Some more links to recent articles about the Uptown Theatre restoration!
Chicago Tribune:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-ae-uptown-theatre-artifacts-jones-0127-story.html
Blockclub Chicago article from January 2020:
https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/01/27/uptown-theater-renovation-work-could-begin-this-summer-alderman-says/
Blockclubchicago article from April 2019:
https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/04/12/uptown-theatre-cac-event/
Architecture.org - lots of recent interior pictures here:
https://www.architecture.org/learn/resources/buildings-of-chicago/building/uptown-theatre/
Also, the company handling the restoration is:
Uptown Theatre Foundation, Inc
207 W Goethe St, Chicago, IL 60610
(Haven’t found a webpage for them yet.)
The Uptown was scheduled to enter the final phase of renovation sometime in 2020, with renovations completed and reopening scheduled for 2022.
It was not clear exactly how much renovation has been completed so far, but at least some has.
The project has taken awhile because of delays in securing full funding. A capital campaign had raised $10,000,000 and there were two grants bringing the total to about twelve million.
Good to see that renovation has made considerable progress and that an opening date has been set!
The article Howard Hass reference above has a very extensive high quality photo gallery of the theatre. Article also mentions the theatre was extensively renovated around 1970 when the theatre was bought by the Reverend Ike and concerted into the United Palace Church.
The foundation work for the tower in front of the auditorium is finished and the “core components” of the tower have been rising, by June, they would be above the level of the auditorium — it looks like construction is well underway!
This photo is actually for the BF Keith Memorial Theater – a couple blocks south on the other (west) side of Washington Street (later known as the Savoy and now the Opera House)
Here’s a link to the developer’s website about the theatre – lots of info and renderings.
https://www.timessquaretheater42.com/
Some details of the project from the linked article. Looks like major construction to start fall 2020 with the building opening in 2021.
The decorative plaster elements would be cut into pieces and stored in a warehouse temporarily until it undergoes a restoration process.
While the historical elements are being restored, the developers will be cutting out the façade of the building and hydraulically jacking it up. The process will make room for the third and fourth floors, while also letting SDI create a 23-foot-tall glass enclosure on the second floor that cantilevers over 42nd Street to allow visitors to feel like they’re floating above the streets of Times Square.
Once completed, a spiral staircase will lead visitors up to the third and fourth floors, that feature the historic dome directly above the staircase and the proscenium arch that acts as a gateway to the event space that is fit for a restaurant or food hall, Boyajian said.
“All these elements will come back and be fully restored and placed up there as a reminder to the historic nature of this place,” Boyajian said.
The new five-floor 50,000 s/f space will feature more than 100 feet of retail frontage on 42nd Street, a rooftop space with room for a food/beverage or entertainment tenant, and LED billboards.
Boyajian said he expects the restoration and façade lifting to go from summer to fall and the demolition and excavation to start in 2020 for an early 2021 completion. Colliers International will be in charge of leasing the space.
The city officially announced the restoration, the state allocated $10,000,000 and they are looking to the city to alloocate another $13,000,000, and this will combine to get the project rolling. As they said, still some heavy lifting to do.
Some more links regarding the Uptown Theatre Restoration:
Friends of the Uptown (corrected link):
http://www.uptowntheatre.com/index.html
Block Club Chicago Article and photos/renditions:
https://blockclubchicago.org/2018/11/14/uptown-theater-renovation-would-take-18-months-boost-capacity-to-5800/
Uptown Update: List of articles related to the Uptown Theatre:
https://www.uptownupdate.com/search?q=uptown+theatre
Tribune November 13 article:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-ent-uptown-rehab-plans-1113-story.html
Tribune June 29 article article:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-ent-uptown-rehab-0629-story.html
Tribune 2015 history article:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-inside-uptown-theatre-unique-features-20150807-htmlstory.html
Uptown Theatre unofficial facebook page (friends and volunteers):
https://www.facebook.com/pg/theuptowntheatre/about/?ref=page_internal
Still looking for an official page. Hopefully soon.
From the Connecticut Post: BRIDGEPORT — Even as City Hall has launched a search for developers for properties along Main and Congress streets, ground has yet to be broken on the renovation of a pair of historic theaters nearby — a project offered up as a selling point to prospective downtown investors.
Related Stories New commercial and residential projects touted as reanimating Bridgeport Developer promises late 2018 groundbreaking for Bridgeport… Bridgeport City Council approves theater redevelopment deal Unions to Ganim: Include us in theaters project Zoning board OKs sale of theaters, hotel Bridgeport’s Office of Planning and Economic Development recently issued requests for proposals (RFPs) for the nearly two-acre Davidson’s Fabrics site, also known as the Middle Street Boys Club property, and for a 35,000 square foot surface parking lot used for police vehicles.
The city wants a mix of retail and market-rate housing on the parking lot, but has placed fewer restrictions on ideas for the Davidson’s building. Ideally that historic structure would be restored with “proposals that will draw patrons, dollars and activity into downtown (and) encourage overnight hotel stays” while also serving current and future downtown residents, according to the RFP.
Both RFPs promote a $400 million plan by New York-based Exact Capital, approved last September by the City Council, to restore the Poli Palace and Majestic theaters and Savoy Hotel to the north of Davidson’s Fabric and the cops’ parking lot. Residential towers — one 18 stories high — were also part of Exact’s winning pitch, selected from three responses.
Late last November, Craig Livingston, managing partner at Exact, had said the developer planned to break ground in “the back half” of 2018.
But as of this week, Exact, according to the city, is still piecing together the $50 million in financing needed for Phase 1 — rehabilitating the theaters and Savoy into a hotel with retail and performance/assembly space.
”We talk on a bi-weekly basis as to Exact’s progress on financing and tenancy on Phase 1,” wrote William Coleman, deputy director of planning and economic development, in an email to Hearst Connecticut Media.
Exact’s vision was frequently touted by Mayor Joe Ganim during his unsuccessful bid to win August’s Democratic gubernatorial primary. At one point, the mayor called the proposal “the most exciting urban development project anywhere in this state.”
Under the terms of the city’s deal with Exact, the developer had a year to assemble financing for Phase 1. Coleman said that the time period ends with the 2018 calendar year, not with September’s anniversary of the council’s approval.
Livingston, when reached by phone this week by Hearst, said he was on a conference call and asked that the reporter call back. He did not respond to subsequent requests for comment.
Coleman said Exact, beside working on financing and pursuing tenants, has also done market analysis and environmental assessment of the old buildings.
Coleman also noted that, regardless of what happens with the theaters, there is interest in the Davidson’s Fabrics and police parking sites nearby and “we believe they can go forward.”
Though there has been no visible progress on Exact’s Bridgeport project, the company and its partners have, according to coverage by some Realty websites, broken ground on a similar redevelopment of Harlem’s Victoria Theater — Exact’s first experience with old historic performance spaces.
Michael Jordan, president of Jordan Electric, in mid-April attended a job fair the city and Exact held to promote the planned work on Bridgeport’s theaters and the potential opportunities for local and minority contractors. Unlike some other development deals, Ganim and the City Council did not insist Exact employ union labor — a move proponents said could provide more work for residents and minorities.
Jordan said he has not been contacted since the fair about any work but was still hopeful: “These wheels roll slow. Things move slow.”
”Will I be around for it is the big question,” added Jordan, 63. “I got a couple more years and probably going to hand it (his business) over to someone else.”
It looks, from Matt Lambros’s article, that Fitchburg State University, which recently bought the entire block, is planning renovations to both the overall building and the theatre itself. He also has some great photos, both exterior and interior!
Looks like things are going forward with the New England Farm Workers' Council’s plans to restore the Paramount Theatre into a performing arts center. They just received a $2,500.00 state grant which will be used this fall to replace the roof and secure the building for winter. Eventually they will be commencing a $41,000,000 restoration Paramount into a performing arts center. Their renovation plans also involve several other buildings in the immediate area. The retail/office front portion will be renovated into a boutique hotel. Previously they received a $3,700,000 federal grand to aid in creating design and development plans.
MassLive March 2018 article about the renovation project:
The front of the building was originally a service station from the 1920s through the 1940s. In 1950 it was expanded with an autiditorium in the back and opened as the Bing Theatre which showed first-run movies and then later second-run movies before closing in 1999. All seats on the main floor; I remember the auditorium being completely draped in red curtains.
They now have commitments for approximately $27,000,000 towards the new total cost estimate of $43,000,000. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, the roof was repaired and asbestos removed.
Some more links to recent articles about the Uptown Theatre restoration!
Chicago Tribune: https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-ae-uptown-theatre-artifacts-jones-0127-story.html
Blockclub Chicago article from January 2020: https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/01/27/uptown-theater-renovation-work-could-begin-this-summer-alderman-says/
Blockclubchicago article from April 2019: https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/04/12/uptown-theatre-cac-event/
Architecture.org - lots of recent interior pictures here: https://www.architecture.org/learn/resources/buildings-of-chicago/building/uptown-theatre/
Also, the company handling the restoration is:
Uptown Theatre Foundation, Inc 207 W Goethe St, Chicago, IL 60610 (Haven’t found a webpage for them yet.)
The renovated theatre looks beautiful!
Good photo of the auditorium from stage at the official website (scroll down for the photo): https://themetphilly.com/info/
Some nice photos in very late stages of renovation at curbed.com:
https://philly.curbed.com/2018/12/4/18125587/met-philly-reopens-new-look-art-deco-style
Their official website: https://themetphilly.com/
Another update - their Fall 2020 newsletter. Construction continues, on many fronts including lobby tower, stagehouse infrastructure and more.
https://app.yearly.report/preview/?rid=-MK0E51JPFy_kz7d8PPj&uid=bFiVrfkv8fZNMtapVtY0Kbr6zkp1
More updates!
MIFA newsletter, February 2020: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Behind-The-Scenes.html?soid=1102402751736&aid=sL7SIC4mW_s
Purchase of 134 Chestnut Street in December 2019, adjacent to stage house - to be used for support space:
https://mifafestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Victory-Theatre-Update-Dec2019.pdf
Link to January 2020 article with some updates!
The Uptown was scheduled to enter the final phase of renovation sometime in 2020, with renovations completed and reopening scheduled for 2022.
It was not clear exactly how much renovation has been completed so far, but at least some has.
The project has taken awhile because of delays in securing full funding. A capital campaign had raised $10,000,000 and there were two grants bringing the total to about twelve million.
Good to see that renovation has made considerable progress and that an opening date has been set!
The article Howard Hass reference above has a very extensive high quality photo gallery of the theatre. Article also mentions the theatre was extensively renovated around 1970 when the theatre was bought by the Reverend Ike and concerted into the United Palace Church.
The article can be found at:
https://www.6sqft.com/behind-the-scenes-at-the-united-palace-theatre-washington-heights-opulent-wonder-theatre/
Open as the Louis N. Jaffe theatre in 1925-1926.
There’s a great article with a photo gallery at:
https://www.6sqft.com/the-urban-lens-inside-the-village-east-cinema-one-of-nys-last-surviving-yiddish-rialto-theaters/
The very ornate ceiling is quite amazing and unique!
According to the Spring 2020 newsletter:
(https://carolinatheatreclt.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Spring-2020-newsletter.pdf)
The foundation work for the tower in front of the auditorium is finished and the “core components” of the tower have been rising, by June, they would be above the level of the auditorium — it looks like construction is well underway!
This photo is actually for the BF Keith Memorial Theater – a couple blocks south on the other (west) side of Washington Street (later known as the Savoy and now the Opera House)
I’m delighted to see that my comment from 2014 is incorrect and the theatre is still standing and will be renovated!
Here are some links to good detailed articles:
Official “Olympia Music Hall” website:
https://www.olympiamusichall.com/
Details of their plan :(You can download the full plan here):
https://www.olympiamusichall.com/about
Extensive article:
https://www.masslive.com/worcester/2019/05/worcesters-olympia-theater-reborn-live-music-venue-planned-for-long-closed-historic-theater.html
Extensive photo gallery:
https://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/2018/06/a_1300-seat_abandoned_theater.html
June 2019 Article in Worcester Telegram:
https://www.telegram.com/news/20190602/music-may-return-to-129-year-old-olympia-theater
Here’s a link to the developer’s website about the theatre – lots of info and renderings.
https://www.timessquaretheater42.com/
Some details of the project from the linked article. Looks like major construction to start fall 2020 with the building opening in 2021.
The decorative plaster elements would be cut into pieces and stored in a warehouse temporarily until it undergoes a restoration process.
While the historical elements are being restored, the developers will be cutting out the façade of the building and hydraulically jacking it up. The process will make room for the third and fourth floors, while also letting SDI create a 23-foot-tall glass enclosure on the second floor that cantilevers over 42nd Street to allow visitors to feel like they’re floating above the streets of Times Square.
Once completed, a spiral staircase will lead visitors up to the third and fourth floors, that feature the historic dome directly above the staircase and the proscenium arch that acts as a gateway to the event space that is fit for a restaurant or food hall, Boyajian said.
“All these elements will come back and be fully restored and placed up there as a reminder to the historic nature of this place,” Boyajian said.
The new five-floor 50,000 s/f space will feature more than 100 feet of retail frontage on 42nd Street, a rooftop space with room for a food/beverage or entertainment tenant, and LED billboards.
Boyajian said he expects the restoration and façade lifting to go from summer to fall and the demolition and excavation to start in 2020 for an early 2021 completion. Colliers International will be in charge of leasing the space.
Latest from the Alderman James Cappleman’s website on June 29th:
https://www.james46.org/restoring-the-uptown-theatre/
The city officially announced the restoration, the state allocated $10,000,000 and they are looking to the city to alloocate another $13,000,000, and this will combine to get the project rolling. As they said, still some heavy lifting to do.
The google photos in 2019 show the building still standing, but appears vacant (although in good shape)
The google view shows this theater is gone. A modern building and parking sits on the site.
URL for the new Oriental Theatre website:
https://mkefilm.org/oriental-theatre
Some more links regarding the Uptown Theatre Restoration:
Friends of the Uptown (corrected link):
http://www.uptowntheatre.com/index.html
Block Club Chicago Article and photos/renditions: https://blockclubchicago.org/2018/11/14/uptown-theater-renovation-would-take-18-months-boost-capacity-to-5800/
Uptown Update: List of articles related to the Uptown Theatre: https://www.uptownupdate.com/search?q=uptown+theatre
Tribune November 13 article: https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-ent-uptown-rehab-plans-1113-story.html
Tribune June 29 article article: https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-ent-uptown-rehab-0629-story.html
Tribune 2015 history article: https://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-inside-uptown-theatre-unique-features-20150807-htmlstory.html
Uptown Theatre unofficial facebook page (friends and volunteers): https://www.facebook.com/pg/theuptowntheatre/about/?ref=page_internal
Still looking for an official page. Hopefully soon.
Here’s an August 2018 update: Basically, Exact Capital is still putting together the $50,000,000 funding to get the project started:
https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/A-year-later-theaters-rehab-still-pending-13197613.php
Corrected link to the CT Post article about the restoration:
https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Developer-plans-renovated-Bridgeport-theaters-11230815.php
Another article about the theatres:
http://www.damnedct.com/poli-palace-majestic-theater-savoy-hotel-bridgeport
Here’s the details:
From the Connecticut Post: BRIDGEPORT — Even as City Hall has launched a search for developers for properties along Main and Congress streets, ground has yet to be broken on the renovation of a pair of historic theaters nearby — a project offered up as a selling point to prospective downtown investors.
Related Stories New commercial and residential projects touted as reanimating Bridgeport Developer promises late 2018 groundbreaking for Bridgeport… Bridgeport City Council approves theater redevelopment deal Unions to Ganim: Include us in theaters project Zoning board OKs sale of theaters, hotel Bridgeport’s Office of Planning and Economic Development recently issued requests for proposals (RFPs) for the nearly two-acre Davidson’s Fabrics site, also known as the Middle Street Boys Club property, and for a 35,000 square foot surface parking lot used for police vehicles.
The city wants a mix of retail and market-rate housing on the parking lot, but has placed fewer restrictions on ideas for the Davidson’s building. Ideally that historic structure would be restored with “proposals that will draw patrons, dollars and activity into downtown (and) encourage overnight hotel stays” while also serving current and future downtown residents, according to the RFP.
Both RFPs promote a $400 million plan by New York-based Exact Capital, approved last September by the City Council, to restore the Poli Palace and Majestic theaters and Savoy Hotel to the north of Davidson’s Fabric and the cops’ parking lot. Residential towers — one 18 stories high — were also part of Exact’s winning pitch, selected from three responses.
Late last November, Craig Livingston, managing partner at Exact, had said the developer planned to break ground in “the back half” of 2018.
But as of this week, Exact, according to the city, is still piecing together the $50 million in financing needed for Phase 1 — rehabilitating the theaters and Savoy into a hotel with retail and performance/assembly space.
”We talk on a bi-weekly basis as to Exact’s progress on financing and tenancy on Phase 1,” wrote William Coleman, deputy director of planning and economic development, in an email to Hearst Connecticut Media.
Exact’s vision was frequently touted by Mayor Joe Ganim during his unsuccessful bid to win August’s Democratic gubernatorial primary. At one point, the mayor called the proposal “the most exciting urban development project anywhere in this state.”
Under the terms of the city’s deal with Exact, the developer had a year to assemble financing for Phase 1. Coleman said that the time period ends with the 2018 calendar year, not with September’s anniversary of the council’s approval.
Livingston, when reached by phone this week by Hearst, said he was on a conference call and asked that the reporter call back. He did not respond to subsequent requests for comment.
Coleman said Exact, beside working on financing and pursuing tenants, has also done market analysis and environmental assessment of the old buildings.
Coleman also noted that, regardless of what happens with the theaters, there is interest in the Davidson’s Fabrics and police parking sites nearby and “we believe they can go forward.”
Though there has been no visible progress on Exact’s Bridgeport project, the company and its partners have, according to coverage by some Realty websites, broken ground on a similar redevelopment of Harlem’s Victoria Theater — Exact’s first experience with old historic performance spaces.
Michael Jordan, president of Jordan Electric, in mid-April attended a job fair the city and Exact held to promote the planned work on Bridgeport’s theaters and the potential opportunities for local and minority contractors. Unlike some other development deals, Ganim and the City Council did not insist Exact employ union labor — a move proponents said could provide more work for residents and minorities.
Jordan said he has not been contacted since the fair about any work but was still hopeful: “These wheels roll slow. Things move slow.”
”Will I be around for it is the big question,” added Jordan, 63. “I got a couple more years and probably going to hand it (his business) over to someone else.”
It looks, from Matt Lambros’s article, that Fitchburg State University, which recently bought the entire block, is planning renovations to both the overall building and the theatre itself. He also has some great photos, both exterior and interior!
Let’s hope this renovation project goes forward!
Looks like things are going forward with the New England Farm Workers' Council’s plans to restore the Paramount Theatre into a performing arts center. They just received a $2,500.00 state grant which will be used this fall to replace the roof and secure the building for winter. Eventually they will be commencing a $41,000,000 restoration Paramount into a performing arts center. Their renovation plans also involve several other buildings in the immediate area. The retail/office front portion will be renovated into a boutique hotel. Previously they received a $3,700,000 federal grand to aid in creating design and development plans.
MassLive March 2018 article about the renovation project:
https://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/03/owners_slated_to_begin_41_mill.html
2017 Masslive feature story about the Paramount and its history:
https://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/04/photos_the_paramount_theatre_i.html
MassLive 2017 article about the proposed restoration (includes photo gallery):
https://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/06/a_32_million_transformation_ne.html
photo gallery of historical Paramount photos:
https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/09/vintage_photos_the_paramount_t.html
Paramount Facebook Page (no updates since 2015):
https://www.facebook.com/Hippodrome-Paramount-Theater-138555219507997/
The front of the building was originally a service station from the 1920s through the 1940s. In 1950 it was expanded with an autiditorium in the back and opened as the Bing Theatre which showed first-run movies and then later second-run movies before closing in 1999. All seats on the main floor; I remember the auditorium being completely draped in red curtains.
This is actually a photo of the San Antonio Majestic Theatre.
New official website:
https://www.rivieratheatre.com/
They have an extensive lineup of concerts for 2018!
Latest update on the renovation effort:
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/10/43_million_latest_estimate_to.html
They now have commitments for approximately $27,000,000 towards the new total cost estimate of $43,000,000. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, the roof was repaired and asbestos removed.
The link above is glitched in the URL code. But if you copy and paste it into your browser, you’ll get there!
Their official website (on facebook) is at:
https://www.facebook.com/TheCapitolTheatreFlint/