The Iowa Theatre Building, home of Theatre Cedar Rapids, opened on February 26th, 2010 to a black tie audience that filled the house. TCR staff have put together some incredible videos of the work involved with restoring and updating the building. The TCR team has done an incredible job of restoring some of the original [...]
Since the consoles of both the Paramount’s Wurlitzer and TCR (Iowa Theatre) Rhinestone Barton were damaged beyond repair in the flood of June 2008, CRATOS and CRBI (Cedar Rapids Barton, Inc) have engaged in joint efforts focused on the preservation and restoration of both consoles. Subsequent inspections of both installations have revealed [...]
The Gazette published an update in the Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009. The article can be found here.
CRATOS members gathered for the 2008 annual membership meeting, the first full meeting of the organization since the June 2008 flooding severely damaged the Wurlitzer and Barton organs.
Members present enjoyed food, music, and conversation prior to the start of the annual meeting. Father Joe Roost provided entertainment on an Allen R211 donated for the occasion [...]
On August 2, 2008, the strangest thing since the Great Flood of 2008 happened in Cedar Rapids, IA. CRATOS members, assisted by the Rockwell Retiree Volunteers, and The History Center, moved the Wurlitzer and Barton consoles into the new organ restoration room. For the first time in the history of Cedar Rapids, two completely unique theatre [...]
Just shy of 1 month following the dramatic removal of the Paramount’s 1928 Wurlitzer Balaban 1A theatre organ console, CRATOS and CRBI coordinated another rescue effort. This time it was the 1928 Rhinestone Barton console from Theatre Cedar Rapids (formerly the Iowa Theatre).
The Barton console was damaged by the floodwaters, but the impact to the organ was [...]
With the conclusion of the ATOS National Convention in Indianapolis, CRATOS has received word that a “Pass the Hat” fundraising effort during the final banquet help raise funds for our cause. We are very appreciative of the efforts of ATOS and the generous members attending the national convention.
We still have a long way to go [...]
We’re keeping this update brief as it’s been a long day. We gained entry into both theatres late today and took detailed photos of both the Paramount’s Wurlitzer and Iowa (TCR’s) Barton.
The Paramount is difficult to look at, the organ console off the lift and on its back and heavily damaged. We’re holding out for [...]
A note from CRATOS President, Darren Ferreter:
I would like to begin by thanking everyone who has taken a moment to send notes of support to CRATOS after the flooding and organ damage that occurred in Cedar Rapids.
Although the water level is dropping, the Cedar River is not anywhere near being within its banks. The [...]
The Cedar River crested at 3:30pm on Friday, June 13, 2008, at roughly 20 ft above flood stage, and nearly 12 feet above the previous record of 20ft set in 1929.As CRATOS watches local news broadcasts we are holding out hope for the pipe chambers in both the Paramount and Iowa Theatres. Based upon news [...]
