their influence and legacy is still evident in cities throughout the country.
The 105 Classic movie theaters designed by architecture firm Rapp & Rapp.
Name / Location / Status
41 Outdoor Theater / Hammond, IN / Closed/Demolished
Akdar Theater / Tulsa, OK / Closed/Demolished
Al Ringling Theater / Baraboo, WI / Open
Ambassador Theater / St. Louis, MO / Closed/Demolished
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall / Portland, OR / Open
Bank of America Theater / Chicago, IL / Open
Beverly Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed
Birmingham 8 / Birmingham, MI / Open
Brooklyn Paramount Theater / Brooklyn, NY / Closed
Bryn Mawr Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed
Cadillac Palace Theater / Chicago, IL / Open
Capitol Theater / Cincinnati, OH / Closed/Demolished
Capitol Theater / Davenport, IA / Closed
Capitol Theater / Madison, WI / Open
Central Park Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed
Chicago Theater / Chicago, IL / Open
Cine Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed
Colfax Theater / South Bend, IN / Closed/Demolished
Denver Theater / Denver, CO / Closed/Demolished
DuPage Theater / Lombard, IL / Closed/Demolished
Englert Theater / Iowa City, IA / Renovating
Esquire Theater / Davenport, IA / Closed/Demolished
Fisher Theater / Detroit, MI / Open
Five Flags Center / Dubuque, IA / Open
Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theater / Chicago, IL / Open
Fox Theater / Walsenburg, CO / Open
Garrick Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed/Demolished
Gateway Theater / Chicago, IL / Open
Grand Cinemas 1 & 2 / Milwaukee, WI / Closed/Renovating/Restoring
Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts / Pittsburgh, PA / Open
Kedzie Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed/Demolished
Keith's Theater / Cincinnati, OH / Closed/Demolished
LaGrange Theater / La Grange, IL / Open/Renovating
Lindo Theater / Freeport, IL / Open
Loew's Capitol Theater / Washington, DC / Closed/Demolished
Loew's Jersey Theater / Jersey City, NJ / Open/Renovating/Restoring
Loew's Kings Theatre / Brooklyn, NY / Closed/Renovating/Restoring
Luna Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed/Demolished
Madison Theater / Madison, WI / Closed/Demolished
Mainstreet Theater / Kansas City, MO / Open
Majestic Theater / Cedar Rapids, IA / Closed/Demolished
Majestic Theater / Streator, IL / Open
Michigan Theater / Detroit, MI / Closed
Miller Theater / Wichita, KS / Closed/Demolished
Modjeska Theater / Milwaukee, WI / Open
Norshore Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed/Demolished
North Shore Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed/Demolished
Olympia Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed/Demolished
Orpheum Theater / Memphis, TN / Open
Orpheum Theater / Omaha, NE / Open
Orpheum Theater / Quincy, IL / Closed/Demolished
Orpheum Theater / Champaign, IL / Closed
Orpheum Theater / Galesburg, IL / Open
Orpheum Theater / Madison, WI / Open
Palace Theater / Cleveland, OH / Open
Palace Theater / Fort Wayne, IN / Closed/Demolished
Palace Theater / Cincinnati, OH / Closed/Demolished
Palace Theater / Rockford, IL / Closed/Demolished
Palace Theater / Superior, WI / Closed/Demolished
Paramount Arts Center / Ashland, KY / Open
Paramount Center for the Arts / Peekskill, NY / Open
Paramount Theater / Charlottesville, VA / Open
Paramount Theater / Salem, MA / Closed/Demolished
Paramount Theater / Toledo, OH / Closed/Demolished
Paramount Theater / Aurora, IL / Open
Paramount Theater / Denver, CO / Open
Paramount Theater / Hamilton, OH / Closed/Demolished
Paramount Theater / Lynn, MA / Closed/Demolished
Paramount Theater / Middletown, NY / Open
Paramount Theater / Middletown, OH / Closed/Demolished
Paramount Theater / New York, NY / Closed
Paramount Theater / Seattle, WA / Open
Paramount Theater / St. Paul, MN / Closed/Demolished
Paramount Theater / Stapleton, Staten Island, NY / Closed/Restoring
Parthenon Theater / Hammond, IN / Closed/Demolished
Paulina Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed/Demolished
Peoples Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed/Demolished
Piccadilly Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed/Demolished
Powell Symphony Hall / St. Louis, MO / Open
Powers Auditorium / Youngstown, OH / Open
President Theater / Des Moines, IA / Closed/Demolished
Providence Performing Arts Center / Providence, RI / Open
Retlaw Theater / Fond du Lac, WI / Closed
Rhodes Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed/Demolished
Rialto Square Theater / Joliet, IL / Open
Riviera Theater / Chicago, IL / Open
RKO Keith's Theater / Dayton, OH / Closed/Demolished
RKO Main Street Theater / Racine, WI / Closed/Demolished
Royal Oak Music Theater / Royal Oak, MI / Open
Scarsdale Plaza Theater / Scarsdale, NY / Closed/Demolished
Shea's Performing Arts Center / Buffalo, NY / Open
Sioux City Orpheum / Sioux City, IA / Open
Southtown Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed/Demolished
State-Lake Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed
Tivoli Theater / Aurora, IL / Closed/Demolished
Tivoli Theater / Chattanooga, TN / Open
Tivoli Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed/Demolished
Uptown Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed
Uptown Theater / Milwaukee, WI / Closed/Demolished
Valentine Theater / Toledo, OH / Open
Warner Theater / Erie, PA / Open
Warner Theater / West Chester, PA / Closed/Demolished
Will Rogers Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed/Demolished
Windsor Theater / Chicago, IL / Closed/Demolished
Wisconsin Cinemas I & II / Milwaukee, WI / Closed/Demolished