Rapp and Rapp

Following early success with the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, Iowa, the new firm quickly specialized in theatres.

In 1926 Paramount Pictures bought a controlling interest in Balaban & Katz, after which the Rapp office gained a national practice.

The firm diversified its practice away from theatres during the 1930s, and designed a variety of commercial and industrial projects.

[5] 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.

They designed many movie palaces, including a number of atmospheric theatres, which utilized romantic architectural elements to evoke specific times and places.

Many of the theatres and other buildings designed by the Rapp brothers have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places.

The Chicago Theatre , designed by the Rapps for Balaban & Katz and completed in 1921.
The Uptown Theatre in Chicago, completed in 1925.
Shea's Performing Arts Center , originally Shea's Buffalo, completed in 1926.
The Paramount Building in Times Square, New York City , completed in 1927.
The Old Dearborn Bank Building in Chicago , completed in 1928.
The Paramount Theatre in Denver , completed in 1930.
Warner Grand Theater (Milwaukee) Wisconsin built in 1931