Five Flags Center is a multi-purpose facility in downtown Dubuque, Iowa . It is named for the five flags that have flown over Dubuque; the Fleur de Lis of France (1673–1763), the Royal Flag of Spain (1763–1803), the Union Jack of Great Britain (1780, during a brief interruption of Spanish rule), the French Republic Flag of Napoleon (1803) & America's Stars and Stripes (1803–Present).
16-617: The site's first theater was the Athenaeum Theater, built in 1840, which became the City Hotel (also a theater) in 1846 and later the Peosta House. A second theatre was originally built in 1864 or 1877, but then was destroyed by fire in 1910. It had been purchased then renovated during 1909-1910 by local prominent businessman Harker Brentnal Spensley Sr. and his partner, C. H. Eighmey. The current Great Five Flags Theater
32-582: A new Ice Arena, the Mystique Ice Center , which opened in Fall of 2010, and now hosts the expansion Dubuque Fighting Saints . SMG took over operations of the arena in 2004, which were formerly handled by the City of Dubuque. In 2005, the arena was closed during the summer for concession, entrance, and concourse renovation. The Iowa Power , an indoor football team, started negotiations to play at
48-594: Is now Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the Coles County Courthouse (1898–99) in Charleston . His father was superintendent of construction for both Carbondale buildings. Rapp was an independent practitioner until 1906, when he formed a partnership with his younger brother, George L. Rapp. George Leslie Rapp was born February 16, 1878. He was educated in the School of Architecture of
64-756: The Five Flags Center (1910) in Dubuque, Iowa and the Paramount Theatres in New York City (1926) and Aurora, Illinois (1931). The named partners were brothers C. Ward Rapp (1860–1926) and George L. Rapp (1878–1941), sons of a builder and natives of Carbondale, Illinois . Their Chicago practice is not to be confused with the Trinidad, Colorado practice of their brothers Isaac H. Rapp (1854–1933) and William M. Rapp (1863–1920) or
80-561: The Five Flags Center in Dubuque, Iowa , the new firm quickly specialized in theatres. In 1917 they began working with the Balaban & Katz chain of movie theatres, a relationship leading to the construction of many early movie palaces . In 1926 Paramount Pictures bought a controlling interest in Balaban & Katz, after which the Rapp office gained a national practice. C. Ward Rapp died
96-624: The University of Illinois , graduating in 1899. He then followed his brother to Chicago, where he joined the office of architect Edmund R. Krause. Of the projects completed by Krause during Rapp's employment, the best known was the Majestic Theatre, now the CIBC Theatre . After seven years with Krause he joined his brother to form the firm of C. W. & George L. Rapp, commonly known as Rapp & Rapp. Following early success with
112-602: The 1920s. They designed many movie palaces , including a number of atmospheric theatres , which utilized romantic architectural elements to evoke specific times and places. Their only surviving atmospheric theatre in Chicago is the Gateway Theatre, now the Copernicus Center , completed in 1930. If murals were to be included in the theatres, Louis Grell of Chicago was commissioned to paint them. Many of
128-594: The arena in August 2024. George L. Rapp C. W. & George L. Rapp , commonly known as Rapp & Rapp , was an American architectural firm famed for the design of movie palaces and other theatres. Active from 1906 to 1965 and based in Chicago , the office designed over 400 theatres, including the Chicago Theatre (1921), Bismarck Hotel and Theatre (1926) and Oriental Theater (1926) in Chicago,
144-879: The center. The Five Flags Center was formerly the main convention center in Dubuque, but construction of the Grand River Event Center in 2003, moved many events away from Five Flags. It was also the former home of the Dubuque Fighting Saints (1980-2001) of the United States Hockey League from 1980–2001 and the home of the Dubuque Thunderbirds hockey team of the Central States Hockey League from 2001–2010. Dubuque opened
160-407: The firm Rapp & Rapp, which had always been its common name. In 1965 Rapp retired, and the firm was dissolved. Mason G. Rapp died in 1978. 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 were responsible for the design of some 400 theatres, most of which were built in
176-481: The notable Cincinnati architects George W. Rapp and Walter L. Rapp , to whom they were not related. Cornelius Ward Rapp was born December 26, 1860. In the 1880s he moved to Chicago, where he worked for architect Cyrus P. Thomas. In 1889, the two formed the partnership of Thomas & Rapp. This was dissolved in 1895, when both opened independent offices. Rapp's major projects over the next eleven years included Altgeld Hall (1895–96) and Wheeler Hall (1903–04) at what
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#1732791409191192-420: The same year, leaving his brother to head the firm. The firm diversified its practice away from theatres during the 1930s, and designed a variety of commercial and industrial projects. During this period Rapp was joined by Mason Gerardi Rapp, son of his elder brother William M. Rapp . After George L. Rapp's retirement in 1938, Mason G. Rapp succeeded to the practice. After the death of his uncle in 1941 he renamed
208-578: The theatres and other buildings designed by the Rapp brothers have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places . Some of the notable buildings that the firm designed include: [REDACTED] Media related to Rapp & Rapp at Wikimedia Commons Walter L. Rapp Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include
224-655: Was conceived as part of a project to rehabilitate the Five Flags Theater. Construction began in 1976, and the facility opened in 1979. The first event was a concert by Bob Hope . The arena can seat up to 5,200 for basketball , although in its former primary use, ice hockey , actual seating capacity is only about 2,500. It features one side of permanent seating; the other three sides are bleachers, some for Loras College basketball, and most of Dubuque's major concerts. High school graduation ceremonies for Hempstead High School and Senior High School have been held at
240-551: Was constructed as the Majestic Theater in 1910. The rebuilt theater was designed by George L. Rapp , who eventually became one of the nation's premier theater architects. It was converted to a movie house in 1920 and renamed 'Spensley Theater' in 1929. Constructed in a Renaissance Revival style with French influences, it was later renamed the RKO Orpheum and used to show movies. Eventually, it fell into disrepair and
256-598: Was slated for demolition during urban renewal in 1969. A committee made up of concerned citizens began a fund drive to save the theater, which was incorporated in the Five Flags Center project in 1972. Restoration was begun in 1975, and the theater was reopened in 1976 as the Five Flags Theater. It is currently the home of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, high school musicals, and occasional concerts and ballet productions. Five Flags Arena
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