Theatre Architects

Here you can find out about the architect firms and individual architects associated with the theatres featured on this website.

To view all architect firms and individual architects featured on this website click here.

Rapp and Rapp

The architectural firm Rapp and Rapp was active in Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. Brothers Cornelius Ward Rapp (1861–1926) and George Leslie Rapp (1878–1941) of Carbondale, Illinois were the named partners and 1899 alumni of the University of Illinois School of Architecture. A third brother, Isaac Rapp, was also a well-known architect, primarily in Colorado and New Mexico.

The firm is well known as one of the leading designers of early 20th century movie palaces. It designed over 400 theatres, including the Fox West Theatre (1907) in Trinidad, Colorado, the Five Flags Theater, Dubuque, Iowa (1910), the Chicago Theatre (1921), Bismarck Hotel and Theatre (1926), Oriental Theater, Chicago (1926), and the Paramount Theatres in New York (1926) and Aurora (1931).