Rapson's 1963 Guthrie comes down
The Star Tribune reports that the Walker Art Center's contractor has begun dismantling the old Guthrie Theater, designed by Minneapolis architect Ralph Rapson. Preservationists organized SavetheGuthrie.org, a local group led by musician Paul Metsa and architect Bob Roscoe. The group called the building "a peerless architectural accomplishment." In 2002, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named the Guthrie one of the nation's most endangered historic sites. Concluded a 2002 press release by SavetheGuthrie.org, "It should be clear to all: Destruction of the original Guthrie Theater would be ill advised, tragic and stupid; stupid for being done with no regard for art, for history and for future generations of Americans."