Uptown Theatre

1300 Jadwin Avenue,
Richland, WA 99354

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Uptown Theatre (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Act III Theatres, Cineplex Odeon, Midstate Amusement Corp., Regal Entertainment Group, SRO Theaters

Architects: Henry Brandt Gessel

Functions: Church, Live Performances, Movies (Film Festivals)

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Nearby Theaters

1951 photo credit Vintage Tri-Cities Facebook page.

The Uptown Theatre served Richland, WA from its opening on October 26, 1950 with Robert Cummings in “The Pretty Girl” and the Walt Disney True Life Adventure “Beaver Valley”. January 5, 1970 has the X-rated "Midnight Cowboy" playing.

In 1983 it was expanded to three screens. It was closed on February 12, 2006 when multiplexes came to town. It became a church, with services on Sundays. By 2024 it had reopened as a live performance venue and screens movies for the TRIFI Film Festival.

Contributed by MikeRogers

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 23, 2010 at 6:02 pm

The entry for Walla Walla architect Henry Brandt Gessel in the 1955 edition of the AIA’s American Architects Directory lists the Uptown Theatre in Richland among his designs, and gives 1950 as the year of the project. The Uptown was mentioned in Boxoffice of August 19, 1950, which said that it was soon to open and would have 1,250 seats.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on December 24, 2010 at 10:38 am

Yeah, they always know how to ruin a Grand old Theatre with more screens,But it was either that or close,I know.

thisisjohnbook
thisisjohnbook on January 11, 2013 at 11:36 pm

First movie I saw here was “Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom”. Also saw “Spies Like Us”, “Brazil”, and “Showgirls” at the Uptown.

The last film shown at the Uptown was “Big Momma’s House 2” on February 11, 2006. It would be shut down for good on Sunday, February 12th.

Here’s a photo from Flickr with the construction of the theater, June 5, 1950: http://www.flickr.com/photos/idyllopuspress/3433277309/in/photostream/

A look at an indoor display inside the Uptown for the film “Little Egypt”. Upon walking into Uptown, this would have been to the wall on the right side. In the 80’s and early 90’s, the wall would have been lined up with two or three stand-up arcade video games. http://www.flickr.com/photos/idyllopuspress/3434080940/in/photostream/

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 20, 2017 at 11:59 am

1951 photo & copy added credit Vintage Tri-Cities Facebook page.

A couple checks out the poster for “The Fighting Coast Guard”, starring Brian Donley and Ella Raines at the Uptown Theater in Richland, 1951.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on March 21, 2017 at 3:45 pm

The Uptown Theatre is now the home of a church with the rather unchurch-like name Eastlake Tri-Cities. Here is the map from their web site.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on March 11, 2024 at 2:24 pm

Midstate Amusement opened the 1,200-seat Uptown Theatre on October 26, 1950 with Robert Cummings in “The Petty Girl” and Walt Disney’s “Beaver Valley” with no extra short subjects. The building had an estimate $300,000 in construction.

It was closed on February 12, 2006.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on April 22, 2024 at 3:26 pm

Once operated by SRO, later by Cineplex Odeon, later by Act III, and finally Regal.

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