SIFF Cinema Uptown
511 Queen Anne Avenue North,
Seattle,
WA
98109
511 Queen Anne Avenue North,
Seattle,
WA
98109
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Opened on May 25th, 1926 by Hamrick’s theatres and reopened with 3 screens on February 8th, 1985. Grand opening ads posted.
Here’s a new 4-page 50th anniversary FIDDLER ON THE ROOF retrospective featuring a roadshow playdate chronology and historian Q&A. The Uptown’s year-long run is mentioned in the piece.
In reference to markinthedark’s question, AMC left all booth equipment in place. The theatre had been on life support (very poor business) for some time before AMC closed it, everything throughout the theatre was in pretty rough shape. SIFF has retained 35mm capability in all 3 houses and has also installed digital on all screens and installed a second 35/70 Century projector in Booth 1 to give us 2 projector changeover capability in the large house. The smaller houses have single projectors w/platters. I work for SIFF as a projectionist.
The SRO chain added two more screens in adjacent property in 1984, not 1989.
SIFF now own the Uptown Theatre,
The December, 2011, issue of Queen Anne Cobblestone, the newsletter of the Queen Anne Historical Society, said that the Uptown Theatre was designed by architect Victor W. Voorhees. The Uptown opened on May 26, 1926, with 749 seats. The original auditorium lost 234 seats in 1984, when the lobby was expanded to serve two new auditoriums that were built adjacent to the original theater that year.
The current marquee of the Uptown was installed as part of a 1953 renovation which was designed by architect B. Marcus Priteca.
The Uptown Theatre had a tiny Wurlitzer pipe organ when it opened: opus 1339, built in 1926 for this theatre was 2 manuals and 4 ranks, a style B stock model. It seems the organ was removed in 1930 and is now (supposedly) at the Presbyterian Church in Oak Harbor, Washington.
The Uptown is officially back up and running!!
Seattle International Film Festival made this announcement earlier today: SIFF is excited to announce the acquisition of the historic Uptown Theater in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. The historic neighborhood theater will re-open to the public beginning October 20, 2011 in conjunction with the Grand Opening of the new SIFF Film Center at Seattle Center, ushering in a new era of film in the Northwest. http://www.siff.net
SIFF has acquired the lease for the next five years and will re-open the place as an arthouse on Oct 21: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2015841004_siff07.html?prmid=head_more
I read on a site that AMC holds the lease for another year and will just let it run out keeping the building unused. It would seem the location of this cinema could be a sucessful operation, if the lease was reasonable or the building could be bought, by an independant operator. The major chains just don’t want to be bothered with a 3 screen older building. But this theater seems an ideal situation for an independant operator. With the right bookings and alittle refreshing I bet this place could be quite sucessful.
Like most Theatre chains I bet they cleaned it out.Only theatres I know that still have equipment are GCC locations they closed and Couldn’t sell. Augusta,Ga has an 8-plex closed everything in the Theatre and a Triple at the Closed Mall everything there including Rats,Mark.
Does anyone know if the theatre is turn-key or did AMC take the equipment?
Uptown will close on Nov 28.
I suppose Landmark might be interested; they have already a major presence in the Seattle area already, and the Uptown might be a good fit. On the other hand, Landmark has been pulling back on its operations, having left Austin, New Orleans, and Columbus, OH over the last year or so. If it survives as a cinema at all, it might have to go non-profit. If AMC currently owns the building, it might very well put in one of one those “no-theatrical-use” provisions into the sales agreement.
Would make a great Landmark Theatre.
Another article about the closing with a picture: View link
Due to close on Nov 28th per View link
Nice photos of the UPTOWN CINEMAS.
I’ve read elsewhere that the theatre was not divided. The original remains and a neighboring restaurant has been converted into two additional screens.
I am willing to research the history and provide photos. Let me know.
WHY IS THIS THEATER FOR SALE SO CHEA?????Listed for $550,000.with 4 stores