C R A T O S » Paramount

Paramount Restoration Updates

nmarple — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:14:21 +0000

Restoration plans for the Paramount Theatre will be opened to the public this week. The project, set to kick-off in the spring of 2011, includes the restoration of the Wurlitzer theatre organ and a total replacement of the original console.

Hall of Mirrors - Sept. 2010 (courtesy of The Gazette)

The Gazette has a report in today’s edition summarizing the plans:

http://gazetteonline.com/breaking-news/2010/09/07/massive-paramount-restoration-begins-this-spring-sneak-preview-thursday

In addition, the City of Cedar Rapids maintains a restoration information site for the entire project:

http://www.cedar-rapids.org/city-news/announcements/2010/Pages/ParamountTheatreRestoration.aspx

Paramount Restoration Project

nmarple — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:22:39 +0000

The City of Cedar Rapids has published detailed information on the restoration plans for the Paramount Theatre. CRATOS remains enthusiastic and committed to assisting the city in the project. Check the CRATOS website and the city’s project site for more updates.

Paramount Theatre Restoration Update

nmarple — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:45:05 +0000

After an extensive selection process, the City of Cedar Rapids has selected OPN Architects to lead the historical restoration efforts. As reported in The Gazette, this step in the process is an important one, and recognizes the both the importance of not only restoring the theatre, but doing so in a way which balances historical preservation and the introduction of necessary updates to the buildling. CRATOS will continue to be involved in an advisory capacity on the restoration of the Wurlitzer theatre organ. The restoration master plan includes historic recreation of the organ’s console which was lost to the flood waters in June 2008.

The re-opening date for the theatre is not yet finalized.

Paramount Theatre Restoration Approved

nmarple — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:43:13 +0000

CRATOS is pleased to be able to report that the Cedar Rapids City Council, on Feb 4, 2009, voted to restore the flood-damaged Paramount Theatre. The restoration funding is inclusive of the theatre and the organ. The Cedar Rapids Gazette provided the update on this monumental decision.

More updates will be provided as details are released.

Paramount Theatre Floods Again

nmarple — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 23:19:41 +0000

Just over 6 months since sustaining flooding from the Cedar River, the Paramount Theatre has flooded once again. This time a broken water pipe, apparently left unchecked, caused the building’s sub-basement, basement and orchestra pit to fill with water.

Fortunately this time the water was clean, but still damaging to an already flooded and closed building. The City of Cedar Rapids has not yet made any decision on restoration of the theatre and the Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ. The building remains closed and under minimal maintenance for the winter until a decision can be made regarding the future of this priceless landmark building.

Our Wurlitzer’s Story In the News

nmarple — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:57:10 +0000

In the midst of all of the activity over the past many days, we have been fortunate to have a significant amount of media interest in the story of the Paramount, and our Mighty Wurlitzer.

Local, state and national news organizations were onsite to spread the word of the danger the organ was in due to the flooding, and the efforts to pull the console from the theatre at the last minute as the stage became increasingly unstable.

Here are some of the many reports submitted:

June 17: CNN iReport by CRATOS

June 18: The Gazette (Cedar Rapids) and KCRG (Cedar Rapids) send reporters, photographers, and video crews onsite to document the incredible efforts underway by CRATOS, Paramount theatre management, Coonrod and Altorfer to save the console.

June 18: CNN follow-up on iReport with a live on-scene interview (wait for it).

June 19: The Gazette’s Adam Bell’s report for the print edition of the paper, with some positive updates to the story.

These reports, and the follow-up reports that will document and publicize the activities CRATOS, Paramount management, and the City of Cedar Rapids now undertakes in saving or reconstructing the console, and the efforts still needed in the pipe chambers, will help keep this magnificent organ and theatre in the spotlight.

Please send any links to other related reports you’ve found to: cratos.info@gmail.com

If you have stories of the Paramount, the Wurlitzer, and the former Iowa Theatre and the Rhinestone Barton, please send them along and we’ll publish them in a special section on our site.