Uptown Theater

I am looking for anyone interested in pursuing a business venture involving the Uptown theater. The idea I have in mind involves using the theater for film presentation and not for live venues. I live in Chicago and would be happy to provide contact information to anyone who is really serious about this proposition. Please contact me by email.

Thank you for your interest in the Uptown Theatre, Chicago. You can learn more at http://www.uptowntheatre.com

A new web site, http://www.uptowntheatrechicago.com is coming soon. It will support the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, a renovation and reuse project. Again, thank you for your interest! More good news coming soon!

The official website of the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, the group that has as its mission the restoration of the Uptown theatre is up and running. Check us out at www.uptowntheatrechicago.com

I received an e-mail from James Pierce today in response to my inquiry about work on the Uptown, and he said he wasn't aware of any new progress as of 1-18-02. The organization has a great website with a lot of good information at http://uptowntheatrechicago.com.

Contrary to Mr. Pierce's comments to mkmarshall, a great deal is happening at the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts. However, not all of our plans have been disseminated to the public at this time. We are currently in the midst of an aggressive capital campaign. For continual updates on our progress, visit the official web site at www.uptowntheatrechicago.com

CHICAGO (June 11, 2002)

An agreement signed last Wednesday between the not-for-profit Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts and Cercore Properties Corp. breathes new life into the group's bid to purchase and restore the historic Uptown Theatre to its original grandeur. In the first major initiative spearheaded by Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts' newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer Mark Zipperer, the agreement extends through early October the contract allowing the group to buy the landmark building, which originally expired in December 2001.

The top priority of the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts now, according to Zipperer, is to re-build the momentum of the fundraising campaign that was started last July, when Albert I. Goodman, on behalf of the Edith-Marie Appleton Foundation, kicked off the drive to renovate the historic Uptown Theatre with a generous gift of $1 million and a pledge of continuing support.

"My belief in the importance of purchasing and restoring the historic Uptown for future generations is stronger than ever," said Goodman. "It's not only a treasure for the citizens of Chicago, it's a gem for us to share with all America."

Zipperer, who expressed confidence that funding for purchasing the theatre will be finalized by early October, is a Board Member of the Uptown Chicago Commission and president of the Buena Park Neighborhood Association, the Uptown area's largest block club. Professionally, his credentials span 14 years of marketing, management and financial experience with Andersen, UCC TotalHome of Chicago, General Electric Company and the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. He also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Walt Disney Magnet School Local School Council and a member of the Dance for Life Corporate Donation Committee.

The 37-year-old Zipperer hails from the Milwaukee area and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance and Real Estate.

"The future of Uptown has never shone brighter," said Zipperer. "Working together and drawing upon the strength of our diversity, we have the opportunity to restore a building that is a key part of our history, promote tourism, create jobs within the community, make theatre more readily accessible to area children, and eventually provide a home to many theatre groups that cannot currently afford one."

RADIO INTERVIEW that will be webcasted!
WLUW-FM 88.7 (Loyola University Radio)
Date: Friday, June 21, 2002
Time: after 2:00 pm

Mark Zipperer, newly appointed CEO of the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, will be interviewed on "Stephen in the Evenin'" by Nick Tristano. The 7-10 minute segment will be a casual interview on the group's plans for the Uptown Theatre.

Tune in to the show via webcast at http://www.stephenintheevenin.com/
The show is on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-10 pm and Fridays 2-6 pm.

For more information on the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, check out the official web site:
uptowntheatrechicago.com

Dear Friends,
Recently, I have accepted the role as CEO of the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts. By now, you have probably heard the exciting news about our renewed effort to purchase the Uptown Theatre. Recently we entered into a purchase agreement with the current owner of the Theatre that will enable us the exclusive right to purchase this historic property within the next 120 days.

Currently, I am spearheading a campaign to raise $4 million to complete the purchase of the Theatre building. This campaign will also enable us to stabilize/winterize the building, replenish our operating budget, and provide the funding necessary to allow us to kick off a campaign to secure all funds necessary to completely restore the Theatre to its original grandeur.

Although we have already made considerable progress toward our goals, many have asked us, "How can I help?" GLAD YOU ASKED! First and foremost, we are seeking donations, which will be reserved strictly for the purchase of the Theatre. Because we have only 15 weeks to complete this purchase, we must quickly raise the remaining needed funds. Thankfully we already have commitments toward a portion of the $4 million.

The best way to donate is online at: www.uptowntheatrechicago.com. Click the "SUPPORT" button on the left and then "donate online." Or, you can mail your donation to our office address listed below.

If you'd like a more detailed perspective about our strategic plan to make this restoration a success, please call and set up an appointment and we'll talk in person.

We are in the process also expanding our current board of directors. As such, we're looking for committed people with expertise in the following areas to be a part of our board:

* Management and Leadership
* Finance/Legal/Human Resources
* Marketing and Public Relations
* Restoration, Architecture and Historic Preservation
* Nominations (seeking out other board members)

If you are interested in a board position, please e-mail your biography with a short summary about why you are interested in saving the Uptown Theatre to: board@uptowntheatrechicago.com

And finally, if you know someone who you think might be a donor or potential board member, please forward this e-mail on to that person (s).

Remember, time is of the essence, and we need everyone's help to save this historic Chicago landmark!

Best regards,

Mark M. Zipperer
Chief Executive Officer
Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts
4707 N. Broadway, Suite 315
Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: 773-561-5700
Fax: 773.784.5900
www.uptowntheatrechicago.com

FYI: Friends of the Uptown, Chicago, a longtime volunteer advocacy remains intact and active. Volunteer activity began at the theater in 1977, continued through its closure in 1981 and has safeguarded it ever since. Stay in touch with news and views about the Uptown Theatre by subscribing to Uptown Adviser at http://www.uptowntheatre.com
Archived editions of Uptown Adviser online may be read at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uptownadviser/messages

Inside Newspaper ran a front page article about the Uptown Theatre restoration project in the June 19 - June 25 edition.

Text from Inside Online (part 1):
*****

Inside Newspaper
"Legendary Uptown Theater gets a boost"

By: Jim Sterne
News Editor

An agreement signed last Wednesday, June 19, between the not-for-profit Uptown Theater and Center for the Arts and Cercore Properties Corp. breathes new life into the groups' bid to purchase and restore the historic Uptown Theater to its original grandeur.

In the first major initiative spearheaded by Uptown Theater and Center for the Arts' newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer Mark Zipperer, the agreement allowing the group to buy the landmark building is extended from the original deadline of December 2001 to early October 2002.

"We need $4 million to complete the purchase, stabilize the theater, replenish our operating funds, and rekindle the fundraising campaign," Zipperer said. The fundraising campaign that was started last July when Albert I. Goodman, on behalf of the Edith-Marie Appleton Foundation, kicked off the drive to renovate the theater with a generous gift of $1 million and a pledge of continuing support.

"My belief in the importance of purchasing and restoring the historic Uptown for future generations is stronger than ever," said Goodman. "It's not only a treasure for the citizens of Chicago, it's a gem for us to share with all America." Goodman added that, "I have pledged another million dollars if the theater can raise the $3 million."

Zipperer, who expressed confidence that funding for purchasing the theater will be finalized by early October, is a Board Member of the Uptown Chicago Commission and president of the Buena Park Neighborhood Association, the Uptown area's largest block club. He has just been elected to the Local School Council for Disney Magnet School, where he will serve as budgeting manager responsible for fundraising , increasingly important as the city's financial crisis forces budget cuts in all areas.

"You get a good feeling when you do something for the community," Zipperer said, "It's as simple as that." He has lived in Uptown for ten years and is excited about the TIFs for Wilson Yard and Lawrence and Broadway. "The Uptown theater will be the anchor for the whole area."

The 37-year-old Zipperer hails from the Milwaukee area and graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance and real estate.

(continued)

Inside Online article

(continued - part 2)

One of the ways he wants to include the community in the restoration of their theater is to collect stories of the residents. "One woman who now lives in the Edgewater Beach Apartments reminisced about when she was a child, she and her girlfriend would throw water balloons from the top balcony and, when chased by the Andy Frain ushers, they would hide in the woman's washroom." Zipperer and the Uptown's public relations firm are thinking of publishing a book of these remembrances for the grand re-opening of the theater on its 80th anniversary in 20005.

"The Uptown opened August 18, 1925, at noon. At 2 p.m. when the first show emptied, 12,000 people were in a line for the next show," Zipperer said. "I want to get everyone involved, not just big donors. Even someone with just a few dollars will be welcome and I hope that when they are 80 years old they will pass the theater and say to themselves, 'See, I helped keep our Uptown Theater for all of us.'"

"It is a precious part of our community and also of my family," Al Goodman added. "The theater will be dedicated to all the employees of my grandmother's Appleton Electric Company who fought in World War II." The factory was on Wellington St. and Paulina Ave. before it became condos. It is the Appleton foundation that has pledged its financial support for the Uptown.

Viewed as pivotal piece in the redevelopment of Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, the Uptown Theater is the country's largest freestanding theater building in terms of square footage. It was designed by famed Chicago architects Rapp & Rapp and was one of the crown jewels of the national Balaban & Katz movie palace empire.

Shuttered since 1981, the Uptown has been listed on "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places and the Illinois Historic Structures Survey and is protected as a Chicago Landmark.

"We are always looking for volunteers to stuff envelopes and keep our lists current," said Zipperer. "Or to man our information booths that we plan to have in most neighborhood festivals where we will sell T-shirts to raise money."

The Uptown Theater and Center for the Arts, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation incorporated in March 2001, is comprised of business, theater, and other professionals from the Uptown community who are committed to purchasing and restoring the Uptown Theater to its former prominence.
*****

To make a donation to the Uptown Theatre restoration project,

Mail to:
Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, 4707 N. Broadway, Suite 315,
Chicago, IL 60640

or visit us on the web at: www.uptowntheatrechicago.com
or call us: 773-561-5700

Crain's Chicago Business ran the following article in the July 8 issue. Link to article:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=5901

*******
July 06, 2002

Uptown Theatre Seeks Funds

A group dedicated to restoring Chicago's Uptown Theatre is kicking off a series of eight fund-raising events this week as part of an effort to raise $4 million to purchase the building before an Oct. 5 deadline.

The non-profit Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, which last month signed a 120-day letter of intent to buy the dilapidated theater from Cercore Properties Corp., is targeting local business leaders, preservation groups and the philanthropic community in its campaign.

The group will also host the first public tours of the structure in more than two decades later this summer as part of the fund-raising drive.

In addition to the purchase price, estimates of the restoration costs for the theater range from $18 million to $30 million.
*******

To make a donation to the Uptown Theatre restoration project,

Mail to:
Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts
4707 N. Broadway, Suite 315
Chicago, IL 60640

Visit us on the web at: www.uptowntheatrechicago.com
Or, call us: 773-561-5700

TOURS OFFER FIRST PUBLIC GLIMPSE INSIDE HISTORIC UPTOWN THEATRE IN TWO DECADES

CHICAGO (July 31, 2002)

For the first time in more than two decades, Chicago's historic Uptown Theatre will open its doors to a limited number of the general public interested in glimpsing the grandeur of what was once one of the most famous movie palaces in the country, and learning more about current efforts to restore the landmark theatre. David Bahlman, President of the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois, and Mark Zipperer, Chief Executive Officer of the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, a not-for-profit group dedicated to purchasing and restoring the Uptown to its former artistic, architectural and cultural prominence, will host public tours of the theatre at noon, Tuesday, August 13, and 6 p.m., Wednesday, August 14.

Each tour will be limited to a maximum of 30 people and reservations are being accepted by phone only, on a first-come, first-served basis, at (773) 381-6312. Cost is a tax-deductible donation of $15 per person to the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts. The Uptown Theatre is located at 4814-4816 N. Broadway, near the corner of Broadway and Lawrence Avenues, in the center of Chicago's Uptown neighborhood.

Built in 1925 by the Chicago-based Balaban & Katz movie palace empire and designed by world-renowned Chicago architects Rapp & Rapp, the 4,381-seat Uptown was touted at its opening as 'an acre of seats in a magic city.' It remains the country's largest freestanding theatre building in terms of square footage and one of the top five in seating capacity. ""

(Part one)

The buzz continues! Chicago Free Press ran a front page article on the Uptown Theatre in the August 7 issue. Pick up a copy off the newstand and check out the amazing shots of the interior taken by photographer Jason Smith. Link to article: http://chicagofreepress.com/news/index.html#theater

******* THIS OLD THEATER NON-PROFIT POLISHING TARNISHED UPTOWN JEWEL

By Gary Barlow Staff writer

Even with the dust, the crumbling patches of plaster and the tarnished wood and metal flourishes, the interior of the Uptown Theatre evokes looks of awe.

For starters, it is huge, from the grand lobby on Broadway to the tiered 4,400-seat theater. Built as the crown jewel of one of America's premier theater chains as the golden age of film dawned in 1925, it's been shuttered for two decades.

That could change, if an Uptown group racing against time to save and restore it succeeds in getting the community support it needs.

"Every day that passes by is lost," says Mark Zipperer, CEO of the non-profit Uptown Theatre and Center for the Performing Arts. "We may not be able to restore the building in five years."

Now, Zipperer says, the time and circumstances are right for refurbishing the Uptown.

"Ten years ago, the neighborhood wasn't ready for it," he says. But in the past decade, the neighborhood has changed; gay and lesbian Chicagoans in particular have moved to Uptown in large numbers. The organization Zipperer leads in the effort to save the Uptown reflects the area's changing demographics.

"There's an equation about neighborhoods evolving," Zipperer says. "There now needs to be community areas to support that."

The group has an agreement with the property's owners to buy the theater for about $2.5 million if it can raise the money by Oct. 20. Walking through the musty but still ornate lobby, Zipperer makes it clear that he thinks closing the deal is both a community imperative and an incredible bargain.

"In today's dollars, it would cost about $110 million to duplicate this building," he says, walking up one of the grand circular staircases rising from the lobby to the balcony level of the theater.

"All this stuff can be saved," Zipperer says. "It might look bad in spots, but structurally it was built to withstand anything."

That was the boast when the Uptown, just north of Lawrence on Broadway, opened Aug. 18, 1925. "Built for all time," its owners, Barney Balaban and Sam Katz, declared. It was and is an imposing Spanish baroque movie palace. (cont.)

Chicago Free Press article (continued --part two)

Eight stories high, architects C.W. Rapp and George L. Rapp created what is still the largest free-standing theater in the United States, bigger than New York's Radio City Music Hall, Balaban and Katz's flagship Chicago Theatre and Chicago's famed Auditorium Theatre.

The crowd of 12,000 that came to the first shows that day entered a cavernous grand lobby that later hosted early Hearts Foundation parties before the building was closed. From its marble baseboards and stained glass windows to its bronze railings and gold-leaf trim, the theater glistened with opulence.

And the opulence went well beyond the visual. Eight lobbies were built so the huge crowds could be managed between shows, and the theater featured a state-of-the-art air conditioning system that could not only completely exchange the air every two minutes, but could also dehumidify it, purify it, ozonize it and perfume it.

Its stage lighting system was the most sophisticated in the world, using 10,000 bulbs and capable of making 10 complete light changes in 14 seconds. The roof sign, with 12-foot-high lighted letters, could be seen from the Loop. In a final flourish, in 1928 Balaban and Katz installed a Wurlitzer Grande pipe organ that was the most expensive ever built.

People and Hollywood stars flocked to the palace through the 1930s. But when movie attendance trailed off in the 1940s, Balaban and Katz tried other ways to turn a profit at the Uptown, even hosting the 1950s TV game show, "Queen for a Day," at times. By the 1970s, entrepreneur Rene Rabiela featured Spanish-language movies and hosted rock concerts featuring such performers as Bob Marley, the Grateful Dead, Peter Gabriel, Santana and others.

But, unable to make a consistent profit, the Uptown closed its doors for the last time in 1981 and ownership reverted to the Plitt movie chain. Plitt never reopened the Uptown and disaster struck in the 1983-1984 winter when, with the heat shut off, water pipes burst, flooding the basement, ruining much of the plaster walls and making restoration inevitable if the grand palace was ever to be opened again.

Zipperer says architects and preservationists estimate the building can be fully restored for $22-$28 million, still a bargain considering what it would cost to duplicate. And a restored Uptown Theatre, Zipperer says, would once again be the crown jewel of a vibrant cultural scene and nightlife in Uptown.

"It's a key piece of property in Uptown," says Zipperer, also president of the Buena Park Neighborhood Association just south of Uptown. "The community here is our best advocate. People are passionate about this building."

The following article appeared in the Chicago Tribune Metro section on 9-6-02 by Arts Entertainment reporter Chris Jones.

Time is running out for Uptown Theatre Chris Jones

September 6, 2002

With plaster peeling from its walls and rainwater pooling on its historic floors, Chicago's Uptown Theatre remains unrestored and in deteriorating condition.

The Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, a non-profit group founded to restore and operate the building at 4816 N. Broadway, has an option to buy the building that expires Oct. 4. And the group still is more than $1 million short of the $2.5 million purchase price set by the building owner, Cercore Properties.

According to executive director Mark Zipperer, the group thus far has raised about $1.3 million, in addition to the original $1 million pledged to the cause by Albert I. Goodman. Most of Goodman's initial donation has been used to pay staffers and fundraising expenses. However, an additional anonymous donor has contributed $1 million, which forms the bulk of the new funding.

Still, that leaves a big hole. And if the additional money is not raised within the next 30 days, Zipperer says he doubts the theater ever will be saved.

"We're in the eleventh hour," Zipperer said. "The building is deteriorating so fast."

Up until this week, Ald. Mary Ann Smith (48th) had withheld her support from the Uptown Center for the Arts, which was mired in scandal when its former executive director, Michael Morrison, was charged in a civil suit with using some of Goodman's donation for personal expenses.

Indeed, the luxury car currently being raffled by the theater formerly was leased by Morrison for his own use. But on Thursday, Smith said she now had changed her mind and decided to publicly support the group.

"A lot of people with substantial backgrounds in entertainment, development and law finally are coming on board," Smith said. "I think people will pull the trigger on the money now that they know that the right plan is in place. I'm confident that the deadline will be met."

Copyright � 2002, Chicago Tribune

POLITICAL ENDORSEMENT

Excerpts From Alderman (48th Ward) Mary Ann Smith's Letter of Endorsement
dated September 5, 2002

"I am delighted to offer my full support for the plans currently being proposed for the Uptown Theatre with the development team you are putting in place. This building is a treasure which I, along with dozens of other neighborhood people and preservationists nationwide have fought for decades to protect. It is imperative that this first best chance to restore the Theatre to an active and vibrant life be the best it can possibly be ... My support for the plan is based on the caliber of the firms and individuals you have brought on board, whose knowledge and experience will maximize the prospects for the success of this huge undertaking ... I, along with the rest of the 48th Ward community, look forward to working with you hand in hand to bring back the brilliance of the Uptown Theatre."

UR CHICAGO ARTICLE (part 1 of 2)

UR Chicago ran the following article on page 9 of the DISTORTION section under the Flavor of the Month column. Link to article: http://urchicago.com/listingsEntry.asp?ID=44406&PT=Distortion

Saving History: Chicago's only $2.5 million away from restoring the Uptown Theatre

By Terry Selucky

Back in the day, movie theatres were referred to as "palaces" and people came in droves to catch the latest motion picture. Moviegoing was widely considered immoral, so people sought to change that perception by dressing their best and frequenting theatres as grandiose as they were functional.

You might stumble across a skeleton of a palace like this around Chicago (the Oriental Theatre, the Chicago Theatre, the Aragon), but the most impressive of all these, the Uptown, is also the most rundown.

Located on Broadway just north of Lawrence Avenue, the Uptown Theatre is bigger in area than Radio City Music Hall, has more seats than any live indoor venue in Chicago, and is older than the "El." Built in 1925 on the former beer garden of the Green Mill, the Uptown Theatre compared itself to "a castle in Old Spain upon which countless artists and sculptors have lavished their talents." But after many starts and stops, the Uptown closed down in 1981 due to a lack of interest and money, and neglect has rendered the building unfit for use without renovations.

Enter the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, a not-for-profit corporation toiling since March 2001 to buy the theatre. If they raise $2.5 million dollars by October 4, they'll have enough money to purchase the building and begin the process of restoring it. Renovations include a completely new electrical system, updated plumbing, heating and cooling systems and asbestos removal. A mainstage theatre with more than 4,000 seats, three smaller heatres, an art gallery, a museum, a radio station, gift shop and an arts education program for kids will be initiated within the space.

"With the economy in the current shape it's in," says Mark Zipperer, CEO of the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, "it's a challenge to raise money to help fund the purchase."

Building anything like the Uptown today would cost around $110 million, making the $2.5 million needed to buy it a bargain. And Zipperer ensures a money-back guarantee for the contributors. "If we don't raise enough money by October 4, we give everyone their money back, whether it's five dollars or five thousand."

UR Chicago article (part two)

This is one landmark the city can't afford to lose. Located in the most diverse neighborhood in the city -- both economically, racially and ethnically -- such an open, community-driven center would be an incredible asset. While renovating the space, a job training program will be used to help the unemployed shadow the skilled manual laborers, thereby allowing people with little or no income to earn both a paycheck and a skill. The rapidly growing Uptown community will have a vibrant entertainment district with the Aragon, the Riviera, the Green Mill, and the newly reopened Uptown Theatre in walking distance from each other. The old Goldblatt's space is also being reworked to house a Border's. "People have been trying to use this space for a while now, but I don't think we were ever ready for it," says Zipperer. "I think we're ready for it now . . . in five years, I can see people having friends from out of town and bringing them to the Uptown as one of their top priorities."

For more information or to volunteer, call Michael Morehead, the Director of Volunteer and Educational Programs at 773/561-5700, or see www.uptowntheatrechicago.com.

*******
2003 UPTOWN THEATRE CALENDARS - ADVANCE SALES

The Uptown Theatre 2003 calendar, IN COLOR, will be unveiled in mid-October. You marveled at, even framed, the beautiful B&W photos from the 2002 Uptown Theatre calendar. Our newest gem features 12 new equally beautiful photographs by Chicago photographer Loren Robare. It is our second and final calendar to showcase photos of the theatre in its current deteriorated state, and is sure to become a collector's item. The 2004 calendar will proudly feature photos of the restoration of the Uptown Theatre.

Help to Bring Back the Brilliance, by purchasing your calendar(s) TODAY!

Log on to the gift shop on our web site www.uptowntheatrechicago.org and place your advance order. *******

*******
RADIO CIRCUIT

Listen to the talk of the town on the radio circuit --- the Uptown Theatre purchase campaign. We are in an eleventh-hour "race against the clock" to take ownership of the theatre by October 4, and begin restoration of this historic jewel before it is too late to save.

WGN-AM 720 "The Spike O'Dell Show." TOMORROW, Thursday, 9-26-02 at 6:50 am. Spike will interview Mark Zipperer, CEO of the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts.

WUSN-FM 99.5, "Chicago Up Close" with LeeAnn Trotter. Sunday, 9-29-02 between 6-7 am. The show's topic is the impact of theatre restorations. Guests include Mark Zipperer, and our architectural partners: Jeff Havel from d'Escoto, Inc., and Bill Latoza from Bauer Latoza Studio Ltd.

WNND-FM 100.3 FM, "Windy City Weekly" with Susan Wiencek. Sunday, 9-29-02 from 7:30 am - 8:00 am. Mark Zipperer, CEO, and Michael Beyer, Director of Marketing, will be interviewed.

WLUW-FM 88.7 Loyola University. Nick Tristano will interview Mark Zipperer on the all-new "The Full on Friday Show" on October 4 at 2:30 pm.

WBEZ-FM 91.5, Investigative report on the Uptown Theatre by Tony Sarabia to air on or about October 4. Get the FULL scoop from the Uptown perspective as Tony interviews the movers and shakers in the political and preservation scene pertinent to the Uptown Theatre restoration. ******

A letter from Mark Zipperer, CEO of the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts:

******* Dear Uptown Theatre Supporters and Friends:

As you are likely aware, today marks the expiration of the agreement we entered into for the, to purchase of the historic Uptown Theatre. In the purchase agreement, our not-for-profit organization, the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts (UTCA), agreed to pay the current owner of the Theatre $2.5 million dollars. We made a down payment of $250K and agreed to purchase the property in 120 days. Yesterday, on behalf of the UTCA, I signed an agreement with the owner of the theatre to extend our deadline to October 21. As the attached press release indicates, we still do not have the funds to complete the purchase. Our staff, board, volunteers, supporters, and community leaders remain hopeful that we can make this happen in the not-to distant future.

I ask you not to lose faith in our endeavor. We've accomplished much in a short period of time. 48th Ward Alderman Mary Ann Smith has endorsed our project. We have received tremendous media attention including in-depth coverage from CNN. Theatre experts, political officials, and business advisors alike have reviewed our business plan. We've received high praise for our vision and sound financial forecasting. Thus, the foundation for a successful future has been built.

We are committed to this cause and will continue on. In order to move forward, we need the financial support of individuals, corporations and others to complete the purchase. Our plans to secure funding for the restoration include special benefit concerts, our "name-a-seat" campaign, as well as benefiting from area tax financing as well as historic tax credits. Once we conclude the purchase of the Theatre, we will move forward with the restoration planning phase. We plan to kick-off the restoration in early 2003, which will result in more than 100 jobs for the restoration team, our operational staff, and surrounding supporting businesses.

If you can contribute monetarily, the time is NOW. If you work at a company in which you have the ability to influence your company leaders to make a donation or loan to us, please have those conversations NOW. If you know someone who has the financial ability to help us complete this purchase, please call on that person NOW. With your help, we can make this purchase a reality. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.

Best Regards,

Mark M. Zipperer Chief Executive Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (part one)

Group refuses to take final bow on Uptown Theatre Restoration

CHICAGO (October 3, 2002) - An agreement signed Tuesday between the not-for-profit Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts and Cercore Properties Corp. extends through October 21 the contract allowing the group to purchase and restore the historic Uptown Theatre. The purchase option was to have expired tomorrow.

"We still believe that we'll be able to save this magnificent gem," said Mark Zipperer, chief executive officer of the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, noting that although the group remains $1.5 million short of the total funds needed to purchase and winterize the landmark theatre, support for the campaign is escalating. "The same economic conditions that have created a tough fundraising environment make restoration of the Uptown a fiscally sound project, given the immediate jobs the project would create and its long-term economic impact on the blighted Uptown neighborhood."

Even within the last week, momentum towards the purchase continues to build as corporations and individual donors make monetary commitments on a daily basis. And high-profile supporters, including Chicago Alderperson Mary Ann Smith (48th Ward), Illinois Rep. Rod Blagojevich (5th District), and former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon have endorsed the organization's plan for revitalizing the aging movie palace.

"If we're going to fulfill our obligation of restoring this historic landmark for future generations to enjoy, there's no better time than now," said Zipperer, who, in a relatively unprecedented move, has guaranteed that all contributions will be held in a special, secured account and returned to donors in what he calls "the unlikely scenario" that the group's bid to purchase the theatre fails.

"Restoration costs have doubled within the last 10 years, and experts have estimated that another five to seven years of neglect will render the Uptown Theatre irreparable," Zipperer clarified. "After a recent incident when a chunk of falling plaster prompted a city building inspector to cancel all future fundraising tours of the theatre, I'm left wondering if we even have that long."

"This really is the Theatre's eleventh hour, and I'd like to make one final plea to everyone, whether you're the administrator of a major philanthropic trust, a corporate leader or a neighborhood resident with fond memories of Saturday afternoons spent watching quarter movies at the Uptown, to do what you can," Zipperer said. "If 150,000 Chicagoans each donated $10, we could close on the building tomorrow."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (part two)

(Continued)
Often cited as a pivotal piece in the redevelopment of the Uptown neighborhood, the Uptown Theatre is the country's largest freestanding theatre building in terms of square footage. Built in 1925 and designed by famed Chicago architects Rapp & Rapp, the Uptown Theatre was one of the crown jewels of the national Balaban & Katz movie palace empire. Shuttered since 1981, the Uptown has been listed as one of "America's Most Endangered Historic Places" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places and the Illinois Historic Structures Survey and is protected as a Chicago Landmark.

The Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation created in March 2001 to purchase and restore the Uptown Theatre to its former prominence. Comprised of professionals with backgrounds in business administration, finance, theatre, and community development, the group's efforts have given life to the most credible effort yet to save the shuttered theatre. On July 27, 2001, Albert I. Goodman, on behalf of the Edith-Marie Appleton Foundation, kicked off the drive to renovate the historic Uptown Theatre with a generous gift of $1 million and a pledge of continuing support.

For more information on the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts or to make a donation, call (773) 561-5700 or visit www.uptowntheatrechicago.com.

-30- *******

I live in Melbourne,Australia and I sincerely hope the Uptown Theatre can be saved.I have not yet visited Chicago,the closest being New York in 1999.It is important for future generations to be able to see these great theatres.Not one of today's modern complexes comes any where near the beauty of the great picture palaces and all efforts to save as many as possible should be eagerly pursued at all costs.

I was very disappointed to see one such theatre,the Ambassador in St.Louis disappear five years ago.

A reply to: graememcbain

Thank you for wishing the Uptown well. Luckily it has both city landmark and national register protections ... and its owners, staff and volunteers keep additional damage to a minimum. Its future remains uncertain but not imminently threatened by anything different than it has endured since closing in 1981.

To stay in touch, please subscribe to Uptown Adviser via the web site http://www.uptowntheatre.com

NAME-A-SEAT in the Uptown Theatre!

For the person who has everything, here's a unique holiday gift idea! Help celebrate the diversity and vitality of the arts by endowing a seat in the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts.

For as little as $500, you can dedicate a new seat in the renovated theatre to yourself, a loved one, favorite artist, or arts champion. Seat endowments are available in all theatre sections:

Orchestra: $2,500
Mezzanine: $500

With your tax-deductible donation, a plaque measuring 2.5" high by 4.5" wide, with a two-line 48-character dedication, will be affixed to the arm of the seat. Additional space for a 25-character line acknowledging your donation will also be included on the plaque.

To reserve your seat now, click here: http://www.uptowntheatrechicago.com/index.html?page=seat
Or, call 773-561-5700.

NOSTALGIC GALA TO BENEFIT UPTOWN THEATRE GROUP

CHICAGO (February 19, 2003)

The not-for-profit Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts (UTCA) announces 'Bring Back the Brilliance,' a gala benefit, Friday, March 21, at 7 pm at Northwestern School of Law, Thorne Auditorium, located at 375 E. Chicago Avenue. Tickets for the evening are $75 per person or $125 per couple. For reservations call 773-561-5700. Proceeds from the event, which will include a vintage fashion show, live swing music, light fare and cash bar, will support programming and operational expenses for the UTCA during the year.

The evening will commence with a reception in the lobby with hors d'oeuvres and live swing music provided by Speakeasy Entertainment. The main attraction will be an elaborately staged vintage fashion show assembled by producer, director, and award-winning designer William T. Buster. Showcasing spectacular American fashions from 1925 to 1963, the garments recall the glamorous styles of Hollywood's Golden Age, paying tribute to the great history of the legendary Uptown Theatre. The collection consists of evening wear, daywear, outerwear, hats, furs, jewelry, lingerie, and bridal fashions. Following the fashion show there will be dancing in the lobby, with Speakeasy Entertainment playing a variety of classic big-band and disco favorites from the heyday of the Uptown Theatre.

Businesses or individuals that are interested in sponsorship opportunities for this high-visibility gala event should contact the UTCA at (773) 561-5700.

Often cited as a pivotal piece in the redevelopment of the Uptown neighborhood, the Uptown Theatre is the country's largest freestanding theatre building in terms of square footage. Built in 1925 and designed by famed Chicago architects Rapp & Rapp, the Uptown Theatre was the crown jewels of the national Balaban & Katz movie palace empire. Shuttered since 1981, the Uptown has been listed as one of 'America's Most Endangered Historic Places' by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places, the Illinois Historic Structures Survey, and is protected as a Chicago Landmark.

The Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation created in March 2001 to purchase and restore the Uptown Theatre to its former prominence. Comprised of professionals with backgrounds in business administration, finance, theatre, and community development, the group's efforts have given life to the most credible effort yet to save the neglected theatre. Upon restoration, the theatre's physical space will be used to present a broad spectrum of programming designed to entertain and educate the diverse people who live in the Uptown neighborhood and the surrounding region, and will become a world-class center for the arts.

For more information on the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, visit www.uptowntheatrechicago.org.

-30-

The building is unfortunately a mess. Water damage and building engineering problems have caused a steady deterioration of the property in a neighborhood that is steadily starting to come around. The City of Chicago has it's sites set on the Rivera theater across the street to spend it's money on to renovate. None of the groups that have made attempts to buy the theater have gotten their act together.

There is a scaffold around the theater now. Before long you will see and Omega or National Wrecking sign on it and they will quickly finish the job that was started when the building was first abandoned without heat.

A response to: jezmundv

True, the building has been closed since 1981 and is in need of renovation. But what, if I may inquire with all due respect, do you know of its engineering? It is engineered for all time and maintenance continues ...

To my knowledge the building is kept secure and viable by its present private owners. Heat is provided on winter's coldest days when needed. All is not lost!

It remains protected by local and national landmark laws. It has a large constituency on many levels. True, no recent prospect has consummated a purchase or renovation. That doesn't mean it won't happen or that prospective investors are not interested and working. State and local leaders have expressed interest and support again and again.

I believe it will be renovated to serve the public through entertainment of some kind. Stay tuned.

Please view uptowntheatre.com and subscribe to Uptown Adviser via http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uptownadviser/ for up to date info.

There was a recent article that summarized the financial mismanagement at the organization set up to renovate the Uptown. This includes a director running off after charging up a storm using organization credit cards; the resignation of the next director after only 6 months (Zipperer); a top heavy staff of 8 (what do they do all day); the excessive use of a $1 million donation; the failure of one after the other of fundraisers (including to auction off a used Jaguar that was the "property" of the missing director)-bottom line, it seems like if the Uptown is to be saved, it needs a radically new direction. The latest plan seems slightly off (to purchase rental properties adjacent to the theatre to gain the rental income). Uptown is still a slightly seedy neighborhood, so I am not sure how much income will come from renting (currently, it appears the spaces are empty to begin with). At this point, I don't see how progress can be made to save the theatre. Shame!

From the April 9, 2003 column of David Roeder in the Chicago Sun Times:

"Also, developer Paul Warshauer, past chairman of the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, said he forced the group to oust him because of his complaints over its practices. The nonprofit organization wants to buy and renovate the Uptown Theatre at 4816 N. Broadway. It has burned through nearly $1 million with little to show for it.

Warshauer said that despite what the group's leader said in this space last week, it has squandered $250,000 by not closing a contract to purchase the theater. There also are questions about $30,000 the group collected when it raffled a Jaguar, a prize it does not own and has yet to bestow."

Here is the original column that provides the background to my post on April 4, 2003, from David Roeder, columnist for the Chicago Sun Times:

"UPTOWN CALAMITY: The nonprofit Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts is making progress toward its goal of raising $5 million to buy and refurbish the glorious Uptown Theatre, 4816 N. Broadway. So said Carol Jean Carlson, the group's chief executive. The group has said that for two years now, even as it has burned through almost $1 million of benefactor Albert Goodman's money, while the 4,381-seat theater remains vacant. Carlson said up to $100,000 was squandered by a former chief executive now on the lam.

Then there was the former chief executive's replacement, who quit and claimed the group owed him $10,000. And now there's a dispute with a former chairman of the organization, developer Paul Warshauer, who was dumped from the board. Carlson said a lawsuit will be filed against Warshauer for misdeeds she wouldn't specify. "He was removed for cause,'' was all she would say.

Warshauer could not be reached. Carlson said the group has spent $250,000 as a down payment for the theater and $400,000 on consultants for architectural and environmental studies. She cites that as progress. But with the group showing scant ability to acquire and manage the property, it sounds more like the Uptown Theatre has become a cash cow for insiders. "Money before performance" seems to be the motto. The city has acted aggressively to force sales of blighted property. It's time it saves the Uptown."

I really hope that something is being done to save this place, it could be a true Gem, a great theater of the Nation.

The scaffolding around the Uptown Theatre came down today. The scaffolding folks have not been paid and a judge ordered it removed. The case lingers in building court with the City of Chicago searching for the legal owner. The owner is bankrupt. (FYI: He is not bankrupt because of this project.) The UTCA mentioned earlier in this posting (Morrison, Zipperer, Carlson, et al.) faces civil and criminal charges and has squandered over one million dollars without putting a dime into the building! What a mess. Folks: This could mark an exciting new chapter in the history of this magnificent movie palace. The not for profit groups that have tried to buy it have failed. Perhaps a new approach to operating a theatre this size is necessary. We believe that we have the answer. Call Paul with the Uptown Performance Centre, LLC at (773) 202-1010 for further information and for a unique investment opportunity.

What a nice theatre, definitely a favorite.

Any updates?

Mark:

Updates are available online and via email at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uptownadviser/

http://www.uptownadviser.com

http://www.uptowntheatre.com

Hello,
I've lived in Uptown for 3 years now and have been very interested in the preservation of the Uptown for all of that time. I have no way to know how I may help you in this but am hoping that there is something I can do. I will check back here to see if there are any posts, and am looking forward to talking with you.

JMass:

Great! Please sign up via

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uptownadviser/

and read the most recent message, including "What you can do."

I will be in Chicago for a week in early March. Is it safe to assume if I go to the Uptown, There is no way to see inside?

Mark:

The Uptown has been closed since 1981. Several special events, tours and movie locations have happened there by special permission in the past two decades. However, it remains closed to the public, for sale, and at issue in building and foreclosure courts.

If you want to see the interior, I would suggest getting the special Uptown edition of Marquee magazine from Theatre Historical Society of America (THSA), http://www.historictheatres.org It contains a lot of stunning vintage 1925 views, and explains the building's importance.

If you were to visit Chicago in April, I would suggest the following tour, which is hosted by the Chicago Office of Toursim/City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. You can't beat it.

* April 17. Visit three of the city's beloved theatrical gems: the Auditorium Theatre, the Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre and the Aragon Ballroom. Historian Joseph DuciBella takes you behind the scenes and provides a backstage look at the lives of the people who designed these magnificent buildings and the productions that once played there.

http://www.chgocitytours.com/index.html

In lieu of an April visit and tour, I would suggest getting the THSA Chicago Conclave edition of Marquee magazine and doing your own tour, based on the theatres and addresses listed therein. The magazine covers more than 20 of Chicago's best remaining theatres.

Hi, thanks for the link to the yahoo site. I read the posting, but would like to know is there a time/place where people meet in person? I'm not a huge fan of message boards.

Yes. Let's not clutter up Cinema Treasures any more.

Uptown Adviser is not a message board. It is a newsletter/mailing list. It will advise of any opportunities, events, etc. You may also contact volutneers directly via email, uptown.enteract@rcn.com, or by voicemail, (773) 250-7665.

Until such time there is funding for stabilization, or a viable prospect of some kind, there is really no point in getting people excited. Depending on how the building is reused and to what degree it is renovated, the project is easily a $40 million venture.

Many Friends of the Uptown will be participating in the Feb. 15 show at the CENTRAL PARK, Chicago. See Events for details.

I live in the neighborhood and went to a recent court case for the Uptown. Finally, the City of Chicago has ordered a "Critical Examinination of the Uptown Theatre." (In Building Court) It seems that the group "holding title" is forced to do some real work on the theatre's exterior. I heard that an engineering firm had been retained and must start work soon. This may be the first time any group in the last 20 years has put any real money into the building constructively. What happened to all those groups trying to save the theatre? Looks like no postings since February on this site. Have we missed something?

Probably the most spectacular theatre I've been in, and I've been inside hundreds. I grew up going to the Uptown theatre despite having to take two buses to get there. The last time I was inside the Uptown it was just a shell of its former self. I saw the inside of the theatre for the last time on the very day it made the switch from English to Spanish films. It had been purchased by the family that owned the Peoples theatre. Their 12 year old son gave me quite an extensive tour. All the huge oil paintings along the staircases had been removed and the auditorium had been painted completely black.
The Chicago Tribune magazine section from April 25, 1993, did a great article with pictures about the Uptown theatre, titled, "A Movie Palace In Search Of A Happy Ending". Fortunately, its still standing but I doubt the ending will be happy. I think it'd cost a 100 million to restore it back to its original glory. The Tribune (at the time of printing of this article) list the Uptown as "the country's largest theatre in square feet"

I think the City of Chicago needs to get behind the Uptown restoration.The Uptown is the perfect midsize venue for concerts.Maybe the City should have a chat with Clear Channel who operate and book theatres like the Wiltern in LA and Warfield in San Francisco.The current Mayor helped get the ball rolling for the restoration of the Oriental and the Palace to help revitalize the Loop, the restoration of the Uptown could help the Uptown district as well.The longer the City waits the more expensive the project will become. I think the Uptown could be restored for $30 Million. The theatre was never divided or altered.The City should at least spend the money to stabalize the building regardless of who owns it.brucec

Some fairly recent interior images of the long-abandoned Uptown can be seen here.
Bruce, unfortunately, the Uptown neighborhood has had for decades a dicey reputation (which is slowly improving as gentrification slowly creeps into that long depressed neighborhood), and it already has two decent-sized popular live venues, the Riviera Theatre and the Aragon Ballroom which are both used for rock concerts. There has been some talk by opponents of restoring the Uptown about the need of another live venue in Uptown, especially one that's considerably larger than the Riv or the Aragon. Still, to see one of the city's greatest movie palaces just sitting there, boarded up and falling into ruin is really sad.

Perhaps it is time for a "Summit Meeting" on the fate of the Uptown. Does the city really want to save the theatre? If SO, what do we do to help? If NOT, then tear it down and end the theatre's misery. Does anyone know who REALLY owns the theatre? Why can't the Alderman call for a special public meeting to gather input? What of all those groups hovering over the theatre? Can they bury the hatchet amd meet in the same room for once? By the way, Bryan K., those are great photos of the interior. How old are they? Who took them?

(In an answer to the above comment, the theatre is not in "misery." It is closed and in need of a renovation and reuse. The building is privately owned by Lunn Partners, of Chicago. While grassroots volunteer efforts like Friends of the Uptown are helpful and well-intentioned, the scope of the Uptown project requires support, cooperation and funding well beyond their imagined scope. "Friends," for example, is a volunteer advocacy organization. They assist in promotion of the building. They do not portend to have the solution nor do they take donations for a privately owned building. The challenge is complex. The solution will have to be a well-organized, well-funded organization that cracks the riddle of what entertainment the building can serve and how a large-scale renovation can be paid for.)

Friends of the Uptown
P.O. Box 409472
Chicago, IL 60640
Email: uptown.enteract@rcn.com
Web site: http://www.uptowntheatre.com

***

For release Aug. 18, 2004

New ‘Faces of the Uptown Theatre’ Calendar Released Online
Free publication a gift to fans and historians of Chicago
architecture

CHICAGO - “Faces of the Uptown Theatre,” the first calendar
published by Chicago’s Friends of the Uptown, was released
today in a free downloadable format by visiting the Web site
www.uptowntheatre.com The four-color, 2005 calendar’s intent
is to launch celebration of the Uptown Theatre’s 80th
anniversary (Aug. 18, 2005) while increasing public awareness
about the renovation and reuse potential of the endangered
historic building.

Subtitled “Our history in terra cotta, plaster and people,”
the calendar pays tribute to the architectural gargoyles of
the Uptown’s elaborate Spanish Baroque-styled ornamentation
and to the international constituency of people who have
voiced support for renovating the Uptown Theatre. The
calendar is free, volunteers said, so that it will be shared
widely and will reward fans of Chicago’s history and
architecture who have supported many city landmarks through
memberships, donations, pledges, banquets and tours.

The Uptown Theatre, Chicago, 4816 N. Broadway, is the
nation’s largest freestanding vintage theater building.
Opened as Balaban & Katz movie palace in 1925, it featured
custom stage shows, orchestras, organ music and silent
films. Before being closed in 1981, the venue also served as
a cinema, a television event broadcast venue, a rock-n-roll
palace, a movie location (“Home Alone II,” “Backdraft,” “I
Love Trouble” and “Soul Survivor”), a Chicago architectural
and history tour destination (Chicago Architecture
Foundation, Chicago Neighborhood Tours and Theatre Historical
Society of America) and a special events space (banquets,
benefit dances and one wedding). Designed by the Chicago
architecture firm of C.W. and George L. Rapp, the Uptown
Theatre shares a design and use heritage with the surviving
Central Park, Riviera, Chicago, Oriental and Gateway theater
buildings, all of which Rapp and Rapp designed for Balaban &
Katz.

Friends of the Uptown is a volunteer advocacy
organization that was founded in 1998. Volunteers do
promotions and research in the effort to preserve the
building but do not solicit donations for it. The group
operates as an outreach activity of Landmark Uptown Theatre
Corp., an Illinois not-for-profit organization that owns the
Uptown Theatre’s unique bronze and crystal chandeliers. All
of the fixtures that were not stolen or sold before this
arrangement were removed and stored in anticipation of the
building’s renovation.

The Uptown Theatre building remains privately owned and is
awaiting a renovation and reuse project for entertainment of
some kind. You may learn more about the Uptown Theatre,
Chicago, and Friends of the Uptown via the Web site
http://www.uptowntheatre.com or by calling (773) 250-7665.

# # #

There is a new online signature drive regarding the Uptown Theatre. It is intended to increase awareness about the renovation and reuse potential of an important historic landmark and to document the public support that exists for its use as an entertainment venue. It is meant to be a friendly petition that allows signers to share their memories of and hopes for the Uptown Theatre. I welcome you all to sign it and pass along the link to your friends and family. Even if you don't live in Chicago, consider signing the petition and let everyone know your thoughts regarding historic theatre preservation. If you have a success story about the restoration of a vintage theatre in your own hometown we'd love to hear it.

If you are interested in a hard copy version to help collect signatures of your neighbors who don't have internet access, let me know. Just drop me an e-mail at uptowntheatre@compassrose.org

Thanks, Joanne

PETITION LINK:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/uptown04/petition.html

So... this may seem a bit out there but, has anyone looked into a major promoter like House of Blues or Clear Channel for a funding source in this endeavor? It seems that there should be a clear and defined business plan in hand derived from past experience with the venue, yet there seems to be a real uncertainty as to what you’re going to use the venue for after it is restored. Perhaps the reality is that the demographics of the area won’t support a venue of this size. If this is the case it will have to relay on public funding to survive. It may be possible that a combination of public funding say… to buy and renovate in addition to corporate funding to maintain and promote its activity may be an appropriate (and only) means of survival.

It is easy to see how this kind of thing can let the wind out of your sail… Don’t give up! It ain’t that much money… Find a buyer that you can work with, or go door to door to raise the money to buy it back. Someone who apparently has no intentions doing any thing with it need no longer own it.

Perhaps approaching the current owner with a viable business plan could spark a renewed interest in the theater. If you can’t spark an interest you should be able to buy it cheep…

If the current owners are not making any money from the place and nobody is offering any real money to buy it then it’s not much more than a land mark in need of repair.

Sounds like a buyers market to me.

"the venue also served as a cinema, a television event broadcast venue, a rock-n-roll palace, a movie location (“Home Alone II,” “Backdraft,” “I Love Trouble” and “Soul Survivor”), a Chicago architectural and history tour destination (Chicago Architecture
Foundation, Chicago Neighborhood Tours and Theatre Historical Society of America) and a special events space (banquets, benefit dances and one wedding)"

Bryan, any news lately on things at the Uptown, I was going through some of my pics and came upon one of the Uptown. I see that there has been no new posts since August of 2004. Just wondering if there was anything new.

I also noticed that the last update on the official website was during April, 2004.

There is NOTHING official about anyone's web site! That is why on Cinema Treasures it says, "Related Websites." I should know. The Theatre is in foreclosure and business people are trying to save it as we speak. I will talk to anyone about the theatre! (630) 221-0667.

There is an article about the Uptown Theatre published in this week's edition of INSIDE, a north Chicago newspaper.

http://www.insideonline.com/site/epage/22013_162.htm

The petition mentioned can be found at www.compassrose.org

A receiver/developer for the Uptown? Man oh man is THAT a conflict of interest! Controversy is written all over it but Mr. Holsten is a good man. I met him over a year ago and he does have the best interest of Uptown in mind. Let's hope he calls a summit and gathers all those who wish to participate in one room to get the place open again! It can be done. Let's work together!

It seems to me that if the Uptown existed in New York or Los Angeles it would have little trouble generating the revenue needed to restore the theatre to its original glory and make the owner money. Why is it that in the third largest urban/suburban market in the country that such a glorious theatre is unable to do so? I believe that a deeper look at the entertainment industry as a whole is needed. There are no major movie production companies based in Chicago. There are no major record production companies based in Chicago. All signs point to a revenue stream that flows out of Chicago. If there was a company in Chicago that made millions of dollars entertaining the nation and the world, much like there is in Los Angeles and New York, then there would be a larger pool of donors and dollars to draw from in order to restore a theatre like the Uptown. It seems to me that the only way to restore the crown jewel that is the Uptown to it's original grandure is to build the crown. Chicago needs to be an engine driving and competing in the entertainment business. This is something that can only come with an acute sense of organization, and a brilliant team of loyal and creative artists that are ready to commit themselves to the work of bringing Chicago to its potential. Until then the Uptown theatre will rest as an icon demonstrating the enourmous potential of the Windy City and the sad reality of just how difficult it is to capture that wind and make our city sail. Peace. N Visible Man.

N Visible Man you have identified the solutions for a successful restroation/renovation for the Uptown: multiple income streams, a strong and experienced management team, solid financing, lucrative and appropriate naming rights, use of historic tax credits, TIF funding and strong popular support! Many of us have worked on the Uptown project and look forward to a new group who might take us forward. I always stand by ready to work on the proejct with whomever can help restore it to its former glory!

Such a beautiful building. To see it sit empty and left slowly to decay is truly heart wrenching. I have also noticed new graffiti on the exterior wall. At least this place should be locked up and sealed tight to prevent further damage!

There was a night--almost 25 years ago--when the old Uptown rocked like no place I'd ever seen before or since. Bruce Sprngsteen and the E Street Band played two shows there on a tour where the rest of the country was getting shows in hockey arenas. From the opening notes of "Born To Run" (yeah--opened with Born To Run) to the encore of Rosalita (where the balcony literally was swaying a foot), you never heard or felt such mayhem. What a concert. What a night.

Not just Bruce--The Dead, Gabriel, J. Geils...saw them all there. This was the place. The Uptown.

It could happen again. Come on, somebody buy the place and fix it up. It could rock all over again and last forever.

Hey, Mark. It's not like we and many others haven't tried! Here are some concerns: a. The building is in title limbo; the courts and banks must sort out who can have clear title and not become embroiled in litigation from Day One. b. The city wants IMMEDIATE repairs to the exterior so that pieces do not kill people; that costs $500K. c. What the heck will go on INSIDE the theatre after its open; in other words what professionals will we use to create music, theatre, community programs so that the theatre will generate enough cash to keep the place open? d. where will all the customers park? e. Who will work with the Aldemran ansd help apply for the TIF f. Who will apply for historic tax credits? g. What world class architect and engineering firm can do the work and be credible with all parties? h. Who can come up with $2 mil in cash to start out this process? I have answers for all of the issues and questions "a-g." Call me if you or othere want to help with "h." Paul Warshauer, (630) 221-0667.

I just looked at an interior photo of this theatre and my mouth fell open. It certainly has an ornate lobby!

And the decorative facade is truly beautiful!

While I agree that the Uptown is one of the most spectacular theaters ever built, there is one major obstacle(in addition to the above mentioned problems) to restoration of the theater. If, when you pass by the theater take just a moment and check out how the theater is sited on its lot. The back wall to the stagehouse is parallel to Lawrence Ave. There is not loading dock, nor anywhere to place one. This one detail is one of the major stumbling blocks to finding any use for the theater. Live theatrical performances (Phantom of the Opera travels with about 30 semis) or performers that would be able to fill a theater the size of the Uptown travel with large amount of sets, props, costumes, etc. The simple truth is that it would very difficult for any show coming in to park a number of semi trailers on either Lawrence or the street behind the theater(Magnolia?)and unload/load. Now if someone can solve that problem, the theater might just have a chance.

One other thing, if any has seen Home Alone 2, you might just recognize that the toy store in the film was actually the lobby of the Uptown!

I just watched a program on the discovery channel called urban explorers. Part of the show was on the Uptown Theatre, It was quite interesting!

I saw the same program. The hosts of the program toured most of the theater including the auditorium,lobby and basement

I noticed recently that scaffolding went up over the facade of the Uptown Theatre. Anyone know what work is being planned?

Hey Patrick,
They are doing stabilzation tests on the building, taking key pieces of terra cotta and brickwork and analzing them to make sure the structure is still sound. I have faith the tests will prove that it is. Buildings from that era could withstand a hurricane, due to the "stress tests" that were done to prove the balcony could hold the weight of the patrons. They used sandbags weighing a lot more to be safe. I was a kid in the 60's and to all the theaters on the northside and am saddened only a few survive.
I am also surprised that the new development at the former Wilson CTA yards will include apts, stores.....AND a MULTIPLEX CINEMA????..What about taking the Uptown and doing it there??? I had an idea for YEARS on keeping the lobby, the main floor and stage (movie premieres?) and splitting the balcony gently into 3 or 4 but still large theaters due to its immense size. The wall that would separate/close off the main floor theater from the balcony cinemas would have a VERY LARGE artist's painting of the balcony seats, maybe with patrons sketched in for effect, like it was still there..Cute? Or not do-able?
The fact that we have NO person here that wants to spread the wealth and save this palace sickens me....HELLO PRITZKERS...HELLO OPRAH....HELLO CROWN FAMILY....HELLO MICHAEL JORDAN.....remember....you can't take it with you....and who wants the lawyers to get it all???

There will be an Uptown Community Portrait taking place in front of the Uptown Theatre on August 20th and the more people to show up the better. It is sponsored by Friends of the Uptown, UpCorp, the Uptown Chicago Commission, and Compass Rose Cultural Crossroads. Visit www.compassrose.org to read a history of the theatre, see some great photos, and learn more about the August 20th event. If you'd like to help out, drop an e-mail to info@compassrose.org

Congrats to the hundreds of us who posed for the "Community Portrait" yesterday on the theatre's 80th birthday. Early estimates indicate that more people posed for this photo that the one in 2000. Hooray for Andy Pierce and the other volunteers who did the hard work to set up this fine photo op. We all had fun sharing stories and updates on the "last great unfinished movie palace left on earth!" I hope that some momemtum was created to continue the search for a viable team to "take the old girl" to the next step. How about an attempt to open the lobby first? How much will that cost? For the record who is on the actual title of the property now?

I've been reading the posts on the Uptown and I'm really wondering whether or not restoring this old theatre would be economically viable. Don't get me wrong. I love old theatres. I have memories of this place too! But I'm for restoration where it makes economic sense. The following is an excerpt from one of my posts on the DuPage Theatre and it asks the big "ifs".

1) IF the building isn't in such disrepair that restoring it becomes unfeasible.
2) IF the project can gain enough finanical support, be it public, private, or some combination thereof.
3) IF the theatre, once restored, can generate enough bookings (be they concerts, plays, films) so that the place doesn't sit empty most of the time.
4) IF the theatre can generate enough revenue from these various events that it isn't swimming in red ink (a friend of mine, who once worked for a museum said "The funny thing about non-profits is that they still have to earn a profit!")

I'm sure I'm missing many more.

The big question I have here is who (and what) would play here?

1) If you're an act that usually plays at the clubs (Counting Crows, Wallflowers, Carbon Leaf), you'll play at House Of Blues, Riveria, or the Aragon.

2) If you're an act that usually plays at the theatres (Sheryl Crow, Wilco), you'll play at the Rosemont Theatre, Chicago Theatre, Auditorium, etc.

3) If you're an act that plays the arenas, then you'll play at The United Center or the Allstate Arena.

4) Broadway plays can go to the Auditorium, the Oriental, the Cadillac Palace, The Schubert. One person mentioned that the stage door empties out onto Lawrence Avenue and there would be no place to park the huge semi trucks that these shows require.

Next is the parking issue. It's bad enough normally in this area. It's worse when the Aragon or the Riviera (or heaven forbid, both) have a show. I lived in this area for a year and many's the night I had to park over a mile away.

We've all heard how there is going to be a new multi-plex in the area. It will be on the site of the old CTA Wilson Yards and I think Wilson Yards may be the name of the new place. Here is where an opportunity may have been missed. What should have been done was to demolish the theatre part of the Uptown. The foyer and facade on Broadway Avenue would be retained. Then a huge parking deck could be built (and no, it would not have to be ugly) with the new multi-plex theatre above it. The patrons could reach the auditoriums from the retained and refurbished foyer via escalators, ala the 600 North Michigan Theatre. Or, the parking deck could be below ground and the new cinemas on top.

Yes, the Green Mill would be retained in this scheme. In case you were wondering!

I don't think the Uptown has survived this long to have the theatre torn down for a multiplex. The downtown loop is in the process of restoring the last unrestored theatre in the loop the Shubert(Majestic,La Salle Bank). The City should next restore the Uptown with major tax credits, grants from the federal government. There are a lot of talented people in Chicago and I am sure as the years go on the demand for theatre space will increase. During the last decade Broadway's theatre disrtict went from 30 active broadway theatres to 40 acitive broadway theatres when the Henry Miller opens in the next few years. The Uptown is one of the largest theatres in the country along with the Detroit Fox,St. Louis Fox,Boston Wang,Atlanta Fox,and New York's Radio City Music Hall.I think the City of Chicago has to take the lead in order to get others interested in the theatre. The Uptown could be used for concerts,movies,weddings,graduations and a film production site like the Los Angeles Theatre. The area around the Uptown is improving.If a multiplex had to built use the theatre as part of the multiplex by adding 14 screens on to the existing theatre.The Uptown could be used for both live stage and movies. The city of Chicago would again have to take the lead. The City could try to get a major corpoarate sponsor such as the Boeing Corp.brucec

Extensive repair work is taking place on the outside of the Uptown as we speak. Does anybody know the full story?

Paul Warshauer: weren't you ejected from the Uptown Theatre Board in disgrace? Why are you asking questions about this building?

Dear Life: As usual you are not in on the whole story. Hardly anyone really knows lately. It appears that anyone who touches the magnificent Uptown Theatre ends up on fire or in trouble. Here is the Cliff Notes Version of leadership for one organization that came close: The Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, NFP. They started out with $1,000,000 from Albert Goodman's Foundation. Michael Morrison, Mark Zipperer and Carol Carlson came before me as "Chairman/CEOs." None of them could buy or restore the theatre although they really did try. Seriously. I was duly elected by the UTCA board as a member then elected Chairman. I served and worked day to day in the office (and was paid for my work) from October, 2002 - February, 2003. In March of 2003, I too was voted, "off the island," too. Now the UTCA is in shambles (do they really exist?) as are lots of other people and organizations like the Lunn Partners (in Chapter 11), Rudy Mulder (in Chapter 13) Johnny Terzakis, Louie Wolf, Kenny Goldberg, Jerry Michaelson of JAM and so on. Two banks,Associated Bank and Parkway Bank are both in foreclosure on the theatre, and the list goes on! One board member lost a significant amount of money as he personally signed his own name for a Jaguar and then allowed a raffle to occur to raise money. Disaster. Now about the theatre: Peter Holstein (a nice local developer) is the "trustee" for the City of Chicago and specifically for Alderman Mary Anne Smith. This is a good thing. Work is ongoing and in progress. The local firm, Klein and Hoffman are the engineers performing work on the building right now using Mark II Masonry Company. For the record, through my contacts at Turner Construction, I brought these two qualified firms to the table. Thank you. I am humbled by this project and agree to volunteer any time and where to help efforts to open it. Now where does one sign up and with whom?

Paul, why don't you start your noble effort by paying the legal judgments against you pertaining to your (ahem) work at the Uptown. I think you still owe in the thousands. Why don't you square yourself by paying your debts first, and THEN you can go back to being the humble guy you pretend to be?

http://www.annoyanceproductions.com/lawsuit.html

Why is this article posted on this site? This is truly remarkable. So many "allegations and enemies." Perhaps my story should be made into a movie starring say, Richard Dreyfus or Danny DeVito. Why bring up all this stuff on this specific site? It has very little to do with this theatre's posting but what the heck. So much misinformation here. So many lies, but hey: this is America. Say what you like and don't check your facts! Assassinate someone's character while remaining anonymous but what the hell. It's America. OK. Here's a quick fact check for the people who really matter and proof you cannot always believe what you read in the newspapers or from what is written on these blogs. Mike Novelli is the President of GVI and had nothing to do with any of your allegations other than for the Wheaton, Zoe and Lawford Theatres. Leave him out of the rest or are you too ignorant to recognize that other corporations have come and gone without him. 1. GVI paid all workers at the Lawford Theatre in Havana except for two who are being investigated for theft. 2. We did NOT accept donation money at the Wheaton except for the outstanding fundraiser set up by Todd Plagman and many others for wounded veteran Sgt. Joel Gomez. This was a fundraiser that we all produced last January and audited then turned over ALL money to Community Bank. 3. I like smarter people than me because I learn from them. I don't see to many on this site however. 4. I am proud that we sold calendars from the lobby of the Portage Park Theatre. No one else was helping us. (See many other postings about the Portage Park Theatre.) We returned everyone's deposits, by the way, unlike the mess with the Annoyance Theatre company. I have accepted responsibility for the $4K debt personally as I have with the $5K debt for the Uptown Theatre, (Pales). 5. The Henslowe Group was not given the cease and desist order at the Portage. Our tenant, The Universal Church was issued the order for "building without a permit." I had three partners there. Why don't you hound them: Richard Pales, Kevin Miner and Jessica Deans. 6. I am a rather pleasant man who likes cigars, fun people, travel, the theatre and music, and lively discussions about politics and social issues with intelligent witty people.

Paul W: at this point, I don't believe that you can be taken seriously. Perhaps something will eventually change that view. But I doubt it.

Paul F: I have had similar thoughts to yours. I would like to see the entire building restored. It was designed by my family, after all. But there is already so much theatre space in Chicago...and the Uptown is VAST. The New Regal, as most people know, is now sitting idle. Aside from that, where are you going to build a modern stage? I would think it would require an underpass for Lawrence Avenue...a monumental undertaking. So I figure it's not a bad idea to restore the grand lobby and foyers of the Uptown, then build a modern multiplex and parking deck in the auditorium shell. You could even retain design features in the multiplex. I would think some other uses, like retail could also be incorported. Now that we are talking about it, I am surprised that nobody has created such a plan to date.

Don't get me wrong. I hope someone comes up with a viable way to make the place work as one auditorium. But I have my doubts, especially when I understand that a million-dollar donation was frittered away by the organization trying to bring the building back.

Does anybody know the full story on the current repair work being conducted at the Uptown?

Who are you "Life's too short?" Do you have any experience or work in this field or do you just stir up trouble for others? Do you even know where the million dollars went? It was not all "frittered." The current repair, for the record, has been ordered by the City of Chicago. The "trustee" is Peter Holsten who owns a local development company. The "critical exam" and masonry work is being done by Klein and hoffman, a great engineering firm in Chiago. Call Alderman Mary Ann Smith's office for more details if you wish.

Let me tell you something that everybody already knows, Paul: you have been involved in the misfortunes of this building. You keep asking for my specific identity, ostensibly so that you can hit me with some kind of silly legal action for attacking your character. I don't see the point in that right now. If I get the impression that you are acting in a manner that seriously threatens arguably the greatest Rapp & Rapp building ever constructed, however, you will find out who I am in a big hurry. It is quite evident that there are a lot of people out there who would like a piece of you. My advice: take your "investment opportunites" and get as far away from the Uptown Theatre as you can.

It has been called to my attention that this last statement could be taken as a threat. It is not. I have no intention of causing physical harm to you Paul...although you really should get a gym membership. What I will do is get involved with whatever volunteer organization is working at the Uptown right now, though I don't realistically have the time to do so. I will make sure that your pitiful, self-serving, small-minded antics do not cause this building to be demolished.

The Uptown is a point of family pride, and I'll be damned if I am going to stand by and watch while you jeopardize it's future. Do you think I am an annoyance on this web site Paul? Keep it up.

Dear Life's: How silly you appear. "Threats to me? Your family pride? Get a gym membership?" Sad for you. I will not bring a lawsuit against you. How bizarre of you to think that I care what you say. I will not address anything else to you until you grow up. Now then, to theatre business: There are thousands of us who will do anything to save the Uptown Theatre. Many of us were involved trying to do something REAL to save it. Serving on the UTCA board was an amazing gift for me. I worked hard like all the board members. You were not on it. You do not know how hard all of us worked to save the theatre. The cards were stacked against the theatre after 9/11. Carol, Paul K., Mary Claire, Jay, Marty, and many others worked hard on the UTCA to try to stem the loss of money but alas. No one had the magic formula. No one does even today. The project needs a new focus now and no one appears willing to step forward. Will you? You clearly have no time, money, or political clout. So who can help lead this project? It is so complex, so riddled with politics and financial peril that perhaps it will take the entire "village" (The City of Chicago's best entertainment and business folks) to save it. One think is for sure: It will never be knocked down. So let's try and focus on the THEATRE and not on petty personal attacks.

"So let's try and focus on the THEATRE and not on petty personal attacks" - Paul Warshauer 9/27/05.

Pot calling kettle black - Take 1

WOULD YOU TWO STOP THIS DAMN BICKERING AND GET IT OFF THIS SITE!! FIRST IT WAS ABOUT THE WHEATON GRAND AND NOW THE UPTOWN. The rest of us Cinemaphiles do NOT what to hear about your ongoing feud and namecalling. Take it somewhere else, but NOT here.

Thank you, Mr. Elliott. I agree. No more bickering. Back to the Uptown: I would like to compliment the young artist who did a great job on the calendar found on the Friends of the Uptown website. It is called "Faces of the Uptown" and was originally commissioned by me. The photgrapher is Chris Jackson. At the time he was a student at the Art Institute and came to display his work on the walls of the UTCA. Other students also displayed good photos of the theatre. Can there be some sort of fundraiser for the "Friends" where people submit original photos of the Uptown Theatre?

Anybody have a photo of Paul Warshauer getting kicked off the UTCA board???

How silly I appear? Paul: is anything you say rooted in reality?

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/5231/
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/5744/
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/437/
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1712/

You're right...my comment was SLIGHTLY silly, mainly the part about you joining a gym. Once again you have managed to get me flustered.

I am watching you, and it is not in your best interest to make the assumptions mentioned above. I will get involved if I think you are a serious threat to this theatre. Saying that the Uptown cannot possibly be demolished is not a realistic statement. Considering that you have a legal settlement against you related to this building, and recently filed an indigence motion in connection with legal proceedings, I probably will not have to get involved.

Name a theatre you have restored Paul. Just one. You claim to operate restored theatres far and wide. But nobody in the preservation community seems to know of a single success story.

You still at it? Life and Prowler? You do not know what you are talking about. Surely you must have more important things to do than "Discuss Warshauer". You pull and distort your "assumptions" and the truth for your own agenda. Move on... I am so glad people are watching me. Did you see the Murder Mysteries I did in Wheaton and Naperville (sold out closing night)? Did you see my work at local libraries with kids and parents? Did you see my work at an inner city school when I directed Oklahoma to sold out crowds? Did you see my pirate camp? My work with Cub Scouts? I do not have to tell you or justify all the good things I do but I do cop to those where I can make a difference. This is the UPTOWN Theatre site. Let's discuss the THEATRE! Let the next comments be forward looking. Yes I stand by by assertion that it is nearly impossible to tear the Uptown down; protected on Federal state and local level. on everybody;s radar! Let's discuss that set of facts...

Here is a recent view (September 2005) showing the facade scaffolded with some remedial work in progress (we hope!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2wy/35690316/in/pool-cinemasignage/

Does anyone know if this theater had an organ in it, and whether or not it still exists? Are there any plans to reinstall one?

The Uptown was equipped with a Wurlitzer 4Manuals/28Ranks 'Special' organ. The console, which was decorated and coloured red and gold, was positioned in the right hand corner(when facing the stage) of the orchestra pit. It has been removed from the theatre. That is all I know, so further details would be appreciated if someone knows more....

Thanks for the info, Ken.

Ken's post offers more info about the organ than the Uptown Theatre site does. All they state is that in 1928 a Wurlitzer "Grande" (?) organ was installed. It was removed in 1962. No details are offered as to the disposal of the instrument; whether it went into private hands, another theatre, or if it was broken up for parts.

A 1927 photo depicting the Uptown Theatre organ console can be found here:

http://www.compassrose.org/uptowntheatre/history2.html

The vast UPTOWN is equated to the vast KINGS in Brooklyn in this rare showing, sent to those who signed the CompassRose petition on the UPTOWN:

"The following news blurbs come from the Uptown Adviser, the Friends of the Uptown newsletter (visit their Web site at www.uptowntheatre.com):

For your cinematic pleasure—One Night Only!
Memoirs of a Movie Palace and Uptown Community Portrait 2005
to be screened at Friends/Truman College event
6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, 2005, Truman College

"Memoirs of a Movie Palace" will be screened at Truman College, 1134 W. Wilson Ave., in Uptown. The venue is Novar Hall, where seating is limited. This is a very special screening of a very difficult to find movie. "Uptown Community Portrait 2005," a short cinema verite documentary, will precede the feature film.

"Memoirs," a 1979 independent film, tells the story of a theatre very similar to the Uptown: The LOEW'S KINGS THEATRE, in Brooklyn, N.Y., which also remains closed without a plan for reuse. The film was shot on location as the KINGS was being closed in the late 1970s. If someone had the foresight to shoot a movie in the UPTOWN (minus the Brooklyn accents!), we would have a very similar document, with the same kinds of memories recalled and sentiments expressed.

Your attendance as a "Friend" of the Uptown is important to our efforts and goals. As major stabilization work is ongoing at the theatre building, it is a good time for us to network and get to know each other!

Donations will be accepted in lieu of a fixed admission ticket price. Truman officials said that we may park in any of the adjacent Truman parking lots (driveway located on Broadway through the McJunkin Building). Entrance to the Truman building itself will be through the easternmost doors located on the Wilson Avenue side (north elevation). Staff will direct you from there.

*** "

Does anyone seriously believe at this point that the Uptown will ever be restored or renovated? I don't see it happening. I'll wager that 5 years from now it will still be shuttered and waiting for someone to save it. Or, if the miraculous does occur and it gets renovated, it will fail. How can a 4300 seat movie palace survive in a neighborhood 10 miles from the Loop? Consider how the Chicago Theatre has struggled at times since it reopened in 1986.

The only way I see it surviving is through a radical renovation. The lobby and most of the foyers can be saved and restored. Then, gut the auditorium and make 6 or 8 smaller auditoriums (or is it auditoria?) The only significant problem remaining would be parking, which I assume could be built to the west. Even then, this would be an incredibly risky and expensive venture. No developer wants to touch a mammoth project like the Uptown, with its doubtful business prospects, and be forced to adhere to strick preservation guidelines. I just don't see it making money with a single auditorium. Not in Uptown.

Scott movies are not the future for the Uptown as a primary source of income. It would be a great showcase for concerts of various types with its huge seating capacity. Remember the Oriental and the Palace were not used as theatres for almost 20 years before they were restored. The Chicago had its problems due to the size of its stage for broadway productions. The Chicago has been doing much better since the City sold it to a private group. I think the success of the Loop as an entertainment district will spill over into the Uptown district in the next decade. If the Loew's Paradise in the Bronx and Loew's Jersey can be brought back there is no reason the Uptown can't be brought back. The City of Chicago needs to take the lead in getting this theatre restored. The Uptown stands as the largest unrestored theatre in the Country. The Uptown has struggled to be with us this long it would be a crime for this theatre to be gutted it would be a black eye for the City of Chicago.brucec

Bruce - I hope you're right, but I don't see anything positive from the Loop spilling over all the way to Uptown. The problems with the Uptown are enormous, which is why it sits unused, as it has since 1981. Granted, it's had its share of charlatans that have stalled its progress, but I just don't see a large Broadway-type theatre making it in Uptown. Maybe as a concert venue it will work. That is, if it can manage to find enough acts to keep it in the black. I do agree that this is a case where the City of Chicago will probably need to get involved on the financial side in some way if this $30-$40 million project is to go forward. Anything that can mitigate the huge risk that would otherwise exist for a development firm will be very helpful. The Bronx Paradise and the Loew's Jersey are good arguments, though I wonder how profitable the Paradise will be. Last I heard the Jersey just showed movies, which can't be much of a money maker with one auditorium. No one wants the Uptown back more than I do, but I'll be surprised if it ever happens.

The current 'stabilization' efforts leave me very concerned about the future of the Uptown. In the name of removing terra cotta to preserve it and keep the building structurally stable, the entire pediment has now been removed. It really looks horribly disfigured, and although the city is involved, It could perhaps be grounds for losing its landmark status in the future. On the upside, the grafitti which has otherwise marred the building's appearance for months has been removed, and shouldn't return again since the stablization efforts will allow the scaffolds around the building to be removed, which had allowed the taggers access.

Photos can be seen here of the grafitti on the Uptown that Brian mentioned (these photos are from 2004). I'm suprised to hear about the removal of the pediment. I wonder if it's been put into storage somewhere. I haven't been to Uptown for a while so I haven't seen the theater since it was removed.

I'll try to take a picture this week. In addition to the pediment removal, some of the terra cotta on the corners seems to have been covered in a cement or stucco to keep it from falling. Other sections are being bagged where damaged terra cotta is removed. It's a very, very sad sight to see, although it's perhaps better for the long term. I'm just concerned that it might be following the Sutton and other such new york theatres that have lost landmark status due to facade alterations. The recent uptown advisor emails have included the following footnote.



The ABCs of 'What is going on with the UPTOWN'

Reportedly, the current status of the UPTOWN THEATRE is, in brief:

A. The work, fences, scaffolding and barricades that you see today are part of the continuing exterior stabilization effort. In order to begin remedying the building's deferred maintenance, many bricks and pieces of ornamental terra cotta must be removed and stored for safekeeping. Where parts of the building's facade are removed, the area is strapped and bagged to hold it in place -- and covered to weatherproof it.

B. The work is being done by an engineering firm and a masonry contractor. The project is being overseen by local officials, a circuit court judge and the court-appointed receiver.

C. The privately owned UPTOWN THEATRE building remains closed, vacant, secure and in serious need of significant private investment for it to be renovated as an entertainment venue. No definitive plan or project for the building has been announced. The search for a viable entertainment prospect continues. Several state and local incentives are available—including city tax-increment financing—for a feasible plan that meets civic criteria and expectations for the multi-venued Uptown Square National Register Historic District. Serious inquiries (only) should be directed to local officials, including the alderman, the city planning department, and UPCORP.

Brian:

I know the light fixtures were removed some years ago to protect them from theft. Have they been maintained as a collection for future reinstallation? If they have been sold off, I imagine it will add millions to any restoration scenarios.

There was an organ discussion not long ago. I know that organ components were stored in the office building next door in the 90's, with an eye toward eventual installation...although I think it was a church organ destined for the grand lobby.

http://www.catoe.org/VOX/Archive/APR2002/apr2002pg5.html Here's a CATOE article on the organ.
More at http://www.catoe.org/Uptown.html

Thanks for the links on the Uptown's organ, Brian. I hope the Friends are able to eventually reinstall an organ in the theater, seeing it wouldn't be complete without one.

Hello
I found a list of many of the live performances that occurred at the theater in the 1930's email me for more information.

Dbalaban@balabanandkatzfoundation.com

That's terrific! Is there any way you can fax them over, David? We'll add them to the Uptown Theatre history pages of the Compass Rose site when we do our next update. There is a lot of speculation about who performed during that era; it would be great to see something concrete. Our fax is (773) 913-8047.

http://www.compassrose.org

Direct link to the theatre pages:
http://www.compassrose.org/uptowntheatre/history.html

Hi David Balaban!

Volunteers in Uptown, Chicago read your most recent posting on Cinema Treasures with great interest.

How wonderful it is that you found a list of 1930s performances at the "Balaban & Katz" Uptown Theatre, Chicago! That is the era in which people claim Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington performed here. Maybe your findings will help fill in the gaps!

Is the list something we could share on tours of the neighborhood and with Theatre Historical Society of America archives? We could also add it to the "history" section of the Friends Web site, if you like.

Your familial interest and active support in any aspect of our promotional and advocacy work would be appreciated. There are many opportunities here if you would like to follow up.

Uptown Adviser via http://www.uptowntheatre.com
email: uptown1925@hotmail.com (preferred)
voicemail: (773) 250-7665

the material mentioned is part of a huge donation of long lost documents that the Balaban and Katz foundation received earlier this year. It is in the process of being organized and will be released in part as part of the Balaban and Katz television Documentary that is under way.

I will keep you posted.

David Balaban
Balaban and katz Historical Foundation

David:

Thank you for your kind reply.

Is my understanding correct that the 1930s performance list you mentioned above is no longer available and there is not more information that we should contact you about?

How can we learn more about the Balaban and Katz Foundation? Which state is the foundation registered in, how may we access its archives for the purpose of research for nonprofit Chicago-area tours, and how should we contact its leadership?

The book, the TV documentary and the foundation all sound very exciting. Generations of entertainment-seeking Chicagoans are now unfamiliar with the Balaban & Katz name, although they may be enjoying some of the surviving venues under successor owners and operators!

Again, your familial interest and active support in any aspect of the Friends of the Uptown promotional and advocacy work would be appreciated. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you toward some common goals soon.

(Note: You may want to check your email account. All emails to Dbalaban@balabanandkatzfoundation.com have been bounced back.)

Uptown Adviser via http://www.uptowntheatre.com
email: uptown1925@hotmail.com (preferred)
voicemail: (773) 250-7665

Dear Uptown adviser and the Cinema Treasures community
our email system is working fine. The list of performances at the Chicago Balaban and Katz theaters is in almost perfect shape.
We have received 30 inquires to our email address today alone.
dbalaban@balabanandkatzfoundation.com
Perhaps the problem is at your computer. We are a little old fashioned If you continue to have trouble with your email , may I suggest you drop us a friendly note to
Balaban and Katz Historical Foundation
PO BOX 1962
Bloomfield NJ 07003

stay tuned
David Balaban

How can we learn more about the Balaban and Katz Foundation? Which state is the foundation registered in, how may we access its archives for the purpose of research for nonprofit Chicago-area tours, and how should we contact its leadership?

As stated above, the collection is not currently available for public access, as it is being stabilized and archived.
May I suggest you drop us a friendly note for more information:

David Balaban President
Balaban and Katz Historical Foundation
PO BOX 1962
Bloomfield NJ 07003

thanks for your continued interest
David Balaban
Balaban and Katz Historical Foundation

Dear Uptown Theatre fans.
Im new to this group. although Ive had
my eyes on this wonderful palace for quite
sometime now. Just wondering a few things?
1. Are there any real proposals for its renovation?
2. Does anyone know what the cost of such a project would run?
3. Why has this historic landmark sat for some 24 years unused?
4. Are there any non for profit groups taking donations for its rehab?

I will reply as to a reason that this beautiful palace has "sat for some 24 years unused." It is difficult enough these days to successfully program a 200-seat theatre, much less one with some 4000 seats! It was bought at one point by a "land banker" to use a polite euphemism for a slum lord, who stoped paying the utilities and just let winter/summer heat and thaw take its toll on the building, such that there are now many hundreds of thousands of dollars needed for just interior repairs alone, and therefore the space is a long way from being safe or desireable to open to the public, sad to say.

Sounds like bad politics too me.
Im sure if the theatre was on Michigan ave.
or State street this ongoing post would be but
a fraction of its size.
Thanks Jim.

Huh?

www.chicagosuptowntheater.com

We've just updated our Web site with photos of the Uptown Theatre (including an exterior shot of the recent stabilization work) as well as old advertisements of the Uptown from its opening day. There is also information on a new documentary about the theatre that should be ready in January, and a link for more information about David Balaban's new book on Chicago Movie Palaces. Finally, there's a photo of the recent Friends of the Uptown photo shoot to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the theatre. You can click to zoom in and see individual faces of Uptown friends and fans. Enjoy!

http://www.compassrose.org/uptowntheatre/history-intro.html

-- Joanne

Compass Rose & others helping keep the Uptown preservation in the public eye,

Thank you and keep up the good work. There seems to be a timing for all things: a time when efforts seem to fail; and a time when they finally bear fruit. But only by persevering, especially in worthy causes such as preserving this glorious venue, can we finally see success!

The naysayers argued why the Grand Central Staion in NYC should be demolished to make way for modern development; but many fought to presevre her (including Jackie Kennedy) and finally she was saved from the wrecking ball. The GCS had deterioarated as badly or worse than the Uptoen, thousanbds of homeless people slept in her rat, and cockroach infested lower levels; but look at her now after her wondrous restoration!!! Restored to her former glory and then some through the efforts of arts loving, history preserving people like all of you!!

Keep up your faith and good work and all will be well when the day is done.

Very well stated!!! I give my heart away to those preservationists aiming to save a cultural, architectural, & historical treasure. The Uptown is among the most appealing theaters I've seen. Keep up the superb work. Thanks! - Michael from N.Y.

I will make this very short and to the point.
Hope is on the way. Very well thought out plans
that have been in motion for about a year will soon
bare fruit. This is not an empty promiss. Soon all
those skeptics will see this once great building
back, and better then ever. More to come soon.
Sorry but thats all I could say for now.

Richard Cohen and NativeForestHiller -- Thanks for the nice comments and support! There are many people in Uptown who love for and take care of this beautiful old theatre, and we all hope to see her restored one day.

Rebirth -- If there is a viable plan out there for the Uptown Theatre, please let us know how neighborhood advocacy groups can help. Based on the Compass Rose online and hardcopy versions of the Uptown signature drive, there are over 1500 people willing to lend a voice to back a good plan.

-- Joanne http://www.compassrose.org

Despite all the efforts to secure the building, 5 or 6 new grafitti tags appeared in the past few days. It's just too enticing of a billboard.

Thanks, Brian. Please note the taggers may vandalize the exterior but the building itself remains vacant, secure, guarded and alarmed. "Efforts to secure the building" remain active, successful and complete.

While graffiti is an unsightly nuisance that will be removed when the weather warms and resources are available, it is something that vandals do to all buildings everywhere in urban centers. If you look in Chicago up and down the Red Line, the UPTOWN is not alone in receiving tags last week (or any week). In fact, it was one of the last high-profile, far North Side buildings to get hit in this period of warm winter weather.

Unfortunately, the tags are beyond the scope of the city's Graffiti Blasters. That means the owner or receiver spends thousands of dollars each time they remove a batch of tags. This is done one to three times annually, depending on resources and priorities.

Until such time it is renovated and reused, there are many more significant challenges facing the UPTOWN that deserve our focus, efforts and combined resources.

What is this plan that Rebirth is speaking of?

David Balaban was kind enough to speak of the following website and those who are trying to preserve the Uptown, perhaps so that the performing arts may continue to enrich the lives of future generations within the beauty of this restored cinema palace:
http://www.chicagosuptowntheater.com

For the latest views of the auditorium
please go to www.chicagosuptowntheater.com
And check out the slide show section.

Hey everybody

I am a Michael LeVan. I have lived in the city of Chicago my entire life. I am a filmmaker and a attendee of Columbia College, heading into my final year. I love all the old movie palaces of Chicago. It has been my intent for sometime to Make a documentary on the history, and the ongoings of these historic theaters in the present. The means to make this documentary are finally in my grasp. I planned on featuring 3 theaters, the Copernicus Center(formally The Gateway), The Patio(Formally The Avalon), and The Uptown. While the Documentary will focus on the entire history, These are the three that will be visual examples, and the ones i would like to film in. I have spoken with the People at The Gateway Theater, and they are estatic that i am doing this. The only problem now is The Uptown and the The Patio. These two theaters seem to have ghosts of owners , or even managers. If somebody could help me in finding someone to talk too, i would be very appriciative. Also, this documentary will require interviews, and finding old information as well. If anybody would be kind enough to do either that would be fantastic. My somewhat set date to start filming is June 10 ,2006. My goal with the entire project is to help and benifit these theaters. Help alot more people to gain interest, and all the profit that i attain, if any, will be donated to help with these theaters. I am going to submit it to Wttw(Pbs Chicago) , and also the History Channel. So if anyone would like to help in anyway, they can contact me at my email.

Bleedingchicagoproductions@gmail.com

or by phone (773)-656-5821

Well i appriciate if you read that entire thing, and hopefully i will be hearing from you

Michael Levan of Bleeding Chicago Productions

Hey everybody

I am a Michael LeVan. I have lived in the city of Chicago my entire life. I am a filmmaker and a attendee of Columbia College, heading into my final year. I love all the old movie palaces of Chicago. It has been my intent for sometime to Make a documentary on the history, and the ongoings of these historic theaters in the present. The means to make this documentary are finally in my grasp. I planned on featuring 3 theaters, the Copernicus Center(formally The Gateway), The Patio(Formally The Avalon), and The Uptown. While the Documentary will focus on the entire history, These are the three that will be visual examples, and the ones i would like to film in. I have spoken with the People at The Gateway Theater, and they are estatic that i am doing this. The only problem now is The Uptown and the The Patio. These two theaters seem to have ghosts of owners , or even managers. If somebody could help me in finding someone to talk too, i would be very appriciative. Also, this documentary will require interviews, and finding old information as well. If anybody would be kind enough to do either that would be fantastic. My somewhat set date to start filming is June 10 ,2006. My goal with the entire project is to help and benifit these theaters. Help alot more people to gain interest, and all the profit that i attain, if any, will be donated to help with these theaters. I am going to submit it to Wttw(Pbs Chicago) , and also the History Channel. So if anyone would like to help in anyway, they can contact me at my email.

Bleedingchicagoproductions@gmail.com

or by phone (773)-656-5821

Well i appriciate if you read that entire thing, and hopefully i will be hearing from you

Michael Levan of Bleeding Chicago Productions

Hey everybody

I am a Michael LeVan. I have lived in the city of Chicago my entire life. I am a filmmaker and a attendee of Columbia College, heading into my final year. I love all the old movie palaces of Chicago. It has been my intent for sometime to Make a documentary on the history, and the ongoings of these historic theaters in the present. The means to make this documentary are finally in my grasp. I planned on featuring 3 theaters, the Copernicus Center(formally The Gateway), The Patio(Formally The Avalon), and The Uptown. While the Documentary will focus on the entire history, These are the three that will be visual examples, and the ones i would like to film in. I have spoken with the People at The Gateway Theater, and they are estatic that i am doing this. The only problem now is The Uptown and the The Patio. These two theaters seem to have ghosts of owners , or even managers. If somebody could help me in finding someone to talk too, i would be very appriciative. Also, this documentary will require interviews, and finding old information as well. If anybody would be kind enough to do either that would be fantastic. My somewhat set date to start filming is June 10 ,2006. My goal with the entire project is to help and benifit these theaters. Help alot more people to gain interest, and all the profit that i attain, if any, will be donated to help with these theaters. I am going to submit it to Wttw(Pbs Chicago) , and also the History Channel. So if anyone would like to help in anyway, they can contact me at my email.

Bleedingchicagoproductions@gmail.com

or by phone (773)-656-5821

Well i appriciate if you read that entire thing, and hopefully i will be hearing from you

Michael Levan of Bleeding Chicago Productions

Dear Michael,

May I suggest that you visit http://www.chicagosuptowntheater.com and read up on what's presented there. If you contact those working at this site-- who include a former owner of the Uptown and David Balaban of Balaban & Katz among others-- they will be able to furnish you with a detailed history of the theatre (including original documents) as well as updating you on the problems that have plagued the Uptown's restoration efforts. They should be most helpful to you in your film project.

Best of luck,
Richard Cohen

Today's Chicago Tribune has a short article on the current status of the Uptown.

A great article! Everyone should pitch in to do whatever it takes to ensure preservation and the reopening of this gem!!! It will be a focal point of the community. Good luck! - Michael from NY

Yeah: that is a pretty good article. Sums it all up. I hadn't been aware of the legal battle over the theatre's ownership.

Can someone clarify who all these groups are (Friends of the Uptown, Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts, Uptown Theatre Renovation Project, etc) and what role they play in the efforts to reuse the theatre?

Hello:

For JIM RANKIN

I put the answer to my UPTOWN question here instead of one the Paradise site considering that this doesn't belong there.

WOW, we have another winner! Like I said, I HAVE heard of the Uptown before and saw pictures of the outside...but not the inside. Boy did I get a crash course on it tonight! For one, it is HUGE! I didn't know was that it is LARGER than Radio City! One thing for sure...it is like the Granada or Marbro on steroids. ME LIKES!!

However, there seems to be quite a bit of controversy stirred up around this beauty. Many Many hands in the pot. You hit it on the head when you said "it is daunting." But it does seem like there is quite a bit of interest in it and I am crossing my fingers that something good turns out for the Uptown. I just can't see something like this being lost. I am happy learn it it WAS NOT demolished and it is still standing AND moreover, it is restorable. I most definately will get the Annual on this one.

JG

There is a show on Discovery Channel called Urban Explorers - Chicago episode. They went in the uptown, and went all over it (booth, main floor, catacombs). I'm not sure if this show will be on again, i sure hope so. You guys would have loved it!

John Pappas and Mike Bisberg of Northwestern University have recently finished their documentary on the Uptown Theatre, filmed last summer. It will be shown locally sometime in May, and I'll post the information as soon as it's available. For now, you can download a sneak peek at: http://www.compassrose.org/uptowntheatre/news.html

David Balaban, whose family built the theatre in 1925, has written a book on the Balaban and Katz theatres. It is available as of today (Wednesday). Follow the same link to read about David and his book.

If you were at the Uptown Portrait event last summer, be sure to come to the Uptown Theatre documentary on June 8th to see yourself on the Silver Screen!

WATCH THE NEW DOCUMENTARY "UPTOWN: PORTRAIT OF A PALACE"
AT THE HISTORIC PORTAGE THEATRE IN CHICAGO
Date: Thursday, June 8, 2006. Time: 8:00 pm
Address: 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago

The public debut of the short documentary film Uptown: Portrait of a
Palace will be hosted by Friends of the Uptown and the Portage Film
Forum at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 8, 2006, at the Portage Theatre, 4050 N.
Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Two additional shorts and live theatre organ
music complete the bill. The Portage Theatre has a full concession
stand. Admission is $8 in advance; $10 at the door. Plenty of parking
is available nearby at meters and a City lot. Proceeds will benefit the
Portage Film Forum and Friends of the Uptown. Call (773) 205-7372 or
visit http://www.silentfilmchicago.com for more information.

Uptown: Portrait of a Palace was produced and directed by John Pappas
and Michael Bisberg for Debra Tolchinsky’s Fall 2005 documentary film
production course at Northwestern University. A devastating hard drive
crash caused its delayed completion and release. However, the data was
recovered with the help of grant assistance and a remarkable,
first-of-its-kind (for the Uptown Theatre!) film has been released.

Progenitor of the largest U.S. movie palaces of the mid-to-late 1920s,
the Uptown Theatre, Chicago, operated profitably and survived several
shifts in entertainment and public taste before closing in 1981. Since
then, the closed colossus has been one of the biggest mysteries of
Chicago’s North Side. Though the Uptown is a popular favorite venue for
generations of Chicagoans and a City landmark since 1991, it is
increasingly threatened by its disuse and real-estate speculation.

The film explores the history of the Uptown Theatre and why the largest
and one of the most elaborate theatres in the nation has been left
vacant for 25 years. It uses interviews with eight sources close to the
theatre and breathtaking footage from inside the rarely seen venue to
invite the viewer to question what is really important in a society
fueled by money and private interest.

Is the Uptown a crumbling remnant of the long-forgotten past? Or does
the building possess the quality that Balaban & Katz (the theatre’s
original owners and promoters) touted when they gave it as a gift to
their loyal cinema patrons: A theatre built “Not for TODAY—but for ALL
TIME.”

Overall, the film shows how the Uptown Theatre remains an active venue
for the hopes of volunteers who support it, the factoids of historians
who have tracked it, and the dreams of a city that promotes the concept
of its renovation and reuse for entertainment in the near future.

We hope to see you there! To learn more and to download a trailer for a
sneak peek
of what’s in store go to
http://www.compassrose.org/uptowntheatre/news.html

Nick Digilio of WGN radio has an Interview with a member of the Friends of the Uptown Theater at 11:05 pm tonight on 720 am (6/4/06).

Soooo, How is the Uptown Theatre film???? What is in it? Can it be purchased somewhere? Anyone get to see it?????

The film was very good, with a few caveats, and the 80 DVD copies available on-hand sold out easily. The filmmakers said that more copies would be made, and that people who wrote their emails down would be informed, but no word yet.

Here is a profile from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency's HAARGIS system. It includes small pictures. Here is another.

The DVDs will be available soon through http://www.compassrose.org once the filmmakers take care of a few technicalities.

The turnout at the Portage was fantastic. Proceeds supported the Portage Film Forum and Friends of the Uptown; F.o.t.U are now able to purchase a power washer so volunteers can now take care of the exterior graffitti on the theatre that's otherwise prohibitively expensive to clean off. I'll post photos from the premiere event soon.

There was one thing I was wondering about the pressure washer. Why can't there be security floodlighting installed on top of the Green Mill building to deter vandals?

Does the Green Mill building's owner agree to such floodlights, and who pays the hundreds or thousands for them, the electricians (at almost $100 the hour) to put in the wiring to them and then the daily electric power for them? How helpful would such be if the lights illuminate only one side of the building and thus the miscreants simply move their attentions to other sides then more deeply in darkness? If only some high powered flood lights could do it all. It seems that there are a few questions to be answered first, sad to say.

It is excellent news about the DVD coming out through Compass Rose! Let us hope that selling these at a **reasonable** price will promote their circulation and thus raise awareness of the UPTOWN as the landmark it really is.

With great respect: The documentary, "Portrait of a Palace" was lacking in many respects. It was a good student film but lacked historical data like where the chandeliers are today and how they got there. It also failed to answer the question of who the REAL owners are. Glaring ommissions were the failure to interview: Mary Brush, D'escoto Architects, the two banks and their mortgage people, Carol, Mike, Mark Zipperer, Chad, Marty Tangora, and many others who could have explained the complex financial history and status of the theatre today. Rudy, Louie Wolf, Kenny Goldberg... It also lacked an interview with ME! I have collected and archived so many financial and historical documents from the Uptown, I would have been honored to share them all. I would have been a natural on camera. Even if I wasn't interviewed, no one from UTCA was interviewed nor was Albert Goodman. Why wasn't the official "trustee" even interviewed? "Portrait of a Palace" was a great piece to save other theatres but did little to answer the REAL questions of what to do programming wise with the Uptown Theatre when it opens...not if...but when. Many of us at the Portage Park Theatre that night were deeply saddened that a large committee of well meaning community members could not meet and discuss their strengths and weaknesses. Some informal groups began their discussions on the street outside the theatre. (Dave S., Ruth, and her investors, George from Cleveland, and even Dr. Talsky with some of his minions.) The Alderman has the power and authority to do this: Organize the first Uptown Summit! It is time to bury our individual egos, roll up our sleeves and go to work. It truly will take a nation to save this theatre. It will take music promoters, producers, actors, musicians, theatre historians, preservationists, architects, construction estimators, professional theatre consultants, REAL developers with REAL money, dreamers, workers, finance people, grass roots groups and the politicos to save this theatre. Let's stop addressing the root causes of why it hasn't opened and deal with how it CAN open. And please.. leave the personal attacks of me off of this site and stick to the issues?

"It will take music promoters, producers, actors, musicians, theatre historians, preservationists, architects, construction estimators, professional theatre consultants, REAL developers with REAL money, dreamers, workers, finance people, grass roots groups and the politicos to save this theatre"

I don't see scam artists in that list Paul. You have serious balls to continue posting here after you were run out of the Uptown Theatre under a cloud of controversy.

The REAL question is:

WHEN did they start allowing PRISON INMATES to use the INTERNET?

Leave Mary Brush alone. I will not be pleased with you, my little friend, if I find out that you have bilked her.

You see? Again you are off task. Stick to the issues. Stay focused on the goal and not on the players. The only controversy that ALL of the board members of the old UTCA left under was the lack of money and vision. I offered then and continue to try and offer today specific and productive ideas. "Life's:" your comments are always negative. What have you offered positively lately? By the way: Mary Brush is smarter than all of us. No one bilked her. Ask her who brought her engineering firm (Klein and Hoffman) to the table in the first place... ask architect Gary Martinez who brought him to the table... yeah that's right. Me.

So why isn't the theatre open, you oh so studly rainmaker?

That's all very cute. But you are like a salesman making excuses to his district manager about lack of production:

"but I did this, but I did that."

You haven't restored, reopened and successfully run a single theatre. Meanwhile people far and wide have accused you of crimes, and the court system has agreed with them. Everybody hates you Paul. Did that happen for no reason? Of course not. The human race doesn't work that way.

You have balls Paul. But one day you are going to go too far with this behavior. Then somebody is going to chop them off.

Dear Paul Warshauer and Life's Too Short:

Please have the courtesy to take your sparring away from the Uptown's page here, and perhaps away from Cinema Treasures (a really nice place!). Your issues have nothing to do with this theatre building.

I suggest you share your email addresses with each other so you may argue in private. Or, exchange phone numbers. Or, arrange to meet in an alley or boxing ring and work out your frustrations on each other. Let's self-police this forum and keep it positive.

Consider the wisdom of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."

Martin Luther King Jr.
Accepting Nobel Peace Prize,
December 10, 1964

I disagree Uptown Advisor.

And as far as sharing my phone number with Paul goes, I would sooner send it to every telemarketing firm in the greater metro area.

Dear Uptown Advisor: Plain fact is Life doesn't know squat but I agree with your message and sentiment. I agree to do what you ask. My last posting was in reference to the movie. Plain and simple. i hate to use the phrase but, "he started it!"

Paul: I can't believe you had the nerve to go and see a movie about one theatre that you were run out of under a cloud of controversy BEING SHOWN AT another theatre that you were run out of under a cloud of controversy, THEN post critical remarks about how the movie didn't include a section about you. It boggles the mind.

And no, frankly, you started it by posting here again. I think "goaway" summed it up nicely when noting that conversation remains pleasant on Cinema Treasures as long as you are not around.

Uptown Advisor: I don't think the business of theatre restoration is always nice, nor are the conversations surrounding it. Look at how heated things have gotten in Richmond surrounding the John Eberson Loews theatre there. A movie is fine and good. Historical research is fine and good. Talking about how the Uptown would be a good concert hall is fine and good. But the REAL business of restoring a large theatre, as Paul is fond of saying, is not pleasant.

The legal system has found that Paul committed financial crimes related to the Uptown Theatre. Do you want me to sit here, Uptown Advisor, and let him try to make people believe that he is a champion of the Uptown Theatre just so that Cinema Treasures remains NICE? How does that make sense? If you want to bring Martin Luther King into this, I would like to point out that Dr. King certainly didn't ignore a ridiculous situation just in the name of keeping things pleasant. The actions he took during the 1960's were highly aggressive.

Webmaster: Please cut this person off. No "legal system" was involved. What Life said is most definitely libelous. I will contact my lawyer if this persists. This character slam comes from a total stranger and is totally unacceptable. For the record: No criminal acts or crimes were committed by me or any UTCA board member. No one was charged and I am insulted at your lies regarding all the good people who served on the UTCA Board. Yes, I am a champion to rstore the Uptown Theatre. Are YOU?? Enough us enough. Life: YOU have worn out your welcome here and refuse to discuss the theatre like we agreed! The movie was a student film and did not tell the whole story. Period. Everyone else has opinions about the movie and why aren't they posting them? It was a good work to be sure.

It is not libel. Libel involves lies and the judgments against you are a matter of public record, available on the Circuit Court of Cook County web site. All I am doing is quoting information that anyone can find with a web browser. Here are the case numbers.

http://198.173.15.34/

Case Number Plaintiff Defendant Date Filed
2005-M2-000785 PALES CAROL WARSHAUER PAUL 04/11/2005
2004-M1-719354 MID AMERICA MANAGE WARSHAUER PAUL 08/06/2004
2003-M1-731056 MID AMERICA MGMT WARSHAUER PAUL 12/04/2003
2003-M1-164392 ANNOYANCE PRODUCTI WARSHAUER PAUL 10/06/2003

This article describes the Uptown Theatre-related financial actions which led to a court judgement against you:

http://www.annoyanceproductions.com/readerart.gif

How can you possibly say that all of this is a lie and that you have never been involved with the legal system? If you have a way of explaining to me why the government would enter false court judgments against you I will be willing to listen. Is the Cook County government trying to ruin you? Maybe your attorney should contact them...or the daily newspaper that wrote the article above...or the authors of the countless other negative articles about you available in print and on the internet.

Libel involves the intent to do damage. You are trying to do that but losing badly. Judgements and lawsuits from unrelated business deals are not the issue. None of the above actions had to do with the Uptown Theatre. You muddy the waters again. If you have done any business in the city (which I doubt you have) you know lawsuits and litigation are part of the game. Have you seen the cases we have won? You don't know me or have any idea who I am. Sad that you spend so much time attacking me when you could be helping the Uptown Theatre. For the last time and to clear my name: NO LAWSUIT EVER CAME TO REMOVE ME OR ACCUSED ME OF WRONG DOING WHILE I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE UTCA, THE NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION! THAT WAS YOUR ALLEGATION. I ask again, like one of the posters earlier, what is your goal for the Uptown or do you just wish to bash others? I am not going away so get used to me trying to reopen the theatre. Listen to the Uptown Advisor and talk about this ISSUES. You keep hiding in the bushes and attacking but will not disclose who you are. If you are so frightened of me, call some friends and let's sit down at the Uptown Starbucks like human beings and discuss our differences so we free up valuable space on this wonderful website. After some concerns, I met with frequent poster and theatre advocate Brian Wolf. He is a skeptic and we had a great meeting to discuss saving old theatres. Move on and discuss the theatre, PLEASE!

By the way, I was reminded by someone that all of the cases you reference above were settled or dismissed.

Time to cheer up and learn more about Uptown Chicago...Cradle of Entertainment.

I spent the 1950s going to the movies downtown and at the Terminal, Gateway, Riviera, Granada, Nortown, and Uptown as they were the closest to where I lived. I marvelled at theaters like the Granada and Uptown without knowing their interesting histories, which I've recently learned by taking the tour at the above website.

Did you know that Director Vincent Minelli and composer Victor Young ("Around The World In 80 Days") began their careers by working on the Stageshows at the Uptown theater? Or that the Essanay Movie Studio in Uptown predated Hollywood? Or that the fire scenes in "Backdraft," or Duncan's Toy Store in the Movie "Home Alone2: Lost In New York" were filmed in the Uptown theater? (Duncan's Toy Store in Uptown's enormous front lobby). For this and much more which will probably leave you flabbergasted, spend an enjoyable couple of hours at the above site. You'll thank me.

Hey Rich: what was the Terminal like on the inside? I have never seen a good picture of the outside, let alone the interior. Also, do you remember when it was demolished?

Paul:

Sigh...

As I have in the past, I will ask you a straightforwad question and see if you can give me a straightforward answer:

What was dismissed?

Here is another:

What vintage theatre have you resotred and run successfully for a period of greater than six months?

Let me guess: "I don't have to give that information to you! Who are you? Why don't you come out of the shadows? Are you afraid of me?"

It certainly doesn't impress me that you met with Brian and spun a colorful tale for him. You are a damn good salesman. A good salesman can sell ice to eskimos as they say.

As far as your involvement in the UTCA goes, I don't think I ever mentioned that organization. You are most certainly putting words in my mouth. But, this is an interesting article (especially the part about how you were deposed from the Board):

April 9, 2003
Inside Online
UTCA good will short, funds shorter, as trouble erupts
by Ronald Roenigk, Publisher
http://www.uptownchicagocommission.org/apr_9_03.html

Efforts to save the haggard Uptown Theatre, 4814 N. Broadway, have stalled now as supporters struggle with dwindling operating funds and discover battles within the Uptown Theatre and Center for the Arts (UTCA) Board of Directors.

Two years ago the not-for-profit UTCA was formed when Albert Goodman made a $1 million donation to the effort from the Edith Marie Appleton Foundation, named after his mother. According to financial statements, by the end of February the UTCA had less than $2,000 in cash on hand and over $160,000 in loans and accounts payable, with no clear means of meeting those obligations.

At the same time a battle within the Board of Directors broke out into the open. Now-deposed board member Paul Warshauer accused the UTCA of being "out of control" in a March 10 letter to Gov. Rod Blagojevich which calls for a formal investigation. He has since contacted several members of the media, including Inside, seeking to air his issues with UTCA management.

Also distracting the over-burdened UTCA staff is the status of a fateful fundraising idea gone bad: the raffling off of a new Jaguar automobile leased from Orloff Jaguar and now gathering dust in a garage. Nearly $30,000 worth of tickets were sold for the raffle, money which now must be refunded.

"That was a horrible mistake," said Carol Jean Carlson, CEO of UTCA, of the raffle that caused the UTCA to be fined $1,000 by the city's Department of Revenue for running a raffle without a license. "We sold about 300 tickets and now we're contacting those people and giving them several options for restitution." The status of those funds is unclear in the current financial statements.

Left in limbo are UTCA's efforts to purchase the 4,381 seat, 46,000 square foot movie house. "We'll know pretty soon if we'll be purchasing it—we're closer than ever," said Carlson. Indeed, a total of $250,000 in escrow payments has been released to the seller in two payments last June and July, funds which would presumably be lost if the deal falls apart.

"I don't think the [current] owners want us to fail. We put that money down on good faith but haven't been able to raise money as fast as possible," said Carlson. She said that the UTCA kicked off their fundraising efforts one week prior to the 9/11 attack and that timing, along with a slumping economy, are the reasons that fundraising has been weak.

Warshauer claims to have another for-profit investment group with new plans and ideas ready to take up the effort if the deal does fail. UTCA staff doubt this and claim it would be "a direct conflict of interest and violation of his non-compete clause," said Carlson. "He's just trying to stir up trouble."

"The bad part is that the building has had to wait so long," said Warshauer. "They've spent $1.3 million and have nothing to show for it. I will not keep quiet any longer. Decay and damage occur inside and out every day." Warshauer joined the UTCA board in July of 2002 and was named chairman in October; he resigned as chairman on Feb. 8 and was voted off the board on March 22.

As for the Jaguar, it was one of a number of bad fiscal decisions made by the board while Michael Morrison was UTCA's CEO. (Morrison has since left the state and is reportedly now living in Kentucky after being indicted by the Attorney General of Illinois.) The board had given him approval to lease the Jaguar for his own use using UTCA funds to pay for it. Morrison and the board also hired Mark Zipperer as an outside consultant for $2,000 a week; Zipperer took over the CEO's post on an interim basis when Morrison fled the state. It was Zipperer's idea to raffle off the car, unaware that a license was required to do so. "We're looking for someone who would like to buy the lease, if you know anyone," offered Carlson.

"Michael Morrison had no business sense," said Warshauer. "Nobody ever wrote a business plan and there were no theater professionals with any experience in the organization...There still isn't," he said. "I pleaded with them to stop spending money, regroup and ask for help. They refused, hoping against hope that a miracle would occur. No miracle is coming."

The UTCA is "insolvent in part due to [Warshauer] and we have our own lawyers working with us on him," said Carlson, who says nevertheless that their vendors, their supporters and the community still want them to succeed.

Re the Terminal:

It was the closest theater to me and the one I most often attended-- the last time was in 1962. In early 1963 I went West and eventually into the Navy for 8 years. While in the Navy the Terminal (to my later sad discovery) was torn down.

Here, for you and others who may visit, I'll tell you much of what I remember about the Terminal (inside and out)-- this will be my tribute to the place where I spent many happy Saturday afternoons as a child: there was a large overhanging marquee with flashing lights that ran along the periphery, with a large vertical lighted sign rising above (about 30-40 feet high) displaying the "Terminal" name (named for the Ravenswood [now Brown Line] terminal-depot at the Western end of the block (the Terminal was on the South side of Lawrence Ave. about 1/2 block East of the El terminal at Kimball Ave.).

There were two ticket booths, one as an island (entered from the outside) centered directly under the marquee, and another which extended from the inside to the right-front side of the exterior. You entered the theater through large brass-windowed doors which opened into a hall area to another set of metal windowed doors you passed through to enter the theater proper. There were nice carpets and wall decorations, as well as staircases immediately on either side as you entered, rising to the second landing and balcony (from childhood memory I would estimate the theater was 1500-2000 seats).

The interior theater seating area: the screen was covered by full length curtains which opened at the start of the show, below which was a stage used for stage shows and special events during the lifetime of the theater. On either side of the interior side-walls at mezzanine level, there were small decorated alcoves giving the appearance of side seating areas (just for show-no real seats), as well as other decorations.

Most every Summer Saturday afternoon the Parental School (home for troubled kids) would walk about 20-30 of them in-line from their property on Foster Ave. West of Kimball (about a mile away) to the Terminal where the balcony was reserved just for them.

There was a small refreshment stand and Grandfather clock near the center of the main floor. The rest rooms were upstairs, and I remember looking out the Men's Restroom window into the El-Yard which extended behind the Terminal, covering the entire block.

I especially enjoyed going to Saturday Matinees, especially when they had a Cartoon Festival. When I was about 6-12 years of age (1948-54) I'd get into Saturday Matinees for 15 cents, which then (as with all theaters of the time) included two full length movies, a short subject (often a Disney Production), a cartoon, and trailers of "Coming Attractions"-- those were the days!!

I’ll place this post on the "Terminal" message board as well as here.

Some interesting interior photos can be viewed here:
http://www.undercity.org/photos/Chicago_Uptown/index.htm

There are two interesting slide shows of the uptown theatre interior. one at www.chicagosuptowntheater.com and another at www.balabanandkatz.com thanks

david balaban
balaban and katz historical foundation

For those who missed the premiere of the Uptown Theatre movie at the Portage earlier this summer, the award-winning documentary is being released on DVD.

Filmmakers John Pappas and Michael Bisberg have generously agreed to donate any proceeds from "Uptown: Portrait of a Palace" to Compass Rose and Friends of the Uptown to help further promote the concept of the theatre's renovation and reuse as an entertainment venue. Compass Rose has an extensive History of the Uptown on its Web site, and sponsors the Uptown Signature Drive to show local and international support for the theatre. You may also download a free PDF of the Opening Day Program.

The production and distribution of this DVD is an all-volunteer effort, from the graphic artist who is designing the cover to the volunteers who will be wrapping and shipping the DVDs.

To learn more and to watch the film's original theatrical trailer, go to:

Uptown: Portrait of a Palace

http://www.compassrose.org/DVDS/uptown-portrait.html

I believe PBS channel 11 in Chicago is airing this program tonight (10/6/2006) at 10:30 pm.

Thay did i just finshed watching it all i have to say is VERY GOOD YOU HAVE GOT TO SEE IT!!! :) It is on Image Union and i think that it is to be rebrocasted on Sunday night i beleve at 1130p or may be
midnight check your listings look for "Image Union" it is the 1st of the flims to be aired. Thank you for your time :)

I saw the documentary last night on WTTW Channel 11. It was on a show called "Image Union." Was I watching an "edited version"? It was 1/2 hour long. I would have liked to learn more about the history of the theatre.

I think it might have been edited, but the full version didn't cover much of the history anyway.

Anyone who cares about the Uptown should buy a copy of "Uptown Portrait Of A Palace" just so you can "visit" the Uptown as often as you like and hopefully the dvd will raise awareness of how fragile the building is, and that sooner rather than later restoration can be started. it is good to know that the building is secure and guarded against intruders we all owe a great dept to those volunteers who selflessly continue to look after the building.
Is the equipment still in the projection booth, and are there any photos of the booth that you can share with us at the Cinema treasures site?
with kind regards,
AndyGarner U.K.

The film is only 26 minutes long, but what a 26 minutes! It's one of the best documentaries I've seen on any subject, and it's a must-have for anyone involved in theater preservation.

On October 14, 1927, Clara Bow was starring in "Hula" at the Uptown:

That Clara Bow now occupies the coveted position of attracting more people to the theaters in which her pictures unreel than any other young woman star of 1927 is again being demonstrated with the release of "Hula," her latest picture. "Hula" comes next Monday to the Uptown Theater, and Balaban & Katz are expecting a rush
of customers, therefore.

"Hula" exhibits the peppy Miss Bow as a wild little child of some
Hawaiian island. She is wild just because she grew that way, having
a dissolute old father and no mother to guide her. Only the kindly natives take good care of Clara, teaching her to be a good girl if a tomboy. And also teaching her the native dance that gives the picture a title.

Thus when love, in the form of Clive Brook, is made known to Miss
Bow she has a hard time of it. Miss Bow has "it," in the various stages of dress and undress that her role calls for.

On the stage at the Uptown Bennie Krueger and his band will offer "Tokio Blues." "Tokio Blues" is one of the most novel revues
ever seen at the Uptown. These artists combine their native charm
and grace with the Yankee pep of jazz performers. And the oriental
beauty of the Japanese girls is a pleasant change from the typical
North American beauty. Willie Solar, the featured comedian of
"Tokio Blues," is a well-known comic from vaudeville and revues.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986

Balaban & Katz Uptown Theatre ** (added 1986 - Building - #86003181)
Also known as Uptown Theatre
4814--4816 N. Broadway, Chicago
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Rapp,C.W., Rapp,George
Architectural Style: Tudor Revival, Mission/Spanish Revival, Other
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater

A few photos of the Uptown, including some interior shots taken in 1990, can be seen in Set #3, here: http://www.mekong.net/random/theatres.htm

Oh, wow, this site is fantastic! Thanks so much!

Cam, great photos.

Thanks for the kind words about the photos.

I have no idea what it's like now, but even back in '90 the Uptown was in bad shape inside. One of the guys working there told me that a drain line from one of the roofs had broken open, and water had been pouring in for a really long time. I still vividly remember one room with walnut paneling on all the walls... and it was totally ruined, warped and buckled from all the water. I hope they can save it, but it won't be easy.

Sad to think that the Granada, which was in far better condition, was demolished... and all the while, the Uptown sits empty, decaying year after year.

Cam,

I regularly went to movies at the Granada and Uptown in the '50s, and early '60s; and although the Granada was quite beautiful, there was no comparison to the Uptown. The Uptown is the largest freestanding theater in the entire country (larger even than Radio City Music Hall), and if/when restored will be a wonderful showcase for Chicago to the World.

Let's keep working to see the Uptown returned to her old glory. It will be a wonderful day for me, and for those of more recent generations, to walk into a restored Uptown and marvel at, arguably,
the greatest cinema palace of all time.

Hi Rich --

Yes, I think you're right about the size: I recall hearing that although there are (were?) several theatres with more seats, the Uptown was the largest in terms of square footage. The foyer and lobbies were *huge*.

I noticed as I was looking at some of the pics posted you pointed out above, at http://www.chicagosuptowntheater.com/, that the theatre actually looks *better* in those photos then it did when I saw it fifteen years earlier. Of course, that may just be because the guy who took those pics is a way better photog than me! :-)

Hi Cam,

It's hard to imagine how large the Uptown really is (aside from its inner decor and beauty). One way to glimpse its size is to view the front of the theater from Braodaway avenue, where we can see the building going up about four stories, and disappearing back as far as we can see in the pic you provided; then realize that this entire structure is only its lobby!! The Uptown lobby has been used in recent movies (as described earlier in this thread), such as in "Home Alone 2," where it was the toy store.

As a child I was dazzled as I sat in the lower orchestra area, engulfed by the immensity of the theater, and gazed up about 5-6 stories to the "stars" twinkling at me in the ceiling, as if from the starry skies themselves. It saddens me to think of the kids of recent generations going to the little boxes we call multiplex theaters, not knowing what they're missing. Hopefully, the Uptown can be reborn so they can glimpse an age of cinema treasures otherwise lost to them in time.

Rich and Cam,

Actually you can see the Uptown Theatre as it is today in the documentary "Uptown: Portrait of a Palace" by John Pappas and Michael Bisberg. It offers an extended look at the state of the theatre now - both good and bad.

It re-ran on Chicago PBS station WTTW11 this past weekend and is available to Comcast digital cable subscribers in the Chicago area under "Get Local -> WTTW OnDemand -> Image Union" through tomorrow. You can also purchase a copy from Compass Rose publishers at www.compassrose.org All proceeds from the sales go to promoting the restoration of the theatre and surrounding neighborhood.

Hey guys, I am new to this site. I am a history buff even though I am a little young. (41) I do know that there was a lot of rivalry between New York and Chicago. Example Time Square vs. Uptown Square. I also am very familiar with many exploits of Paul Warshauer. Since I was one of his victims. I met him at one of the UTCA consortium meetings. A friend also met him and from day one did not like him. I will be a new member now. Hope to hear from you all real soon.

I almost forgot I have a list of all the historic properties in the neighborhood. Part of the Uptown Historic District.

I currently own a copy of Continuous Performances. The life of A. J. Balaban.Since I have seen how Mayor Daley likes to do one up on New York. I can picture the Uptown restored and the rivalry continuing with New York vs. Chicago. After all Chicago is the home of the old Harris theatre and that was the partner of George M. Cohan of New York! The Harris theatre is now part of the new Goodman Theatre. And Mayor Daley was involved with that. Imagine the ball being dropped in Times Square vs. Uptown Square?

Cohan used to have a theater here, too. Cohan's Grand Opera House. Listed here as the RKO Grand.

was it cohan or ziegfeld?

Cohan, the page for it is here.. Incidentally, Ziegfeld's father also had a theater, whose page is here.

I see I was mistaken. I do apologize.No hard feelings?

Hah, not at all. Nothing to apologize for.

there are so many buildings in the uptown district that are historical. I will be more than happy to share what I have. All you have to do is ask.Except for Paul Warshauer

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=14085

my only question is who is this developer that is being kept so secret? And what type of venue would be at the Uptown??

No secret. The owners are listed on this lawsuit filed in 2005:
http://tinyurl.com/2vlw3f

so what happens next?

Hello All,

Rich--Yes, you are absolutely correct, The Uptown is physically larger than Radio City. Keep in mind though Radio City still does have a greater capacity. I have always been a lover of Radio City Music Hall, but after seeing the interior picture of the Uptown, I had to do a double take. The Uptown clearly can rival Radio City in sheer beauty alone once fully restored.

I really am anxious to see this building get restored. But it just seems like there are always road blocks and red tape encircling this building. There is a perverbial black cloud hanging over the Uptown.

I admit I have not been keeping up on current events with the Uptown. Last I heard they were doing some sort of stabalizing work and removed the beautiful parapet on the crest of the building. But I have not heard much about the restoration of the interior and how that is going. I hope it is moving along. The last interior pictures I saw were from 1990.

I KNOW TRUTH--Nice to see you around and still posting, I remember we were talking about another Chicago Theatre at about the time you were marauding Paul (supposedly he is working on a theatre in Youngstown now. I'm curious as to how that project is panning out). I know that you followed the Uptown closely, but I guess you haven't heard anything new lately, huh?

Geo

I heard a rumor (take it as nothing more) that they had problems keeping the heat on this past winter. Obviously, that is not a good thing if true.

Geo, for a more recent peek inside the Uptown, watch the trailer for last year's Uptown: Portrait of a Palace - http://www.compassrose.org/DVDS/uptown-portrait.html

Famed "Schmeling-Louis" fight film shown at Uptown---

NEWS ITEM:

Chicago Daily News, Friday, June 26, 1936, p. 36, c. 1---

FIGHT FILMS OPEN AT B-K THEATERS

The Joe Louis-Max Schmeling fight pictures, complete from beginning to end have been booked in as extra screen attractions at eight Balaban & Katz theaters starting today. In the loop the pictures will be shown at the Roosevelt and Apollo theaters; west side Marbro; south side, Tivoli and Southtown; north side, Granada, Varsity and Uptown. The pictures showing the knockdown in slow motion, also start at the Regal theater on the south side on Sunday

http://www.trolleybuses.net/chi/htm/usa_h_chi_mh_9539_rt81broadwaylawrence_19680907_ss.htm The aforementioned garage is visible in this picture.

who knows what will happen with Paul? This site is about the Uptown. Agree.

i heard some positive news about the Uptown the other day. A very reliable source tells me that the financial problems which have kept the theatre from being reused are being cleared up by its current owner. The goal of the current owner is to attain a clear title for the property so that renovation of the property for theatre use can begin. email me for more info. Thanks
[email]balabanandkatz@aol.com[/email,www.balabanandkatz.com

I passed by the uptown theatre on Monday and saw some of the facade is removed from the top of the building. It does not look at all like the picture I have in my living room or the picture in the book "Continuous Performance".

just curious, where in the book, "Continuous performance" is the uptown theatre pictured?

Some of the terra cotta pieces were falling to the street a few years ago. The City of Chicago pitched in and removed pieces to repair and store them; they will be reinstalled. See posts above from around October 2005.

the uptown is on the same page with the six photos of all the Balaban brothers. In the copy of Variety after the index in the book.

I also have a copy of the new book Chicago Movie Palaces too.

Actually the city charged the owners about 1.6 million dollars to stabilize the front of the building. The terra cotta pieces are inside carefully catalogued and stored awaiting the go ahead to be reapplied(if possible) when a restoration plan is approved. That cost has been added to the buildings indebitness and must be repaid.

Is the Chicago Movie Palaces book you speak of Joe Ducibella's project?

actually, I wrote the Chicago Movie Palace book. Joe wrote the foreward

Does any group offer Chicago theatre tours, esp. for the Uptown, Oriental and Chicago? I'm from Detroit and would gladly make a trip to the Windy City for such a tour.

The Oriental, Palace, and Lasalle Bank have tours through Broadway in Chicago, and the Chicago has tours through its management. Regular tours of the Auditorium Theatre are also held through its management and through the Chicago Architecture Foundation. There is information on their respective websites. The Uptown is not open to the public.

My son and I took the Oriental/Palace tour in 2005. I grew up in Chicago in the late 40's through 50's and often went to movies downtown. Prices were only around a dollar, and most included two full length films, a short, newsreel, and cartoon. The Oriental and Chicago theaters were especially awe inspiring from their elaborate decor.

My son grew up in the era of Multi-plex theaters, and I wanted him to glimpse the past in the tour. As we sat in the balcony of the Oriental listening to the tour guide, I found myself filling in a bit of past history for the visitors, so they could appreciate the differences between "then and now." The tour ended with a visit to the Palace just down the street, where I had seen the Cinerama production of "How The West Was Won" years before. Most of the Palace was torn down and in disrepair, but you could still glimpse its earlier glory.

The price of the tour in 2005 was only $20., and as you can probably deduce from my earlier discussion, I highly recommend it.

Thanks for the info. I'll look into the Broadway in Chicago tour.

The movie palace that played How the West Was Won in Cinerama was the demolished McVickers. The actual Palace theater still exists and is now a functioning legitimate house. It was the original Chicago home of 3-projector Cinerama.

Jon, I mis-spoke. The Cinerama film I saw at the Palace was "Around The World In Eighty Days." I realized my error after making the earlier post, but didn't think it important enough to correct.

As we get older our memories begin to play some tricks on us. Now, I'm not absolutely certain that I didn't see my Cineraama film at the McVickers; but the film I saw was "80 Days," and my memory has the Palace as where I saw it.

Thanks for setting the record straight.

A magnificent theatre that should be restored. What a loss it will to future generations if this unique theatre is allowed to be destroyed.

You can now watch the documentary on the Uptown entitled "Uptown: Portrait of a Palace" for FREE on the website www.nomadsland.com

Just visit the site and click on the "Documentaries" tab to see the film in its entirety.

If you like it, then visit compassrose.org to pick up a copy on DVD, so you can watch it in full DVD quality. Your purchase of the DVD also supports Friends of the Uptown and Compass Rose in their effort to save the historic theatre and neighborhood.

Uptown: Portrait of a Palace will be shown on Friday, September 14 at the Portage Theater as part of the "Preserving Palaces" documentary film festival, along with Preserve Me a Seat (chronicling efforts to save the Indian Hills in Omaha, Gayety/Publix in Boston, DuPage in Lombard, and Villa in Salt Lake City). The festival continues Saturday, September 15 with The Wizard of Austin Boulevard, Loew's Paradise Theatre, and Memoirs of a Movie Palace. A theatre preservation discussion panel will follow the films on Saturday night. For complete information, visit www.portagetheater.org.

Come on Chicago your finsished restoring the loop theatres now its time to restore the largest theatre ever built in Chicago and it would give a huge boost to the Uptown district.brucec

Any new info/news about the continuing saga that is the Uptown?

the neighborhood is part of a historic district on the national register. The Riv down the street is operational so what is the problem with the uptown. there is always the story on television about the green mill lounge. You did know that the Uptown was built on the site of the picnic area of the Green Mill?

I'm not sure if this photograph taken at the opening of the Uptown Theatre has been posted before, but its worth a look and also click on the 'now' button for a current view:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mycatispunk/1450844097/

Have read the above links to ownership issues and interest by developers.

My guess is the usual scoundrels and villains are lining up to pick over the bones. And I wonder why the city has been so indifferent, seems like there would be a push to go one way or the other?

Wouldn't it really stink to have a new owner save the lobby for historical value as an entrance to the new office tower where the theater "was". Maybe a Starbucks and gift shoppes. Worse deals involving historical sites have been made. Well maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing compared to what is happening now. I would bet my last buck in the end local interests will be forgotten and the site will be used as leverage for a bigger non related real estate deal.

By the way. Who is paying the utilities, taxes, roof leaks, boiler repair and so on now? If no owner is willing to do this it kind of makes you wonder.

It has become a very murky situation. There are so many issues to resolve. I think it is possible that the building will eventually be restored as part of an Uptown entertainment district. I also think it is possible that some sort of compromise project like the one you describe could come to pass. I just wish that something constructive would happen. It is desressing to watch the property decay year after year. Also, having a hulk of an unusable theater towering over the neighborhood certainly isn't a positive force for development.

the uptown theatre is a chicago landmark. So the building has landmark status from the City.Of course politics would be involved. When the Chicago was restored Washington was Mayor. The Goodman theatre Daley was Mayor. There is even a space with his name on it.
Who knows who will be Mayor if and when the time comes for the Uptown?

Recent photos of this theatre are HERE

This October 10, 2007 story from the Chicago Tribune announcing Madison Square Garden Entertainment's purchase of the Chicago Theatre mentions that, "...the company considered buying the long-dormant Uptown Theatre on Chicago's North Side, but was daunted by the distance from the Loop and the renovation needs of the building."

Here is an undated interior photo:
http://tinyurl.com/32nvug

Does anyone here have a connection to Compass Rose? I sent my check to them over a month ago for a copy of the "Uptown" DVD, but haven't seen it yet. I also emailed the editor email on their website a week ago, but still haven't heard back.
Maybe I'm just getting over anxious, but I'm looking forward to my copy and don't seem to have any way of getting in touch with them.
Anyone out there have any suggestions? Thanks.

Hi DonF,

This is Joanne at CompassRose.com. We've moved our office and upgraded our servers/e-mail hosting this last month. I'm sorry if we lost your e-mail. You can contact me at editor@compassrose.com with any problems.

Thanks and sorry for any delay.

Joanne

Joanne,
Thanks for the quick response. I'll write you at the new email address.
DonF

The city of Chicago needs to put a little money into the Uptown to interest a potential buyer such as Cablevision. The Uptown is the perfect size of theatre for concerts looking for a midsize venue.The city should offer a major tax credit for a potential buyer. The city needs to stabilize the building and spend a little money to get it in operating shape and then a potential buyer might be interested as Cablevision was. I think the biggest problem Cablevision had was the distance from the Loop because the theatre would have been a cheap buy then antoher 40 million in restoration. Cablevison spent 70 Million restoring Radio City and is currently restoring the Beacon in New York. The midsize concert venue is exploding across the US that why the 7100 seat Nokia was built in LA. The Uptown is located in an improving neigherhood and it one of the largest theatres standing in the US. The Loew's 175th St in NYC with 3300 seats has become a very hot midsize Venue in NYC with many sold out concerts. Just think the Uptown seats 1000 more seats than the 175th Street located in the 3rd largest City in the US. I would conctact the concert booker of the 175Th Street who will be in direct competition with the smaller Beacon in NYC as someone who could compete with Cablevison in Chicago. The potential is there but money must be spent to restore the Uptown and Im sure it would get plenty of concert bookings, since its larger than the Chicago Theatre. The city of Chicago must take the lead and spend some money to open this theatre.brucec

I am impressed Bruce. That is by far the most intelligent argument I have ever seen supporting the notion that the Uptown remains viable as a theatre.

So am I, Lifes too short, Bruce`s argument makes sound commercial sense(unlike some of the previous well intentioned but dreamers schemes for the Uptown) the building has a future, and CAN be used commercially again, so it`s over to The City to open up the coffers and start the ball rolling to get the theatre into an operating condition.

I agree I feel if the City can be involved with the Chicago. What is stopping the restoration of the Uptown. Maybe it could be a good form of income when the Olympics come to Chicago?

the restoration number talked about was 90 million - not 40 million this including providing parking to patrons. the city must offer tax breaks for any potential buyer to get serious about making the uptown a viable project

Lets not get sidetracked with a dollar amount. Restoration costs can be highly inflated when many other items such as a parking garage is added. The Pantages in Hollywood cost 12 Million to restore and that was work done only to the theatre. When people talk about restoring the Uptown they should talk about the theatre. It is up to the City to improve parking in the area not the potential buyer. A realistic dollar amount should be discussed about stabalizing the theatre and getting the Uptown operational.The Uptown building is a theatre building and not attatched to an office building like many theatres. I would like to hear a realistic dollar amount to get the Uptown operational and a dollar amount for full restoration just for the theatre. The huge Fox in Oakland is currently under restoration but a bulk of the restoration funds is going toward building a Charter School around the theatre.Reading about the Fox you would think that all this money is being spent on the theatre when only 30 per cent is going to restore the theatre itself.We shouldn't scare potential buyers about the cost it should be a realistic dollar amount. Full restoration doesn't have to happen in the beginning it could be done over a period of time. The focus of the Uptown should be to get it stabilized and operational with some cosmetic work done. I think Cablevision would have been more interested if the theatre had at least been operational.brucec

brucebc,

Since the Uptown Theatre is not a government institution, why is it up to the City to improve parking in the area rather than the buyer of the Uptown? I assume you're referring to a parking structure and not on-street parking. I don't believe that taxpayers owe the Uptown a parking facility. It's bad enough that sports teams pay politicians to steal from taxpayers for their stadium projects. I want to see the Uptown up and running again as much as anyone, but I don't believe it's "up to the City" to deal with the parking (unless you mean parking on the street).

Whether or not it is up to the City is a matter of debate. But I think all Bruce is saying is that a strong showing from them would make a big difference.

It's kind of silly to complain about tax dollars. Our tax dollars ideally are put to use on projects that improve and maintain quality of life for us, the taxpayers. I think it can certainly be argued that the Uptown falls into that category, and most definitely a sports stadium. How many thousands of people enjoy going to the new Soldier Field every football season? If you feel differently Scott, prepare your arguments and head for City Hall. But I suggest that your energy is better invested elsewhere.

It's kind of silly to complain about tax dollars? What kind of thinking is that? Have you given your freedom completely over to the government? You seem to think that government is a benevolent entity that exists only to make our lives better. This isn't an argument against the Uptown Theatre. I love the building and wish nothing but the best for it, as I have for many years. The Uptown has a viability problem as a going concern. Consider the Chicago Theatre as a comparison. And the Uptown is probably an even more expensive building to maintain. So even if the City provides seed money for the restoration in some manner, investors are still faced with huge operating costs and the need to generate substantial revenue to cover those costs and provide a return on their investment. By the way Life's too Short, what other businesses are you willing to provide hand outs to, besides the Uptown and the Chicago Bears? Where do you stop that train? Do you really favor a system based on political favoritism and the resulting loss of liberty? I can't think of a much better use of my time than to fight that at City Hall. The tyrants who are so common at all levels of government today love people like you who roll over for their shenanigans.

What do you propose as an alternative, more appropriate use of tax dollars, and how does funding projects which benefit the community constitute giving up our freedom?

Higher taxes results in less freedom and lower taxes results in more freedom. The more you're taxed the greater degree of control and power you're giving elected officals. The ability to control tax revenue is the source of their power. But that's for another web site.

The City of Chicago doesn't seem to have a real good track record when it comes to community assistance, though I must confess I haven't followed the situation closely in recent years. As for the Uptown, I think there is an obvious and glaring example upon which potential owners could pattern their Uptown Theatre business plan. And that is the Fox Theatre in St. Louis. The two theatres are similar in many ways. For example, both are very large (4300 - 5000 seats). Both are in commercial areas away from downtown. The Fox was in extreme disrepair before its restoration, as is the Uptown today. I suspect the Uptown will require more capital to restore and more cash to keep it running compared to the Fox, but if the Uptown were to provide the type of entertainment that the Fox does, I think it could be successful. I wish the federal tax credits that made feasible the restoration of so many buildings in the 1980s were still available. I liked that approach because it minimized favoritism and under-the-table deal making. They were available to any project that met the qualifications for the credit, as opposed to some sort of special favor. As for the City of Chicago, I tend to think the biggest favor it can do for the Uptown is to just stay out of the way.

I worked there in the 70's. They even had a few concerts there. It was funny to see people coming in stoned for a concert, looking around at the theatre going, "Wow, man!" This theatre was a gem. At that time the murals were still visible in the old nursery area. The main problem, if I remember correctly WAS the lack of parking. With the Nortown gone, it's one of the last remaining theatres with a vertical sign, is it not? It deserves a chance.
Jayne1955

Jayne, the Logan, Davis, Music Box, Apollo's 2000/Marshall Square, and Congress still have their vertical signs as well (the Congress, like the Uptown, though, is missing the letters spelling out the the theater name). The Loop theatres, also, have their vertical signs (the Chicago, Oriental, Palace), but are all replicas or reimaginings of the original verticals). I've probably missed at least a couple. Off the subject, the Aragon Ballroom in Uptown still has its vertical but I don't know if it's the original or not, but it looks amazing, it's huge.

I agree with the city staying out of the way.

Well, that probably counts as one of the few with verticals, considering how many there used to be. The Aragon IS amazing. I used to teach at St. Thomas of Canterbury school down the street, and I used to show the kids pictures of the Aragon, Riviera and the Uptown from their heydays as part of my lessons on the community. (My uncle worked at the Riviera when it was a movie theatre in the early 50's and had some cool pictures.) If they tried to tear down the Uptown, I'd bet the old girl would put up a fight. Breaking up that huge lobby floor would e difficult and probably cost a fortune right there.

I don't know how much the lobby floor would be a factor, but certainly the cost of razing the Uptown is one of the major reasons it is still standing. Prior to receiving City landmark status (however weak that is) it was particularly vulnerable.

Most cities provide money and tax credits interested in reviving a depressed area. The City should look to building a major parking garage in the area to help the Uptown area as a whole and not just the Uptown Theatre. Every major Downtown in the United States has used tax dollars to help revive its historic core. The Times Square Improvement District was created to help revive the midtown area of Manhattan which started with funds to restore the Victory Theatre and low interest loan and tax credits to restore the New Amsterdam theatre on 42nd Street. Midtown has been booming ever since after many failed attempts in the 70's and 80's. It took a combination of State,City and private funding to get the ball rolling. Chicago spent money helping revive the theatre district in the North Loop with the Chicago,Oriental,Palace and Goodman Theatres. This was a combination of Public and Private funds and this helped improve the entire Loop. Private companies are very nervous about investing in a depressed area without some help. The Uptown is one of the largest remaining historic theatres without a clear future. Most remaining theatres the size of the Uptown have been restored. The only way I see a future for the Uptown is a combination of City,State and Private funding. It would have been easier to restore the Uptown in the 1980's than it is today. The Uptown is not just any theatre it is the largest historic movie palace ever built in Chicago and is at risk of being lost if money isn't spent to stabalize and at least get the theatre operational in the near future. I think if the theatre is made operational and parking in the area is improved more companies would be interested in investing and running the Uptown.The fact that Cablevision was interested shows you the potential of the Uptown.brucec

I'm with you Bruce.

I respect your right to an opinion Scott. But I don't see where you are coming from, and I don't think I am going to.

Taxation within reasonable limits is fine by me as long as the money does some good for our community. Federal taxes have been lower since Bush became President. If you look at a chart of state income tax rates, the 3% flat tax in Illinois is nowhere near the top of the scale. I confess that I don't know much about city taxation. But I don't get the feeling like there is widespread discontent coming out of Chicago.

Come back when someone introduces a proposal that would take 75% of my yearly compensation and give it to the government. Then I think there will be something to talk about.

I think there is definitely widespread discontent about taxation coming out of Chicago. But I'm no expert, either. My mother left because she literally could not afford to live there anymore.

I found my Theatre Historical Society booklet that featured the Uptown and was looking through it. I wanted to cry or pound the walls. I coudn't make up my mind which.

Sticking with the future of the Uptown Theatre, the only point I was really trying to make was that it's not the obligation of government to provide funds on a discriminatory basis to jump start a private business. It's called the private sector, right? We should minimize the potential for special favors and misuse of taxpayer supplied funds. Do I want the Uptown to be restored? Of course. Am I arguing that no tax dollars should be used in any way to get it going? No, I am not. As I stated before, what I would like to see is a Federal program that provides tax credits to projects that qualify, thus ensuring as much as possible, that taxpayer-supplied funds will be handed out fairly (i.e., indiscriminately). That is the best way to ensure a fair and equitable opportunity for parties attempting to restore buidlings to seek funds. This is really seed money, as successful projects will return more in tax revenue than the credits they were given (e.g., St. Louis' Union Station, which never would have been restored without the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit program). Obviously, cities and states could have such a program as well.

Scott, I wish we had a National Trust Lottery like in the U.K. where the money goes toward restoring National Landmarks. The Uptown is on many lists of endangered Landmarks in the U.S. The Uptown is the largest unrestored movie palace in North America. It would have been cheaper had the Uptown been stabalized long ago. The Fox-Oakland which is currently under restoration sat empty for almost 40 years. The Fox restoration and the Charter School which is being built around the Fox is the Keystone to revive the Uptown area of Downtown Oakland. The Fox restoration is being funded by the City and Historic Grants from both the State and Federal and private grants from companies such as American Express. Im sure the Uptown would qualify for many Historic Grants once a clear plan is in place. The Uptown needs a clear business plan which I believe is concerts thats why Cablevision was interested.Chicago don't let the Uptown slip away she is an Historic Treasure looking for some TLC. The 3400 seat Fox one of the largest ever built on the West Coast was saved at an Auction by Mr and Mrs Dulucchi for $300,000 back in the 1970's to save Fox for future generations. The family held the theatre in trust until the city bought it in the 1990's with the intention of one day restoring the Fox. The day has come and the Fox will reopen next year following restoration as a home for concerts.I hope the same thing happens to the Uptown.brucec

I heard, and granted, it was just something I heard, that the New York company that runs Radio City Music Hall and has brought many people into the Chicago Theatre with the Rockettes' Christmas show took a long hard look at the Uptown before deciding that the neighborhood and the condition of the theatre's interior were cost prohibitive. But I love the Uptown dearly and still continue to hold out hope for the place. It has infinite possibilities and faces infinite impossibilities at the same time. I would love to see the theatre be part of that neighborhood turning around and becoming one again the thriving area that it used to be along time ago.

It has

Here is a great series of recent shots at the Uptown

i am not trying to side track with numbers but clarify ...dozens of times on this post people wishing that private sector would save this theater. As jayne said, a company took a good hard look and spent 100's of 1000's studing the site. at 90 million, a 4500 seat theater (rounding) making $10 profit per seat after all labor and operational costs and would have to sell out 2,000 shows to recoup costs. if they booked 150 shows a year, it would be 13 years to recoup investment .... this is without calculating interest on loans, or the fact that 150 sell out concerts for 13 years in a row is a very rosy picture. If the city is interested in revitalizing its own neighborhoods and developing more tax revenue , it has to help invest in itself by making development by the private sector a sound investment

oldjoe, I believe your economic analysis is largely correct. The Uptown will not be sufficiently profitable for a private enterprise without some sort of economic assistance. That's why it has sat unused for so many years. I remember touring the building in 1985 and I thought it had been closed too long then. Little did I know it would still be closed 22 years later.

The problem is, no matter how many people think it's worth saving, by the time they quit arguing about HOW to do it, the place will be rubble.

I think people should focus on the viability of a mid size concert venue in the 3rd largest city in the U.S. The Nokia a 7000 seat venue in LA was built at a cost of over 100 Million in a City that has many theatres. The Nokia was built near central downtown which was a depressed area a decade ago. A billion dollars has been spent over a period of years to bring back this area. The Nokia which opened recently is booked solid. Remember L.A. is less centralized than Chicago and many have to drive a great distance to get there. Majority of music acts cannot fill arena's seating 18,000 but midsize concert venues from 2500 to 7000 seats. Radio City Music Hall is booked solid most of the year with mucical acts that wouldn't fill Madison Square Garden. Radio City with nearly 6000 seats is the largest theatre venue in NYC and the Uptown with nearly 4400 seats is the largest in Chicago. Cablevision seeing the demand for midsize concert venues increase purchased the Beacon in NYC which seats nearly 2600 displacing the booker in the Beacon who is now invlovled with the 3300 seat former Loew's 175th Street which is selling out on a regular basis. Cablevision was interested in the Uptown becuase it sat 4400 seats but decided on the Chicago Theatre with 3600 seats becuase of the location and the theatre was already in good condition. The North Loop wasn't in good shape until the restoration of the Palace,Oriental and the new Goodman. The Uptown area is not that far from the Loop and will revive within the next 10 years as the area improves but the Uptown theatre cannot wait that long without some intervention. The City could make the Uptown area an improvement zone which would attract federal dollars and help the entire area. The City could invest in parking in the Uptown area which would attract investment and spend some seed money to get the Uptown Theatre up and running. I think with a clear plan both the Uptown area and the Uptown Theatre would become viable again.It has to become a combination of public and private to make it happen. Keep in mind that there is a demand for a theatre the size of the Uptown or Cablevision wouldn't have looked at the theatre in the first place. There is a big difference between the cost of making the Uptown operatinal along with cosmetic improvements and full restoration. Many former movie palaces were made operational and ran years of live performances before full restoration occured. We are very lucky the Uptown is still with us becuase it probably would have been demolished had the Uptown area been a hot investment zone. The decline of the Uptown area helped close the Uptown theatre and at the same time help save it.brucec

there ia demand the venues of this size, but at the right price, a company that is obviously expanding its real estate holdings by leasing the chicago and has a huge bankroll, balked at the price.....the city has make the business opportunity interesting to save the uptown - the city "could" , but they did not ....and the uptown's best chance at survival to date slipped thru chicago's fingers.

the loews 175 is selling out, but many first time patrons have been surprised at the state of the neighborhood ....lets keep our fingers crossed and wish the 175 luck, added police protection on show nights would be a big plus in keeping this venue filled. word of mouth stories could damage sales ...this also differs from mst other theatres that it functions full time as a church, if the venue dark for six weeks - no biggie, it is not necessary to fill 150 dates on the calender , i assume the promoter is paying a rental fee for each event

The area around Loew's 175th has improved in the last ten years. Most people seemed surprised when attending this theatre for the first time. Cablevision isn't the only company out there, AEG is another company presenting concerts in theatres across the U.S. and they are in the expansion mode at the moment. AEG will be running the huge Midland in Kansas City after renovations take place. AEG also runs the new 7000 seat Nokia near Downtown LA next to the Staples Center. The strength of the Uptown is its size but it will take the City of Chicago to get it up and running and interest somebody like AEG. I think people should be pointing out the positive when talking about the Uptown as a concert venue rather than the negative. Most movie palace restorations across the U.S. were very difficult to get off the ground but a clear vision and leadership make it happen. The Uptown is the largest not restored movie palace in North America.brucec

I could just see something funky like an anime convention running in the Uptown. That would be a perfect fit. A Harry Potter convention would have gone over well in the old castle, too. There are all sorts of possibilities for the place besides films and plays. They could have another theatre conclave and use it as a base.

I was at the Chicago in the early 80's when Lillian Gish brought some of her films and gave a talk on her career, and they played the films and used the Chicago Theatre organ. That kind of thing would be cool there, too. Some kind of annual theatre history program.

Here is an idea. If the city does want to be involved. Maybe Sam Zell might be interested?

Oprah could surely make it happen too, if she wanted to. She's good at making dreams come true, right?

Someone should remind Oprah that "Queen for a Day" was broadcast from there. First show that focused on women. It was cheesy, but it was there. Maybe a reunion for people involved with that show could get the old place some attention?

A good point indeed, Jayne!

What can I say? I'm old. I remember all of that useless old stuff. Just do not ask me where my keys are this morning.

good news for the uptown's possible future in today's chicago sun-times:

Live Nation has eyes on Uptown
REAL ESTATE | Northerly Island promoter seeks to restore theater's glory

January 9, 2008
BY DAVID ROEDER Sun-Times Columnist

Live Nation Inc., the concert promoter that manages the outdoor performance stage at Northerly Island, is negotiating with city officials to take over the landmark Uptown Theatre, 4816 N. Broadway.



The 1925 building has been mostly unused for 25 years. But Live Nation is said to be interested in restoring it to its former glory and using its 4,300-seat auditorium for concerts and other events.
» Click to enlarge image
It's been about a quarter of a century since the Uptown Theatre has been used regularly. If it can deal with all the potential roadblocks, Live Nation Inc. would like to change that.
(Al Podgorski/Sun-Times file)

Possible hitches -- and there are many -- include a city subsidy for what could be a $40 million restoration. Also, the city has a lien of at least $1 million on the property because of emergency repairs it had to order on the building. The City Council has given Mayor Daley's administration authority to acquire the Uptown via condemnation.

City Hall and Live Nation had no immediate comment. Ownership of the Uptown is a matter of litigation.

I hope they can work out a deal to save it.

i received the following update last night, which, to me, sounded like more good news. i am going to stay positive about this for now, even though i know failed attempts have been made in the past. it's still better than thinking the 'ol girl is in limbo with no interested parties.

Today's Uptown Advisor further clarifies today's Sun Times article. The Uptown Advisor is a volunteer service of Friends of the Uptown, an outreach activity of Landmark Uptown Theatre Corp., an Illinois not-for-profit corporation. Visit http://www.uptowntheatre.com for more information and to sign up for their newsletter.

Uptown Update January 9, 2008

Editor's note: Chicago-based JAM Productions, which made some of its first fortunes booking rock shows onto the UPTOWN's long-forgotten stage from 1977 to 1981 (?), has long been named as one of the recent and active contenders for ownership or control of the UPTOWN THEATRE, Chicago.

The second prominent contender, Live Nation, which is a major entertainment corporation, was not too public until today.

Sources have suggested that each company is interested in renovating and reusing the UPTOWN for entertainment. At this time, that's good news for the landmark and its large community of fans, supporters, neighbors and volunteers.

If there are legitimate people interested in it, How do we encourage such people?

I worked at the JAM concert that they held at the Uptown with the Bay City Rollers. I know I'm showing my age, but I am more familiar with them than with Live Nation.

had a bit of a panic moment today when i heard that fire trucks showed up at the theatre this morning when smoke was seen coming out of the west side of the building.

turns out they had the old boilers fired up...something with keeping the place heated so pipes don't burst...my heart has restarted.

Hi Jayne1955! What school did you go to? I have a feeling we were calssmates! Did you go see the American International BEACH PARTY films at the Uptown too?

To Charles...
Amundsen High School, Mundelein College- now part of Loyola University. All through HS and College I worked at the Nortown, but I helped out at other places.
Sorry to all the people I just spammed with that.

Back on topic...Has anyone actually tried to contact JAM to encourage them to get involved? I would if I could find an address. This winter has been brutal and I fear it's taking a further toll on the old girl on Broadway.

here's Jam Productions, Inc.'s info:


207 W Goethe St Fl 5
Chicago, IL , 60610-1809
Phone: 312-266-6262
FAX: 312-266-9568
Website: www.jamusa.com


let's make this happen, people!

speaking of my favorite theatre, here's some pictures that i just came across. sorry if they have been mentioned earlier in previous posts:

http://www.wagnerone.com/gallery/v/uptown-theatre-photos/uptown-paul-merideth/

also, here's a recent interview from chicagoist, a chicago-related blog, with bob balaban, son of one of the balaban and katz founders. B & K, of course, were the original owners/operators of the uptown and many other chicago theatres, including the recently-closed esquire and uptown's nearby neighbor, the riviera.

http://chicagoist.com/2008/02/08/interview_bob_b.php

I think jam may make it work. they did good with the Riv.My only thought is what would stop a conserv. group for throwing a road block up in front of Jam. Telling them how they want to restore or save the uptown. Something like that may kill the dream from making it become a reality.

this from the latest on the theatre's fate from the uptown chicago commission, as reported on uptownupdate.com (a great community information website!)last week:

Alderman Smith reports that two parties remain interested in purchasing and renovating the Uptown Theatre for use as a concert venue. A related court case is proceeding - as many parties (including the City) have liens on the property related to prior repairs. She remains optimistic that good things are to come.

this showed up today online concerning the uptown's fate:

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2008/03/the-show-must-g.html

here's an excerpt:

The arrival of Chicago newcomers MSG Entertainment and C3 led the longtime Chicago-based promoter Jam to move to hold the mortgage to the troubled Uptown Theatre, 4814 N. Broadway, if only as a defensive position. But if the City of Chicago were to acquire the Uptown under eminent domain — as many of the theater’s boosters desire — that could open the way for a different entity to take over the venue, possibly the concert promoter Live Nation, which could use its own mid-size indoor venue. According to sources familiar with the current rearrangement of the Chicago live-entertainment business, a restored and reopened Uptown is looking more likely now than in recent history.

According to a recent report in Billboard, midsize venues such as the Chicago, Congress and Uptown have been showing particular strength of late. Billboard said that Radio City Music Hall rung up $87.6 million in concert grosses during 2007.

New venues in choice spots such as downtown Chicago are very difficult to find and massively expensive to build from the ground up.

let's hope jam isn't trying to be greedy, and, in the meantime, draw away any other interest to the theater.

i will keep optimistic as ever...it's the only way to be. today, when my fiance and i came to the broadway/lawrence intersection, we were so entranced by its beauty (again!)that we missed our opportunity to walk! even in her current state, she sure is lovely! a week ago, we saw a theatre caretaker out front. the ugly boards that cover the entry doors were open, and we got a look inside. while it was dark (so nothing inside could be seen from where we stood) the facade hiding just underneath is lovely, just waiting for the outside world to marvel in her beauty again someday!

*one more thing: i don't want to come across as painting jam to be bad. i hope if anyone does anything with the uptown, it will be local. jam has done a great job with a lot of other venues in the city...i just hope they can do the same with the uptown!

carry on...

Thanks for the update, uptownjen. There have been many hopeful signs for the Uptown over the years, none of which led anywhere. Maybe her time is finally coming. The issues that must be overcome on the road to restoration seem as complex as the theatre is large.

I don't care who saves it or for what purpose. The important thing is that it is saved. If we get an owner that doesn't thrill us, well, owners come and go, as we all know well. That the building remains is what matters.

I doubt that you'll find anyone here who is picky with respect to which entity takes on the restoration and operation of the Uptown. And if they did care, there probably isn't much they could do about it.

Great post, Scott! You nailed it! That is the most fair resume of the situation I've seen in awhile.

Just catching up on these Uptown posts...it would break my heart to see the Uptown end up in rubble like the Nortown. As a side note, Jayne1955, you and I worked together at the Nortown for several years. Not sure if there is a way to say hi to you off line and catch up.

Nortown, send me a message at jaynekranc@yahoo.com

I'm going to trust everyone here not to abuse my address. Anyone who worked at these theatres got very involved with them and has fun reminiscing. I hope everyone here will understand that.

My uncle is 96 and worked at the Uptown. I showed him some of the pictures from here and it brought out a flood of great stories.

jayne, we'd love to "hear" any stories that you have from your uncle if you have a chance to type them up.

My uncle was working there in the 30's, then went in the navy during WWII and came back for awhile in the 50's, before going to work for Wanzer's Dairy.

He said once someone stole a painting from one of the alcoves. He was asked to describe it, since no one could remember exactly what it looked like. They found it in a pawn shop, based on his description.

He's got some great pictures of groups of staff sitting on the stage, but he won't part with them long enough for me to get them scanned.

He was working one day and they called him into the office and told him he had to get home. His ten year old brother had just died of tetnus. The brother had been ill for awhile. The whole staff helped him get through that. He married a cashier from the Riviera, across the street.

I'll try to get him to talk about it more next time I see him, and I'll try to get some of the old pictures copied.

cool. thanks for posting those little tidbits.

recently saw the video on the Uptown and concluded that this movie palace has to be included in the top 4 ever built and simply must be saved as the others have gone. Its loss would be equivalent to the demolition of the Fox San Francisco and the Roxy New York, acts of extreme vandalism from which those cities have never recovered.
paulsp2

The City should move quickly to secure and take care of all the legal issues concerning the Uptown. The current owner who ever they are can't take care of this theatre properly which has led the decline of this theatre and at times has become dangerous structure.
Lets cut through the red tape and lets get going. There is a huge demand for a mid size theatre seating 4000 for touring musical acts who can't fill the large arenas.brucec

No offense intended brucec, but when you're done with that magic wand can I borrow it?

Hey, if the city would agree, I would agree.

hey guys check out the retzler group web site you may find some of the projects interesting

thanks for the link, but i am personally confused as to what their involvement is with this theatre.

this is the link mentioned above, by the way:

http://retzlergroup.com/index_files/Page1056.htm

I'm confused too. What does the Retzler group hope to do with the Uptown? And what's happened to the other companies who were supposedly interested in this incredible theatre?

Warshauer is the Chairman of the Retzler Development Group so old news basically. No new entity has yet secured title on the property and won't until the court cases run their course.

From what I've seen it looks appears that the city would prefer Live Nation be successful in their bid given the company's deep pockets and the fact that they have the most to gain by restoring and operating the venue as quickly as possible. Unless something remarkable happens I'd expect that to be the eventual outcome though its going to take some more time.

this blog explains what is happening at this moment with the uptown. it's not much new news, though.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/derogatis/2008/05/the_battle_over_the_uptown_the.html

There is a rumor going around that the final ownership of the theatre will be decided by the end of September. I took a walking tour with my friend Rene Rabiela Jr.a few days ago.(his dad, Rene Rabiela operated the theatre during its time as a rock and roll palace). The inside of the theater is in pretty rough shape but it is overewelmingly beautiful. There is a slide show of that tour on our website. www.balabanandkatzmagaine.com Check it out. Email me with any questions..
David Balaban
Balaban and katz historical foundation

The chief of security at the UPTOWN continues to ask that interior photos not be posted online at this time due to security concerns. The building is probably one of the most photographed theatres of all time, and many historic photos are available through Theatre Historical Socity of America at www.historictheatres.org Photos taken on rare, approved tours are supposed to be for personal enjoyment only. Unfortunately, people still try to break in the building's dozens of doors. There have been petty thefts in recent years, including a not-historic bust from a niche. We don't want to risk any damage or theft to the building. We also don't want to make it even more challenging for security. We've respected this specific request, online, since 1998 at www.uptowntheatre.com

There is a rumor going around that the final ownership of the theatre will be decided by the end of September. I took a walking tour with my friend Rene Rabiela Jr.a few days ago.(his dad, Rene Rabiela operated the theatre during its time as a rock and roll palace). The inside of the theater is in pretty rough shape but it is overewelmingly beautiful. There is a slide show of that tour on our website. www.balabanandkatzmagazine.com Check it out. Email me with any questions..
David Balaban
Balaban and katz historical foundation
posted by balabanandkatz on Jul 21, 2008 at 10:26am

I forgot to mention, my email is Balabanandkatz@aol.com
thanks! David Balaban

I hope this theatre can be saved. It is huge inside. What a loss if Chicago lets this one slip. They should look to the irreversible damage the city of San Francisco has allowed to happen to many of its classic theatres.

Well, Chicago let a lot of it's classic theatres go, too. The Granada, the Nortown, the Norshore, the Paradise, the Roosevelt, the Century, the Marboro...I could name twenty that were all unique in their own ways. This one should be saved, not just because it's truly unique, but also because there are very few left. We've got to start appreciated our past more.

I'll never really get over losing the Granada and the Nortown. I felt a piece of my break with both of those.

Do I see another DuPage tragedy in the making with this latest news flash? I sure hope not! The DuPage was another theater designed by the firm of Rapp & Rapp, in its case, located in Lombard, which is a suburb of Chicago. And in that case there was a heated rush to demolish it by a group of backwards-minded disidents even there was a sincere effort made on the part of a well-meaning group to try to restore it. But sadly, under the worse type of politics imaginable, it got demolished, while I wonder if we'll see a repeat of that again here. I thought there was a good plan underway to restore the historic Uptown, so this news comes as a major shock to me!

the area that the uptown is slowly improving right now. still, i think it has been said before in the past that, due to its size and location, it would take a whole lot of money to demolish. (the dupage, referred to in the last post, was 1/5 the seating size of the uptown and much less ornate. it was also located in a seperate block of its own, from all the pictures i've seen. the uptown is located in the middle of a block surrounded by mostly bars and hip restaurants, making it much more difficult and expensive to remove.) i hope that works in favor of saving it. i don't think that the land is super "hot" (at least, not yet!)and the condo market is pretty cold here right now, with many new, empty condos awaiting occupancy in the area, so that also makes me think it won't be demolished.

so far, i would say that the biggest threat to the place would be having a show promotion company of some sort buy it to eliminate possible competition and then leave it to sit and decay. (this has been mentioned in various articles in chicago papers, since both jam, a local promoter, and live nation, a national promoter, want to buy it.) i hate to say it, but i myself would much rather see it reused in some way than just to sit there, a few blocks from where i live, rotting and dying a slow death. it's still lovely...it just needs some new life breathed into it.

hopefully, with the sale, the city will stipulate that whoever buys it has to put money into restoring it. that was done recently with the sale of the regal on the south side. still, i don't know how possible it is, at this point, for the city to intervene, being that the sale is supposedly being handled by an outside foreclosure auctioneer.

uptownjen, People think because of the size of that building it would be difficult to remove. Theatres are much easier to raze than other types of buildings. I've seen a few large buildings in Times Square get razed without any problems to the neighboring stores and restaurants in the area.

For the past five years the Uptown Theater Renovation Project,
has worked extremely hard in making the case for the Uptown
Theater to be renovated, so that future generations could enjoy this magnificent venue. It was no easy task to convince anyone to spend
millions of dollars to restore it to its former glory.
I am the son of the last person to operate this magnificent venue,
Rene Rabiela SR. And it's no big secret I have a big soft spot for the place. So after seeing organization's come and go, I felt the responsibility of making sure that theater didnt go the way of the Granada or any of the other demolished movie palaces we all miss.
So when I put together U.T.R.P. I wanted to make sure that it would not fail the way other's did in the past. I am extremely proud of the team I put together. Everyone on this team shared the same passion for the Uptown as I did. We brought in the big promoter's
and we showed them how they could spend all those millions and make it back in a reasonable amount of time. It wasnt easy, AEG, passed on the theater, saying for the amount it would take to renovate
the theater they could build a new one. We brought in Elevated,
formerly Clear Channel, now Live Nation. Our passion was shared
with Live Nation as well as with Jam Production's. And now the theater that everyone seemingly wrote off, is now being fought over.
The worse appears to over? Let's hope that as my good friend David Balaban say's this is the end, but really the beginning.

Rene Rabiela Jr.
www.chicagosuptowntheater.com

first off, thanks, william, for your clarification. i don't know much about these things, but i hope it isn't a factor in this case anyway.

rene, thanks for your thoughts as well. i hope you are right.

i just received an email from friends of the uptown, which tells of coverage of tomorrow's auction and details of what might be in store for the jewel of the neighborhood i call home.

*UPTOWN on the radio Tuesday*

Eight Forty-Eight reporters have been working since last Friday on
covering the scheduled judicial auction of the UPTOWN THEATRE
property, 4816 N. Broadway, in Chicago, which is set for tomorrow,
Tuesday, July 29.

(The best of our collective understanding is...) This sale was
rescheduled from previously cancelled dates. It is based on a judge's
decision to force two parties to sell their interests to one party.

What's for sale? The property and all of its debt, including debt
from previous owners borrowing against it and from liens for services
provided, such as scaffolding and stabilization.

Observers anticipate that two known prospects - JAM Productions and
Live Nation, who each own portions of the debt - will be first in
line at the sale. However, no specific plans or intentions have been
made public.

Purchasing the building and its debt could be a first step toward
renovation and reuse. However, one has to keep in mind that tens of
millions of dollars will be needed after satisfying the purchase cost
and debt in order to actually renovate the theatre for some
entertainment use.

The news radio show Eight Forty-Eight airs at 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. on
WBEZ, 91.5 FM, in Chicago and streams online via:

http://www.wbez.org/Program_848.aspx

Both Crain's Chicago Business and rock critic Jim DeRogatis have
covered this topic well in recent stories.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=25055

http://blogs.suntimes.com/derogatis/2008/04/the_theater_wars_the_fight
_for.html

Rene Rabiela Jr. and Uptownjen, if I understand you both correctly, essentially you're saying that the same formula that was applied to bringing down the DuPage is now about to be applied to the Uptown as well, all under the guise of an "effort" being made to "save" it. I'm starting to better understand this pattern now, though I was a bit slow at first.

Will the Dupage page ever get unlocked? I would love to know how the battle ended and if the facade and marquee were saved?

Just got off the phone with Arny Granet Jam own's the Uptown Theater!

There's a good article in today's Trib by Chris Jones. Also read the reader's comments, many are hoping for a positive outcome.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-tue-uptown-theater-auction-jul29,0,2760984.story

Let's hope this auction does what Chris says--put the theatre on its way to renovation and finally reopening!

I don't just want the facade and marquee saved. I want this theatre used for the purpose it was intended. We don't need another Century.

jam...a third venue in the neighborhood? this worries me...i hope i'm wrong.

i meant to say that jam already puts on shows at the aragon AND owns the riv.

the state of the riv is what really scares me into thinking that they may have bought it for a reason other than restoration.

i hate that i sound like cynic now. i love the uptown, and, still, at the end of the day, want to see it restored to all of its former glory! i guess a buyer is a step toward a good outcome, right?

If it's going to be restored, it will need public funds. No private company will finance something like this renovation out of completely private funds. (Even Disney, which has dumped millions on its theatres, has tight purse strings).
But at least untangling the ownership/mortgage mess will help get this thing rolling. Perhaps a public/private joint venture will allow the funding to get pulled together. Part of that big restoration cost will be building additional parking for the neighborhood.

the more i look into this, the worse it gets...

the sun-times article upset me even more when i looked into the possible partner mentioned by JAM, joseph freed and associates. from their own website, it looks like they are mostly interested in residential and mixed-use facilities.

here's their slogan on their website: "an entrepreneurial real estate company that develops, acquires, and operates retail and mixed-use properties nationally with dedication to long-term value creation." i don't know about you, but i think that says a lot about what THEIR plans are for a building like the uptown.

here's a blog from someone who knows about this company:

Heads up vendors, suppliers and others in the Madison, Wisconsin market: Joseph Freed & Associates is all about sticking it to you. Beyond changing the face and plans of their Hilldale project countless times and reneging on promises to retailers regarding the residential community they were going to bring them (there are no more plans for residential), they turn on their suppliers and leave them holding the bags on hundreds of thousands of dollars that, suddenly, after months and months, they either decide to contest or just don't pay. It's not just Madison either. Check out their history in Denver! Where are the Madison lawmakers in this?

this all just looks horrible to me. i'm sick about it.

RobertR, yes, the DuPage came down in its entirety and you can read all about it at this link (but please be forewarned of the very very upsetting photo they show) -- http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/lombard/archive/x18353309

I don't know how that story could've happened in America! Nazi Germany, yes, but in America? No, this was not what we're supposed to be about. And I don't know how anybody could operate a wrecking crane against a building such as that, and not feel the great disgrace of what it is they're doing. For I look at that building and those who sincerely sought to restore it and can only ask, what crime? What crime did it commit? What crime was here? This had been a beautiful, beautiful theater and something that anyone should be so lucky to have. And when they took this theater down they weren't just attacking a theater but a whole culture of people. We talk about trying to introduce laws against hate crimes in this country? Well here you go, folks. Take a look. For if this wasn't a hate crime among hate crimes I don't know what is.

Those who enjoyed watching the DuPage come down and asked what the big deal was? Well, here's what the big deal was. They should try designing a theater such as that themselves and see what little they could do to even begin to hold a candle to it. To take one's hand against another's art and then walk away totally scot free, that's not a crime? What kind of country are we? In this instance they did it because they could. And nobody was there to stop them. Why?

And I ask what's to stop that same element if it decides to go after the Uptown next? I sure hope there's a good answer to that. Otherwise, God help us.

According to a Crain's article the Jam/Freed partnership is required by court order to place $5M in an escrow account 30 days after being awarded title and have a renovation financing plan in place 90 days after that. Renovation is required to be complete in about 2 and a half years.

If Mickelson was planning on sitting on the property that's not going to work. He better get busy shaking down the city for TIF money.

if what you say is true, k1052, it makes me a little less nervous. if the city is holding the owner accountable, it has to be a good thing.

Everyone take a deep breath!
Nazi Germany? Sitting on the Uptown?,Who's next?
Have faith!

I want to have faith, but let's face it. We've all been kicked in the gut a lot of times. This is a torturous little exclusive club we're in. And as the poet, Asleigh Brilliant, once said, Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get you.

Jayne the list of restored theatres across the country keeps growing. The restoration of the huge Fox-Oakland which sat nearly 3500 is undergoing a massive first rate restoration after sitting vacant nearly 35 years. It will be booked by Another Planet which books pop/rock acts in several locations. The Paramount which sat nearly 3500 is just around the corner from the Fox and was restored in the early 1970's. Oakland is only a City of 400,000 but it has now managed to restore two of the largest theatres on the West Coast. The City and State helped fund the Fox but most of it came from grants with very little funding coming from the general public. It is a 46 Million project which will include a charter school being built around the Fox as well as restoraiton of the theatre. They have gone to the public for 5 Million to finish some of the restoration work. When Jam takes ownership of the Uptown many grants will come there way both Federal,State and City. Maybe they can get funding from many of the local corporations such as Boeing and Bank of America who help fund the Fox. The former Mayor of Oakland Jerry Brown got the ball rolling and Jam will need help from the City. I hope the Civic leaders can do whatever they can to see the restoration actually happen. Once restored the Uptown should take its place among the greatest theatres still standing in North America.brucec

Rene, apparently you don't realize that Jam was supposed to secure ownership on Tuesday and have it restored to its original condition and open by the end of the week. Anything less than that is cause for hysteria.

I agree with you, we should all have faith at this point, and be thankful things appear to be moving in the right direction. We all wanted the Uptown's ownership and other legal issues to be resolved. Apparently they now are. The next step is to wait and see the operational and financing plans that Jam develops. Personally, I don't see a concern with Jam's ownership of the Riviera and presentations at the Aragon. I don't see those venues threatening the viability of the Uptown, or vice versa. The Uptown should have shows that draw larger crowds than either the Riviera or the Aragon can handle. Thus, I think the Uptown Theatre will actually improve the overall economic health of the neighborhood, including the other entertainment venues. Also, renovation of the Uptown will certainly bring additional parking to the area, which will also benefit the other venues.

It's not hysteria, guys. Really it isn't, at least not with me. It's pessimism, and I'll admit that, but I am not without hope. Maybe some people still are, but I'm not. I'm delighted that at least the ownership question is settled. (Then if it DOES get screwed up, I'll have someone concrete to blame again...JUST KIDDING!) But we aren't out of the woods yet, just because this theatre has an owner again, and I don't think it's wrong to admit that. It has an owner, but it's still in deplorable condition from neglect, and much larger than a lot of people realize.

This particular theatre was not surpassed in size until Radio City Music Hall was built in the 1930's. We're talking about a 46,000 square foot messy main floor, and over 4,000 (4,381 was the number I was given at the Theater Historical Society conclave in 1977) rotting seats. It had three marquees, three lobbies, six public lounges and the dome is 120 feet.

You people who have actually been there know how overpowering it is, and how daunting that makes this job. If any of you have not, you can't tell by the pictures. Trust me. I used to play flashlight tag in there at night, and it was so easy to disappear, it wasn't funny.

It is a very daunting task, but one thing that the Uptown has (unlike the DuPage), at least partially, is a city government that is not fighting against it. The alderman is very much in favor of renovating the Uptown, and the City in general is in support. The theatre district downtown showed what happens when a city sits tight and allows the process to happen---the Loop at night was a dead zone back when the Chicago reopened. Uptown has a more vibrant nighttime scene already. And yes, even if it all happens, compromises will be made, but the ultimate goal is getting that big, old barn back to life.

I agree if the downtown can be turned around, Uptown can. Uptown was not exactly a total dead zone, although it got close at times. I taught for awhile at St. Thomas of Canterbury, around the corner, and both the church and the nearby McCormick Boys Club worked real hard to keep the neighborhood from going completely downhill. You always had the Green Mill, too. The Green Mill was drawing jazz fans even when the neighborhood was not so hot. The theatre would make a huge difference, but it's got to have parking like downtown, where you don't have to walk TOO far. I know the El is close and the buses stop right out front, but you still will have people who want to drive.

Scott: I heard the deadline was monday, in Berlin?
I think we would all like it to look as it did in August of 1925.
But we all know that's just not going to happen.
The American's With Disability's Act,alone is one thing that will
stop this from being a restoration as oppossed to a renovation.
City code's. All go into more detail later.
uptowntheater@live.com
www.chicagosuptowntheater.com

The ADA often will require elevators, accessible seating, etc. but fundamentally is consistent with a restoration.

As to this above post:
According to a Crain's article the Jam/Freed partnership is required by court order to place $5M in an escrow account 30 days after being awarded title and have a renovation financing plan in place 90 days after that. Renovation is required to be complete in about 2 and a half years.

The Crain's article quotes somebody as stating that, but it seems unrealistic that $5 mil will be put in escow, that a renovation financing plan will be in place within 90 days, and iffy as to the 2.5 year timetable. Substantial public funding takes time to obtain.

Well my hope, of course, is that the Uptown's restoration will show a totally different variation on the word "realistic," as opposed to what we saw in the Boyd Theatre's case in Philadelphia, PA, and that the Uptown's restoration will demonstrate that what those in Philly insist can't be done CAN be done. I see no reason why the Uptown's restoration can't work, and within the time frame presented, if it's strictly adhered to.

And my hope is that those involved with the Boyd will be able to humbly watch and learn from what they observe, and apply the lessons learned to restoring the Boyd.

One can dream, can't he?

Remember the old Chicago motto: I WILL! Despite rampant negativism, the city has always achieved what it sets out to do - despite all odds.
I have a very positive feeling, that this is really going to work out for the best of the Uptown Theatre and all those dedicated advocates, who have never given up hope - after all these years. We are most certain to see this architectural jewel restored to its former glory! YES WE WILL! YES WE CAN!

I believe the Uptown will be gorgeously restored and reopened! I just doubt the items mentioned in the Crain's article.

Using a retroactive approach, there has to be a resolve what we want the end result to be, when we want this to be, and then we have to fill in how we got from Point A -- where the Uptown is now -- to Point B -- where we want it to be, and when.

In my saying this, a good example that comes to mind is the Olympics. Imagine if on the day the Olympics is scheduled to begin we get told, "Er, it's not ready yet, folks, please give us another year or so before it finally will be." When it comes to the Olympics such an occurrence is unthinkable. It's quite clear the show must go on when it's scheduled to go on, no ifs, and or buts. And to the best of my knowledge no hosting city ever dropped the ball when it came to this. And while I understand that when the Uptown is fully restored it's to be a thing of permanence and not merely temporary, why should they make a difference really? When the first Disneyland in Anaheim was scheduled to open on such and such a date, it opened on that date, and that was (and remains) a thing of permanence. And it's really the only way to get things done in my opinion.

And in the Uptown's case so much that needs to be done to make the dream real has already been done. It's passed the two massive barriers of finding the best location for it and the best architects to design it. It's already located in one of the greatest cities in the U.S., and believe me, theater architects don't come better than Rapp & Rapp! And that much is all fully squared away now. So now comes the big question when will it be reopened, and all the rest is just fill in the pieces -- the same as it is when it comes to the Olympics, or building Disneyland. People do it, you know. Why should it be any different here?

When the Uptown was announced in the Chicago Tribune on February 3, 1924, it was stated that the planned opening date was April 1, 1925. It opened August 18th.

BWChicago, can I please compliment you for that post? I loved it. I almost spit peach tea all over my keyboard, but I mean that in a good way.

What you're saying is that the Uptown was off to a bad start, in other words, but over time it overcame this because the theater itself was so great. And that's saying a great deal for the Uptown Theatre actually. I'd be curious to know what caused the delay, while trying to envision what things were like in Chicago in 1925 that might've caused it. I don't know how hot the summers get up there in Chicago, but 1925 was before air-conditioning, was it not? So I'm thinking an extraordinary heatwave might've been a contributing factor. Also, the building of movie palaces at that time, as opposed to silent movie houses, was still in its experimental infancy, creating circumstances whereby the audiences would've been a bit more understanding than they would've been otherwise -- an excuse that simply cannot be used in today's world when it comes to reopening movie palaces.

If my assumptions are correct regarding how it was in 1925, apparently things were much better along three years later, because the Boyd movie palace here in Philadelphia, PA was scheduled to open on Christmas Day, 1928, and by golly it did! Maybe it did so based on a hard lesson learned from what happened regarding the Uptown's delayed opening three years earlier, who knows? Any info on what the public's reaction was when the Uptown's grand opening was delayed by 17 days? It would be a sad statement about the Uptown, at least at the onset, if there wasn't any.

My point was that historically theaters, as well as any complex building projects, are very, very frequently off-schedule. A lot of times now you'll see theaters rushed to completion because they absolutely HAVE to open due to scheduling. But still things are pushed back very frequently. I know the last two big theater projects in Chicago, the Biograph and Bank of America (Lasalle Bank, Shubert, Majestic) Theater were both reopened significantly later than originally projected.

I would also point out that it is very normal for a theater to be closed long before restoration; for example, the Oriental was closed for 18 years and the Auditorium for nearly 30. The Genesee in Waukegan was closed for 15 years. I could go on. Continuous operation up to restoration is definitely the exception, not the rule.

This discussion has strayed so far from the Uptown, Chicago and any facts available at this time that I really wish it would cease.

I do not recommend libeling anyone on this or any other site. I think we can hold onto the thread by not responding inapropriately to inappropriate comments. Just let the trolls go back under the bridge. They don't have to have any power here.

But to tackle another part of what's come up...I really don't think using other situations for a comparison as to how things will proceed with the Uptown is THAT far off topic. The whole point is to learn from the past. I'd rather have the Uptown restoration go more slowly and be done right than rushed and be done haphazardly.

If we're looking at Chicago as a reference point, they certainly rushed to get the Iroquois open on time for the Christmas season, and it was open a month before it caught fire, killing hundreds of people. This has to been done as slowly as it needs to be, to be done safely and well.

I guess I would simply ask that all of us armchair observers wait until there are some facts or there is a project proposal before getting into any flavor of lather. At this moment, nothing has changed. Everyone's hopes, dreams and fears are simply on hold, awaiting further action and announcement. I cannot speak for any of the would-be owner/operators. However, I can speak for the volunteers who have a lot of experience and have studied and visited theatre restoration projects worldwide -- good, bad and ugly. Yes, there is much to be learned from the past 30 years of theatre renovation and resue as we know it. No, conjecture, blame, accusations, threats of imprisonment and other nonsense are not helpful at this time. If this garbage continues on this page for the UPTOWN, I will ask that it be removed. Thanks.

Please keep your comments focused on the subject at hand.

I want to also warn those of you who make unsubstantiated accusations about an organization that you are subject to our comments policy (which will be strictly enforced). Please remember as well that the relative anonymity of the Internet does not protect you from issues of libel.

As we note in our comments policy: "Unless you have court-documented proof of malice, bankruptcy, theft, vandalism, misappropriation of funds, drug use, violence, etc., do not submit any such accusations on this site. This site is not a venue for your private or public grievances against other people. If you wish to make such accusations, do it somewhere else. If you libel another user here, your account will be deleted."

This will be enfored.

I hardly qualify as a armchair quaterback.
I dont think I am going out on a limb here when I say
that, I know this project like the back of my hand.
I have been to every concert, boxing match, movie,
at the Uptown from 1977-1981. I ate pizza with Bruce Springsteen
and company. shared popcorn with Peter Gabriel there, and cooked three turkey's for Carlos Santana when he played there on thanksgiving day,

That wasn't directed at you, Rene. Just everyone else who didn't eat pizza with the Boss.

Were Renee the guy who yelled at me when the line backed up so far when I was behind the concession counter at the Bay City Rollers concert? God, the munchies those people had!
{;-P

But I agree...there is much to be learned from past restoration experiences. We need to just sit tight a little bit longer, and see what kind of ride we're going to be taken on, good or bad, exciting, or disappointing.

wow, rene! what cool stories you must have of your times at the uptown. just reading the summaries of those experiences makes me excited! (this doesn't even count how cool i think it is that you must know about every nook in the uptown!)

there's a new, full-page editorial in the chicago reader this week concerning the sale of the uptown. it's not up on the website just yet, but it is in the print edition which came out today. it discusses the reasons why the city should be happy that JAM purchased the theatre.

i'm sure their website will have the same article in the next day or so.

just wanted to keep everyone in the know about what's being discussed in chicago about the theatre...

I think it's safe to say everyone on this site would like the best possible outcome for the Uptown. And I completly understand your curiosity in knowing every detail of the renovation process.
I will do my best to get everyone all the inside Information as soon as it become's available. Please understand that there are item's
that cant be disclosed until event's warrent. As far as the many
wonderful story's I have of growing up in this great venue, they are
being compiled along with those of other big player's in the theaters great history for an upcoming book. The title of the book is still up in the air,( The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway And Larwence?)Just kidding, however look for it to be realesed soon.
I have gathered backstage pass's drum stick's, set list's, ect,
I gathered some great concert pictures, from friend's and family.
Everyone from Alice Cooper, to Zappa, Played the Uptown. So there will be somthing for everyone music wise.

Does anyone know if JAM would be open to the idea of having an organ put back into the Uptown? It seems that the Uptown would almost be incomplete without one.

I would hope that they would consider that. CATOE might be able to help with that. (The Chicago Theatre Organ Enthusiasts) There was an organ taken out of a theatre and put into a restaurant near the Nortown that is now closed. I wonder what became of that one? They took the lift out of the Nortown to make it work. I was at the Nortown when they did it.

Sigh. The problem with the destruction of theatres is that neither love nor logic seem to help very much, and love and/or logic are powerful driving emotions. I think that's why it makes people so virulent.

I just wanted to share how proud of you Fellow "Theater nuts," in Chi-town I'am. I've been watching your site for the Uptown with a lot of interest over the years and it seems as if a new chapter in this great theater's life is about to be written. The passion you've all shown helped keep the Uptown's fate in question allowing for time and reflection.I hope the new owners will allow your input and be able to channel the love you all have for it into something as great as the Great Theater its self.I look forward to the day I come to visit your city and the Palace that is the UPTOWN!!

Greetings. I'm posting this inquiry on the Uptown page, because it seems to have a large numer of posters familiar with various theatres on the North Side of Chicago.

Does anyone remember any of the following three theatres, and their original names or exact addresses?

I've searched Cinema Treasures but have been unable to locate the pages because I'm unsure of the names. The locations I am sure of though.

1)Palacio Theatre?.
This place was located on Sheridan Road just North of Irving Park Road, on the West side of Sheridan. Where Cuyler or something dead ends into Sheridan.
North of the Holiday Club.

It was long closed and torn down in the late 70's, or early `80's. It was much bigger than the old X-Rated Festival Theatre that was South of Irving on Sheridan as well.

The Palacio had a huge auditorium whose rear was visible from the "L" trains after it made the Northbound turn from the Sheridan stop. I may be wrong about the name.

2)The Alameda?
This theatre was on Division a half block West of Damen on the North side of Division. It had a gigantic marquee that spanned the entire facade and overhung all the way to the curb. It was torn down in the early `90's. The marquee had to have temporary poles to hold it up before it was razed. There is an open courtyard mini-mall with condos above I believe in it's place now.

3)Lincolnwood Drive-In?
This place was on McCormick Blvd. between Howard & Devon near Touhy. Either North or South of Klein Tools.
It may be where Lincolnwood Towne Mall is now, where Bell & Howell used to be or something.

It may have also used a Chicago address. It was still open in the late `70's, as I drove to & saw "The Enforcer" there. Clint got everyone amped up. Lot's of gravel flying when everyone left.

These three theatres may already be listed on Cinema Treasures, I just don't know the correct way to search them. Thanks!

Hi David,
The theatre on Sheridan Road, north of Irving Park Road is/was called the SHERIDAN and you'll find lots of information about the cinema under that name at Cinema Treasures. The X-rated theatre south of Irving Park Road was my personal childhood favourite during the early 60's, when it was still called by its original name - MODÈ. If you are interested in that one too, you'll find plenty of information on it! If the Cinema Treasure site didn't exist, one would have to invent it! Thanks very much to whoever is responsible for creating it!!!!

Think the drive-in you speak of was the Sunset.

The Alameda is probably listed as the Biltmore.

Thanks to you all. My querys on the Alameda/Biltmore, Palacio/Sheridan & Sunset Drive In were all answered in record time. And thanks to BWChicago, I now fully understand the advanced search fields. It was clearly me, and not my archaic WebTV.

As long as I'm here, I'll post my little tidbits of the Uptown. It was here I'm sure I saw ELO for the first time. Had to be 1973 or `74 because they'd opened for someone else. Possibly Zappa, and not yet themselves headliners. Though I'd think I would remember the latter.
The Uptown was an inspirational place, especially for the progressive rock folks. It gave "Roll Over Beethoven" a surreal quality in such opulant surroundings.

There was a multi-story, possibly city run, customer pay parking structure, just East of the "L" tracks behind the Firestone dealer. It entered & exited onto Broadway using long concrete ramps. This would have been a great asset now with JAM's involvement, if it had not been torn down years ago. Maybe it could be rebuilt if still vacant. The parking of the various show's semis, is an excellent point.
And really should be the first thing JAM looks at as far as what they can do on the same nights at both the Riv & Uptown. Never take a community for granted. And trucks belching smoke out 24/7, and the rolling of Anvil cases will get old quick. Even the Riv has used both sides of Lawrence in the past. The side street behind the Uptown would likely need to be reconfigured somehow. Part of the backstage converted to loading dock or something, a previous post suggested.
Maybe the vacant furniture store portion to the North, could be hollowed out as stage access. I worked at Fanning Cadillac at Foster & Broadway. The trucks that delivered our new cars came right down Broadway.

The price JAM & their partners reportedly paid seems like a both a bargain and a blessing.
Since JAM is an established Chicago entertainment company willing to take it on, maybe great things are ahead. The Riviera's existing interior cosmetics are of slight concern, if that's some kind of base line. But maybe there's a bigger plan down the road.
Of course none of these places started out weathered, they just ended up that way. We were warned of the evils of Rock & Roll.
Surely any future work done at the Uptown would be gone over with a magnifying glass. I'm not implying that anyone would cut a corner. Just that it probably wouldn't be possible.
And in theory, when it starts out looking nice again, like the Chicago Theatre, it will stay that way.

From a business point of view, owning such a massive piece of land 4-5 blocks from the lake and near transportation, is never a wrong move.
Saving as much of the original Uptown both as asthetically & as is fiscally possible, given asbestos and everything else they'll encounter will be a monumental task.
The biggest culprits will likely be the roof, and years of limited or no heat during those many winters. It's a given all plumbing & electrical will need replacing, even if you were to restore to it's original use.
They'll be heros no matter waht they try, after 27 years of dormancy.

Any conversion though that could possibly end up paying for itself over time, would likely have to include creating a multi-use venue with year round usability. Sadly that would likely mean somehow dividing the auditorium and it's once touted "acre of seats".
The massive span of the interior space can't be financially profitable to do only nightly shows for one audience anymore. It why places like the Uptown closed in the first place.

It would likely take round the clock, United Center level performers like Elton John every day, to merely break even.
And that's after all the renovation costs. More would have to be going on in a mixed use building on a daily basis just to pay the utilities in any economy.

Since JAM has been doing it so long, and knows the numbers their neighboring venues can pull in, they were probably the only realistic hope the Uptown had left. Barring a Trump like guy who just wants to see it happen. No group can stave off the city forever. And JAM at least has a working relationship with them.
And since it would be closer to no longer being an eyesore, or complained about to the city, they'd be receptive and workable on anything positive happening as we are.

One can only hope it can all be done realistically, tastefully and incorporate the rich Uptown area history. Green Mill, Uptown Bank building, etc.

Maybe they'll be open to or solicit suggestions once there's an outline of what's realistic or not.

I've often wondered if those big old lobbies wouldn't lend themselves to these theme conventions that draw so many fans. Can you imagine what it would have been like to have a LotR or Harry Potter convention in that big old castle? Or how trippy some anime fans would get with that big old barn to roam around in?

I remember working the concession stand for some of the concerts, and seeing all the people who were out of it just walking around going, "Wow, Man!" like Tommy Chong dong his 70's show character.

You've got so much space in that place!

Theme conventions is a great example of mixed-use. Hypothetically, take something like the Rocky Horror convention, Comic-Con, Sci-Fi or whatever else. Those organizers would likely gladly pay dearly, to host their conventions in such a classic setting. But it wouldn't have to be limited to the lobby.

Maybe when they restore the auditorium portion, depending on how drastic the pitch of the floor/seats is down to the stage, they could incorporate some type of removable floor sections just inside the auditorium from the lobby.

This would allow larger conventions
that require table space, to span out of the lobby and into the granduer of the auditorium. Then replace the floor sections & rear seats as the entertainment dictates from show to show. I always wondered why the Park West never ventured into this on a smaller scale. With their perfectly flat floor in front of the stage.

Or maybe the vacant furniture store to the North of the Uptown, could be outfitted as convention space. With the main entertainment of any given convention taking place in the theatre.
Then make a super sized Shake, Rattle & Read the anchor tenant, expanding all of his media to the soon to be added diverse foot traffic.

I hope all of the Uptown's community embraces whatever plans & renovations are proposed. Fully understanding that it could mean upwards of an additional 5000 people to the neighborhood on a more regular basis.
This would be a huge boon to the area economy, and anything is worth the sacrifice to end decades of the Uptown's non use. After all, it is obviously the area's largest namesake landmark. And should be a proud achievement once it's completed.

The old Heilig-Meyers/Nelson Brothers at the corner was converted into 22 loft condos, the Annoyance Theater, Marigold Indian Restaurant, and Fat Cat Bar a couple years ago. They're doing very well. The former storage loft building directly north of the Uptown and the cinder-block stores next to that could probably be incorporated, though. I have to imagine some more land acquisition is going to be needed, be it for stage expansion or more support space.

Make no mistake, I'd rather see it restored as it was. Make no mistake about that. If you have to divide the place up, as deep as it is, I'd prefer to see them save as much of the auditorium as possible, and block in the balcony space somehow. If it has to be done, I'd rather see the auditorium left as much alone as possible and a second floor space created where the balcony is. I'd love to have it restored as it was, but even I admit that might not be feasible. If I put a false wall at balcony level, I'd try to make it something that could later be removed, if anyone ever got the money to put it back.

When they first divided the Nortown, they just covered stuff up. You could sometimes see old lights that were still burning glowing through the partitions. I often wished it could be restored someday, but alas, it was not to be.

Greetings. I too would love to see the Uptown restored to it's original state first. As a theatre for films, stage plays & concerts you could sit at.

I was just speculating on how it would/could be profitable or even able to break even, with just nightly shows again. Other than big name entertainers, what could they do to keep it an active place and paying for itself on a daily basis.

I was trying to throw out generic examples of how to adapt the space so it could be used as often as possible.
Barring running matinee & evening performances of virtually everything, it might take a long time to reach the break even point. Especially if $35 million is spent before ever opening the doors. And that presumably being partially borrowed with it's own interest, etc.

Some accounting firm will figure that one out. They'd probably start with something like: If it sold out every existing seat with 4300 people paying $100 a ticket, there's $430,000 on a given night. Somebody please check my math, I failed everything past the 8th grade.

Now say they removed just the first floor seats(grrrr), and squeezed in more bodies for a concert, lets round it out to earning $500,000 per sold out show.
Including or excluding expensive VIP box seats or freebies or whatever, let's just use the $500K as a super-generous nightly pull-in.
If they pay Sting, Cher or whoever $200,000 of that, or whatever the going rock star rate is, they're left with $300K, which has to pay everyone else, the utilities, unions, and whatever's left of that $35 million dollar renovation bill.

Since it's not realistic that they could consistently have Sting's or Cher's on a nightly basis, or not always have sell outs with others, the intake would probably be erratic from show to show. And likely half or less than all of the above. So the down time would be critical.
Plus the United Center would be saying "Hey Cher, we can get you 35,000 more ticket buyers and parking for them." So all the internal marketing would be new ground for promoters to convince or overpay name entertainers, to play the Uptown instead.
Though some veteran entertainers I would like to think would be willing to play for free or limited pay. Just to get the whole thing off the ground on the right note and for sentimental reasons.

Since regular nightly shows is more of ironically a Broadway thing, stage shows & musicals would be the next likely entertainment to consider on a part time basis. Shows that can maybe profit better after limited or lengthy runs. That's assuming the seats are left in or removable at will. Pulling "Broadway In Chicago" into the mix might be an advantage.

Who knows? The accountants sure will have there hands full, and hopefully be able to pull it all off with flying colors.

P.S. There used to be a cool restaurant across from the Nortown called Sally's Stage. It had an a very animated waitstaff on skates or something with a stage show during dinner. Big fun.

They may want to try to make the Uptown usable for large conventions like the Paramount in Seattle did. When the Paramount was restored they removed the original auditorium floor and installed a convertable floor that is slopped and has seats for theater use and then can be made flat for convention use. I don't know how they convert it but have been told that it only takes a few hours to go from slopped floor with seats to a flat empty floor ready for tables or whatever the renter requires. 30 million was spent on the Paramount and it has run in the black every year. They also expanded the stage and do a lot of touring Broadway shows and concerts, as well as films and conventions. They are also a 501 3C. With a lot of imagination the Uptown can be brought back.

Wow, thanks Ron. That's exactly the kind of conversion I was trying to describe. That's great that it's already been done within a vintage theatre elsewhere.
Maybe the new owners will hopefully read Cinema Treasures, and contact those involved who budgeted for and made the Paramount in Seattle happen.
I wonder what The Paramount's parking scenario is.

Also, to Jayne1955, I reread some of the past posts. I seem to remember now that Sally's Stage near Devon & Western was the restaurant the Nortown Theatre's organ was taken to. It was directly across the street. And it's showbiz theme would have been a natural. I think the organ was on the North wall of Sally's Stage. I was there in the late `70's. And they had banjo players and all kinds of stuff going on.
Kind of like Ed Debevics or Dick's Last Resort. Thankfully without the attitude though.

Yes, I was thinking of Sally's Stage. It had a collection of old carnival game machines, that you could play. I think some came from Riverview Amusement park. But I thought they just took the lift from the Nortown, and the organ came from someplace else. But I may not be remembering correctly. It was a long time ago. There was a similiar place on Montrose near Ashland, but I can't remember the name of that, either.

I know a couple of local high schools (I think Mather for sure) used the Nortown for graduation ceremonies a couple of times. That was interesting. The Uptown could be used like that.

The Oriental has done well as a playhouse, Wicked especially has done well there, but you still have the parking problem if you try to do that at the Uptown. And Wicked is a good fit for the Oriental since the Oriental was built on the site of the Iroquois, which was the biggest theatre fire disaster I can remember, and the Oriental was supposedly haunted. That comes up every now and then on a slow news day, especially around Halloween.

P.S. I just did a Google search on Sally's Stage, and the first wiki/answers.com page that came up, had a brief but thorough history of it.
It mentons the Barton theater organ, but didn't name the Nortown. It did however mention the organist from the Hinsdale Theatre played it at Sallys.

The owner Joe Bortz also owned the two Dr. Jazz Ice Cream stores. One on Montrose & one in Evanston.(Down the street from the Coronet Theatre)

Maybe the CT administrator can put up the link here and/or on the Nortown page.

Dr. Jazz! That was it! Thank you! I was really frustrated I couldn't remember the name. I went there often. I know I'm getting senile, but I should have remembered that. My aunt owned the Montrose Food and Dairy store right across the street on Montrose, until a robber beat the hell out of her and left her for dead behind the counter. She recovered, but she was never the same. After that no one in the family ever went back to the neighborhood. Too many bad memories. My mom and I had to go into the store and clean up all the blood off of everything.

I don't know anything about Chicago but I can say that Parking in Seattle is no problem. There is street parking and there are garages all within walking distance of the Seattle Paramount. Maybe some deal will have to be reached with neighboring business to allow parking.

Hurdle # 1
Jam is the official title holder of the Uptown Theater.

While parking would be just one of many issues that the Uptown faces, the one that is probably the biggest is the the lack of dock space for the loading and unloading of shows. The stagehouse is parallel to Lawrence Ave, with only the sidewalk between the back wall of the theater and the street. Most traveling shows today travel with many, many semi trucks loaded with scenery, costumes etc. The street that runs behind the theater (N Magnolia) is just a residential side street and would be less than ideal to unload trucks on. And the parking lot behind, while it is fairly large, would be difficult to use during the winter months, imagine unloading "Phantom of the Opera" in a Chicago snowstorm and having to wheel everything across N Magnolia!

Yes. If you haven't actually seen it, you don't undestand the set up there. That's not an insult. That's a fact.

The Barton Organ in Sally's stage came from the old Montclair theater. It was sold to the owners by Catoe when the theatre was torn down.

I still think they took the lift from the Nortown, because it was in better shape than anything else they had to work with, but I could be wrong.

Im sure the loading duck issue could be resolved when the theatre is operational and restored. The Uptown would not be booking Broadway shows, these are presented in the Loop. I hope the new owners will immediately stabilize the theatre to prevent any more damage. I would like to see more positive statements about the future use of the Uptown and its size which is perfect for todays touring musical acts. The huge Midland in Kansas City just reopened with the type of acts that could be booked into the Uptown booked by AEG. The huge Fox in Oakland will reopen in January booked by Another Planet again with the type of acts that could play the Uptown. I think there are enough Music acts to book both the Chicago and the Uptown since this is the 3rd largest market in the US behind only New York City and L.A. Even Detroit which is half the size of Chicago has restored the Fox,State,Opera House,Music Hall along with the Fisher which is being renovated and the Masonic Temple Theatre. The Uptown is the largest not restored theatre in the Country. I think the Uptown would have been restored much earlier if it hadn't been for City Politics and some dubious owners. The restored Uptown would give a huge boost to the Uptown district and the City should spend money improving the infrastructure in the area such as parking,sidewalks and street lighting to fully realize the potential of the Uptown District.brucec

How is loading at the Riviera and Aragon? I'm sure those venues have hosted concert tours with elaborate sets, and both face similar loading constraints to the Uptown.

Greetings. Both the Aragon and Riviera I'd say are considerably smaller than the Uptown. The Uptown boasted "an acre of seats". So the stage to accomodate a crowd that big would be quite large.
The load-in I've seen most at the Riviera, is through a door on on the Lawrence Avenue side. Semi trucks and/or tour buses usually remain parked on the South side of Lawrence as well.
I think trucks/tour buses are currently barred from the North side of Lawrence, because of an existing CTA bus stop and to insure traffic flow.
Since they've done primarily just bands since it stopped showing movies, I'd say no elaborate sets were ever really part of the mix.

The Aragon has an alley between itself and the "L" tracks to the West. I've seen that alley blocked off before, but also some obvious band trucks & buses in a small corner lot kitty corner and to the East.
Remember too that the Aragon was a ballroom, not a theater. It has a huge oval like dance floor on the second floor. With a stage on the South end of the building. The seats during the ballroom days were along the sides with tables, and above on balconies overlooking the dance floor.
The first floor is just lobby space, some offices and retail storefronts. Used to contain pool halls & liquor stores etc.
Some concerts I remember in the `70's & `80's at the Aragon, they would set up temporary folding seats over the old ballroom floor, facing the stage. Nugent, Ramones(like you sat for that), Aldo Nova, Cheap Trick, Stray Cats, Rick "Elvis" Saucedo, etc.
I don't know if they bother with any chairs at shows now.

So the load-in for a renovated Uptown beyond just bands again, would take some serious planning. Most likely as I had posted before, somehow incorporating the side street to the West, and possibly making an actual loading dock, out of what used to be an exit with a smaller marquee overhang as I remember.

The floor of the Aragone ball room was built on some kind of spring suspension, so that 8,000 people polka-ing on it would not wind up falling through to the lobby floor. That was one cool building in its day. In the 60's it was painted with day-glow paint and renamed the Cheeta. Yuck! That was the low point of its life. But no, it isn't exactly the same situation as a theatre. It was commisioned to Huzach and Hill, but designed by John Eberson, who is well known to theatre buffs, though.

I forgot to mention that the Aragon had a sister ballroom around 63rd & Cottage Grove, called The Trianon. I've seen some interior pics posted around the net before. It was quite opulant with recessed oval lighting, giant lounges and expensive furniture as would be expected of a theatre type space of it's vintage.

The Trianon was open from the early 20's until the late `50's. Then left vacant and torn down in the `60's.
I think I read that they had certain house rules about chaperones, unaccompanied women and interracial dancing to accomodate changing times.

When I worked at Fanning Cadillac on Broadway & Foster, we had a longtime Balmoral neighborhood greeter of Japanese descent, who said she was barred from patronizing the Aragon Ballroom during and shortly after World War II. Some of her famliy had been interred as well. She was a sweetheart of a lady named Dahli, who had a wealth of knowledge about the Uptown neighborhood. Sadly she passed away maybe ten year ago.

Like the Aragon, the Trianon would sometimes do live radio broadcasts of jazz bands at dance events. Some on WGN, and some later transferred to 78rpm records.

One of the more interesting shots I have seen:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/careyprimeau/459620516/

This isn't bad either:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chicago_steph/513436585/

Haven't seen URL's posted for these two great photo galleries on flickr:

The first has 51 photos posted in August 2007 and June 2008, about a third exterior, 2/3 interior shots.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chicago_steph/sets/72157600264268667/


The second has six interior shots from 2007:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/careyprimeau/sets/72157594558794449/

http://digital.chipublib.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/rvw&CISOPTR=488&CISOBOX=1&REC=4

Sadly, the problems with Uptown owners continue...I couldn't be more disappointed.

http://www.suntimes.com/business/roeder/1365026,CST-FIN-roeder07.article

Geez. Why didn't Ald. Smith just have Live Nation show up and buy it at the auction? I read where even JAM was surprised that they themselves were the only bidders.
Why wait til JAM lays out the front money, and then attempt to dictate what they do with THEIR property?
Only in Chicago.

Sounds like this building is as much a white elephant as ever. Such a shame. Seems doubtful the City of Chicago will earmark significant funds for this given the current economic climate.

What was that Sun Times article?

I guess the link no longer works.
The Sun-Times article was basically about Ald. Smith trying to get/force? JAM to partner with Live Nation on a future for the Uptown Theatre.
Even though there were possible conflicts of interest on Live Nation's part since they already supposedly have contracts with the city either at Northerly Island (Miegs Field), or elsewhere for Summer festivals.
Also JAM apparently has issues with Live Nation a competitor, apparently previously trying to cause JAM headaches.

I just read on CT's Capitol Music Hall(Wheeling, WV) page, that Live Nation sold that venue for $615,000 after supposedly seeking $800,000 in 2007.
A building that also housed recording studios, offices etc. A promoters dream space I would think. Besides, don't they already own House Of Blues?

So maybe it best that Live Nation never get their hands in or on the Uptown.
The Uptown is likely out of their league.
The Capitol Music Hall only needed $2-8 million+ worth of work.

As far as Ald. Smith pushing for a JAM/Live Nation partnership, she should probably do more homework on Live Nation. Hometown JAM is a better fit for the Uptown on their own. Especially since they made the effort to buy it on their own. After no one else would.
Again, Who is Ald. Smith to tell JAM who to work with on their property? And again, if she wanted Live Nation's involvement because of their past city ties, why didn't she get them to buy it in the first place.
In retrospect, it sounds like she wanted someone else to pay for the place and it's problems, then sweep in Live Nation and their money to "help" get it up and running.
If Live Nation didn't want to spend $2 million to fix up an already operational music venue, what's going to be their part in a $30 million dollar renovation? Their expertise?

Renew notification test.

I find it very distressing that the future of the Uptown still remains in doubt despite the wonderful efforts of the "friends" to keep it in the public eye.
Having looked extensively in many publications relating to the great movie palaces of the past (I have a first edition of "Best Remaining Seats" plus many other later books) I have concluded that not only is the Uptown the finest survivor in the world of this genre but was without doubt one of the top 3 or 4 movie palaces ever built. To my mind only the New York Roxy and Capitol were better and some would argue the Fox San Francisco, although for me it was a bit too over the top.
Because of its unique status today its demise would rank with the demolition of Penn Station New York in 1963 as one of the greatest acts of public vandalism in American history.

1973 Photo

1976 Photo

1976 Photo

1982 Photo

1982 Photo

1986 Photo

This is a 2009 photo.

Does the Uptown have a concrete roof? I would guess it would. Seems to be those wood and tar paper theatre roofs that allow water in to destroy interiors. I would hope Uptown would be "land-banked". Keep a
roof on it with adequate down spouts and try to heat in the winter.
I greatly admire those who are/have been working to keep this outstanding B&K house from total destruction.

i keep checking for news of the uptown's rescue everyday----when will the compass rose website be updated with if anything is happening------is it possible that the city or state could get stimulas fund's for a restoration project---this could create some jobs----what about using it for a olympic games in 2016 if chicago is selected as host city----it might be a cool and comfotable place to watch various events if you can't get a ticket(s)?

My late mother used to go there as a kid with her cousin and to ALL the B&K theatres for FREE. I am thus related to the KATZ side of B&K. I wish I could one day see the inside. I have been offered but since mom passed away last year, I don't have much desire to go back to Chicago. :(

Is anything happening with the Uptown? Why did JAM purchase the theatre if they are just going to sit on it?

I hope it's not simply to eliminate possible competition, should Live Nation or someone else get a hold on it. I've heard that the hold-up is that some people want the seats to be ripped out on the floor and others want it completely restored.

This recent article doesn't make the whole thing sound very positive.

http://www.lakeeffectnews.com/2009/07/01/uptown-theatre-fans-search-for-answers/

Please just pay the 80 mil its a great place even bigger than the Chicago. The Uptown is possibly the greatest landmark ever to be built in Uptown

I'm from New York City and we are facing the same predicament as you are, we are trying to save a 1916 Thomas Lamb designed theater building named Ridgewood. Although this theater is name an ornate palace like your Uptown, we share the same love for the memories and historic value that these buildings hold. I signed the petition without hesitation and wish you the best of luck saving the Uptown. Please do visit us in New York City, and check out the CT Ridgewood page.

I have an interior photo of the Uptown, viewing the ornate architecture it is some what peculiar to movie palaces in America. The photographer is standing in the mezzanine, an Italian term that loosely translates into mid way or middle. This section is sandwiched in between the balcony and the orchestra level. Another peculiar design element is that the seats along the side , which are known as Opera Boxes , or Box Seats, usually are independent of the other seats. This design gracefully sweeps into the side walls of the theater.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GW0bs72SAs_lgHr_y-MIqA?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GW0bs72SAs_lgHr_y-MIqA?feat=directlink

Thank you for you confidence panzer65

Those Pictures Panzer65 are so nice thankx for posting them!!

I'd love to see more interior shots in color. Most I've found are B&W. The one above is nice.

thanks for posting the pictures---to me it still looks great----even after all the neglict and abuse----thru the years

Hey, if any of you are on Facebook I've set up a new fanpage in conjunction with UptownTheatre.com to help bring awareness to the uptown. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chicago-IL/Uptown-Theatre-Chicago/156885902406

A 4/28 Wurlitzer was installed in the theatre in 1925

On The Watch List
http://www.landmarks.org/chicago_watch_2004_6.htm