Time Machine: The Majestic

CEDAR RAPIDS - In April 1908, Alice M. Faulkes, widow of Gazette owner and editor Fred W. Faulkes, and Malcolm V. Bolton, a real estate broker, executed articles of incorporation for the Majestic Theater Company in Cedar Rapids.

Construction began in May at A Avenue and Third Street. The Majestic was an addition to the Jim block, a building erected by Fred Faulkes in 1900 and named for his son James, who later became The Gazette's publisher.

The new construction replaced one of Cedar Rapids' earliest upper class homes, a brick residence once owned by hotelier Julius Baerthal.

Designed by the era's premiere theater architects, Cornelius W. and George L. Rapp of Chicago, the Majestic had a seating capacity of 1,424.

The Majestic's owners hired Victor Hugo, the successful manager of the People's Theater, as the new manager. Hugo and his wife had their own flat in the theater complete with kitchen, parlor, several bedrooms and bathroom as well as a maid's quarters.

Opening day was Sept. 28, 1908.

In 1915, the Cedar Rapids vaudeville house met with a string of disasters. In March, the iron frame that held a huge canvas tank filled with 6,000 gallons of water for the Six Diving Nymphs burst on stage during a performance and flooded the orchestra pit, dressing rooms and several rows of patrons.

In June, a new theater, the Strand, opened, spurring competition for entertainers and silent movies.

In the last and most serious incident, the roof over the stage collapsed with a loud roar on July 6, destroying the lighting system, scenery, box seats and the proscenium arch. Air pressure from the collapse broke bolts on the A Avenue-side doors and a thick layer of dust settled over everything. A policeman who heard the crash immediately notified the central fire station. Firemen turned off water to the broken pipes and cut power to all electrical wires to avoid a fire.

Work began immediately to rebuild the wrecked part of the theater.

After the nearly $30,000 refurbishing job, the Majestic reopened Oct. 28, 1915. This time the roof over the stage was supported by steel girders and immense steel arches. Hugo announced an upgrade in entertainment, and the theater brought the best in vaudeville to Cedar Rapids for the next 13 years. Headliners included such enduring stars as Jack Benny, George Burns and Gracie Allen and Bob Hope.

With the advent of radio and talking motion pictures, vaudeville's popularity waned.

At the end of 1927, the Majestic was reopened under new managers who focused on stage shows, but the theater struggled financially and it folded in the fall of 1933.

A fire discovered in the wee hours of the morning on May 25, 1934, caused $15,000 damage to the theater. The auditorium was gutted, but the lobby and stage remained intact. The projection booth came crashing down when the theater's roof collapsed. The origins of the blaze were never discovered.

The following year, the burned-out structure was declared a hazard and was demolished. The site now is part of the U.S. Cellular Center.