The Chicago Historical Society database of Chicago building permits list a permit issued December 7, 1912 to owner Investors Theatre Co. and architects C.W. & G.L. Rapp
The Chicago Historical Society has a database of Chicago Building Permits which lists a permit being issued November 9, 1912 to owner, North Shore Amusement Co. and architects C.W. & G.L. Rapp.
The Chicago Historical Society database of Chicago Building Permits lists a permit being issued August 31, 1912 to owner Dennis Colbert & Co. for 1125-1131 Bryn Mawr Ave. with architects C.W. & G.L. Rapp listed.
The Juliar Theatre was built about 1938 by Henry Ringling, Al. Ringling’s nephew, and the owner of the Al. Ringling Theatre at that time. The name comes from the maiden name of the Ringling Brothers mother, Salome Juliar Ringling. As a trivia note, their were two other Juliar sisters, one whom married a Gollmar and had several boys (whom also went on to create a circus) and one whom married a Moeller and had two boys which made circus wagons with their father. The Juliar Theatre was a sparsely decorated Art Deco box which provided programming alternatives to the Al. Ringling Theatre. The Juliar Theatre was heavily used when only a few years after it opened the massive Badger Ordnance Works opened just south of Baraboo eventually employing 13,000 people. I’m not sure when the theatre went out of use but as long as I can remember (back to the 70’s) it was never open, but the name always remained on the ouside of the building. (the sign is now owned by Juliar family members) It was indeed demolished to make way for the West Square Building in 1994. I can provide a picture if someone wants to include a listing here on Cinema Treasures. Just contact me.
Ok, so tonight I discover that the Majestic (aka Shubert, aka LaSalle Bank Theatre) was designed by at least Cornelius Rapp and maybe both Rapp brothers. This blows the lid off the “earliest” known Rapp and Rapp theatre being the Majestic in Dubuque, Iowa in 1910. Does anyone have any more information on the Majestic in Chicago? I am a real fan of early Rapp and Rapp designs and I can see some design detail similarities with the Majestic and the Al. Rignling Theatre in Baraboo (particularly the broken pediment design over the boxes nearest the proscenium) Does anyone have a good list of early Rapp and Rapp theatres?
The building does not nor did it ever have any frescoes or mosaics but rather paintings on canvas done by the G. A. Brand Co. of Chicago. As noted by Dave Wiegers the building was originally designed to be a movie house and play house. An organ was added to the plans during construction. The building owes much to Rapp and Rapp’s design for the Orhpeum in Champaign, Illinois which was built the year before. Ringling’s larger budget allowed for more ornament. The facade has recently been restored after the remanfacture of dozens of terra cotta pieces. The theatre has an extensive website at www.alringling.com
In 1915 work began on the Al. Ringling Theatre in Baraboo, Wisconsin which was also designed by Rapp and Rapp. The “Al.” owes a lot to the Orpheum being nearly identical in plan. A greater budger however allowed for more lavish use of ornament including over a dozen handpainted murals and an elaborate terra cotta facade.
If you would like more information on the Al. check out the website at www.alringling.com
Please contact me if you would like to discuss the early works of Rapp and Rapp. Paul
The Chicago Historical Society database of Chicago building permits list a permit issued December 7, 1912 to owner Investors Theatre Co. and architects C.W. & G.L. Rapp
Does anyone have any pictures of the building to share?
The Chicago Historical Society has a database of Chicago Building Permits which lists a permit being issued November 9, 1912 to owner, North Shore Amusement Co. and architects C.W. & G.L. Rapp.
Can anyone tell me what concrete proof there is that the original 1912 deisgn was by Rapp & Rapp?
Thanks
Dear “Lost Memory”
Are you related to the Rapps? Do you have a list of early Rapp and Rapp theatres? I would like to hear from you.
Thanks Paul Wolter
The Chicago Historical Society database of Chicago Building Permits lists a permit being issued August 31, 1912 to owner Dennis Colbert & Co. for 1125-1131 Bryn Mawr Ave. with architects C.W. & G.L. Rapp listed.
The Juliar Theatre was built about 1938 by Henry Ringling, Al. Ringling’s nephew, and the owner of the Al. Ringling Theatre at that time. The name comes from the maiden name of the Ringling Brothers mother, Salome Juliar Ringling. As a trivia note, their were two other Juliar sisters, one whom married a Gollmar and had several boys (whom also went on to create a circus) and one whom married a Moeller and had two boys which made circus wagons with their father. The Juliar Theatre was a sparsely decorated Art Deco box which provided programming alternatives to the Al. Ringling Theatre. The Juliar Theatre was heavily used when only a few years after it opened the massive Badger Ordnance Works opened just south of Baraboo eventually employing 13,000 people. I’m not sure when the theatre went out of use but as long as I can remember (back to the 70’s) it was never open, but the name always remained on the ouside of the building. (the sign is now owned by Juliar family members) It was indeed demolished to make way for the West Square Building in 1994. I can provide a picture if someone wants to include a listing here on Cinema Treasures. Just contact me.
Thanks, Paul Wolter
Ok, so tonight I discover that the Majestic (aka Shubert, aka LaSalle Bank Theatre) was designed by at least Cornelius Rapp and maybe both Rapp brothers. This blows the lid off the “earliest” known Rapp and Rapp theatre being the Majestic in Dubuque, Iowa in 1910. Does anyone have any more information on the Majestic in Chicago? I am a real fan of early Rapp and Rapp designs and I can see some design detail similarities with the Majestic and the Al. Rignling Theatre in Baraboo (particularly the broken pediment design over the boxes nearest the proscenium) Does anyone have a good list of early Rapp and Rapp theatres?
The building does not nor did it ever have any frescoes or mosaics but rather paintings on canvas done by the G. A. Brand Co. of Chicago. As noted by Dave Wiegers the building was originally designed to be a movie house and play house. An organ was added to the plans during construction. The building owes much to Rapp and Rapp’s design for the Orhpeum in Champaign, Illinois which was built the year before. Ringling’s larger budget allowed for more ornament. The facade has recently been restored after the remanfacture of dozens of terra cotta pieces. The theatre has an extensive website at www.alringling.com
In 1915 work began on the Al. Ringling Theatre in Baraboo, Wisconsin which was also designed by Rapp and Rapp. The “Al.” owes a lot to the Orpheum being nearly identical in plan. A greater budger however allowed for more lavish use of ornament including over a dozen handpainted murals and an elaborate terra cotta facade.
If you would like more information on the Al. check out the website at www.alringling.com
Please contact me if you would like to discuss the early works of Rapp and Rapp. Paul