Uptown Theater
3700 Broadway,
Kansas City,
MO
64111
3700 Broadway,
Kansas City,
MO
64111
18 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 35 comments
In 1928, an unknown comedian in his early twenties named Bob Hope performed his comedy act for a week long run of shows.
http://uptowntheater.com/about/
January 6th, 1928 grand opening ad in the photo section.
The Uptown actually opened on Friday, January 6, 1928 (I’m looking at the ad) for an 8:15pm reserved-seat premiere, although regular showings did begin on Saturday afternoon the 7th. [Kansas City Times]
A friend of mine, Jack S. Who at one time was the assistant mgr of the Uptown and was mgr of the Apollo before it closed for the last time, told me the last time he was in the Uptown was during that 50 cent era. He said it was in bad shape. The floors were sticky from spilled drinks and just wasn’t clean. It upset him to see it like that and he never went back.
National General had reduced the Uptown’s admission price to 50 cents (their other KC theaters were sold to Mann Theaters by summer; its sister theatre, the Brookside, then took over as a 50-cent-house by summer) before what appears to be its final day as an all-out movie theater on Sunday, April 15, 1973, with a Disney double feature of SNOWBALL EXPRESS and $1,000,000 DUCK.
Although I don’t live in KC anymore, I was happy to catch some glimpses of the remodeled Uptown when President Obama made a speech on his recent trip to KC. It looks Great! My compliments to Larry Sell and his efforts to keep this beautiful theater in good shape.
I can remember going to the Uptown on Sunday afternoon’s. Alberta Byrd used to give organ concerts and play request for about 30 min. before the show would start. This was probably around 1949 or so.
Don H.
The organ that was installed , a Robert Morton 3m/13r has been installed in a suburb of St. Louis, MO and has grown to a 3m/36r
since the late 1960’s
Very Uptown kind of theatre,great pictures.
From the J.K. Redmond Photo Archives come these vintage images of the Uptown Theatre -
View link
Oops! Wrong Uptown!
I am related to KATZ of Balaban & Katz. My late mom and her cousin used to get into all the b&K theatres for free as kids!
What a beautiful theatre!
What a fabulous-looking theatre! Hope it stays.
I’m John Gladeau, President of the Old Hyde Park Neighborhood Association. I would like to correct a statement made by someone who misrepresents themselves on this site as “the truth”. I have never said anything derogatory about Larry Sells. He and the redevelopment group he is associated with did an outstanding job restoring the Uptown theater. I consider Larry to be a friend and find it offensive that someone would assert that I would publically or privately make such an unsavory comment about him. Furthermore, as a community leader I would never use profanity in any media interview regardless of the issue at hand. I suspect the person who posted the comment is the same cowardly individual who has been posting things all over the internet to defame my character and the character of others. He needs to find better things to do with his time.
A few November 10th 2007 images I shot of the colorful and ornate UPTOWN THEATER.
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/1977133326
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/1977128638
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/1977122468
I went to a concert here last night and was impressed by this great old palace. They did a good job with the renovation but the new paint scheme is a little loud and garish. I’m very happy it’s still around though. It’s a great place to see a show, even if it’s not movies.
Here is a 24 page preview of a dissertation on the Uptown and other KC theaters;
http://tinyurl.com/2kokmq
I work at the Uptown Theater and if you want any new pictures go to www.uptowntheater.com
The Uptown Theatre opened on January 7th, 1928.
Cinema Tour shows 2 lobby photos and several other exterior photos along with the ticket kios which I hope has not be altered or removed, but will wait for an official answer and hopefully a few auditorium photos showing how the atmospheric feel was changed.
I’m afraid if I were go inside this Eberson theatre that was once a grand atmospheric theatre and see it as it is today I would be sadly disappointed. Hope someone posts more recent interior photos.
Michael: One of the photos posted by Lost Memory shows the area that has no seats which looks very strang, imo and would look better if restored back to the original concept and as architect, John Eberson intended!
Actually I have been to concerts at the uptown a couple of times. The acoustics and scenery of the Uptown are perfect. However up from under the balcony to the stage there are no seats. There is a bar/club attached to the entrance (I think it was finished 2 years ago or so), and it is a very comfortable place. I have seen Fear Factory and Megadeth there, along with a bunch of other artists.
lostmemory: Some great theatre AND drive-in photos when clicking on “This”…thanks again!