Uptown Theatre
4816 N. Broadway,
Chicago,
IL
60640
4816 N. Broadway,
Chicago,
IL
60640
89 people
favorited this theater
Showing 426 - 450 of 527 comments
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.
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.
View link Here’s a CATOE article on the organ.
More at http://www.catoe.org/Uptown.html
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.
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 availableâ€"including city tax-increment financingâ€"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.
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.
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
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.
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 pleasureâ€"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.
*** "
A 1927 photo depicting the Uptown Theatre organ console can be found here:
View link
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.
Thanks for the info, Ken.
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….
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?
Here is a recent view (September 2005) showing the facade scaffolded with some remedial work in progress (we hope!)
View link
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…
How silly I appear? Paul: is anything you say rooted in reality?
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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.
Anybody have a photo of Paul Warshauer getting kicked off the UTCA board???
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?
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.
“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
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.
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.
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.
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.