Uptown Theatre
4816 N. Broadway,
Chicago,
IL
60640
4816 N. Broadway,
Chicago,
IL
60640
88 people
favorited this theater
Showing 126 - 150 of 520 comments
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Scott the size of the Uptown is a plus. They built the 7000 seat Nokia in LA due to the demand for mid-size theatres. The Music industry today is fragmented just like television there are very few musical acts today they can fill arenas so most are playing mid size theatres seating anywhere from 1500-7000 seats. The 3300 seat Fox which was restored last year books mainly rock acts and the Fox is the perfect size. Most of the acts that play the Fox I have never heard of but have a following in todays youth culture. I see the Chicago Theatre booking more mainstream acts where the Uptown books acts that play the Fox. The economic downturn will slow things down for a couple of years so I think JAM will proceed slowly.brucec
I write an educational blog about Chicago architecture found at http://blueprintchicago.wordpress.com/ I am interested in writing about the Uptown Theater. Can anybody tell me if there would be a possibility of my getting inside the building to give me a better sense of it for my writing and take a few interior photos?
From reading much of the exchange on here my sense is that the thought of A – getting inside the Uptown, and B – being permitted to take photos is entirely unrealistic. But perhaps the current owners would be more open to the idea? Is the correct address for Jam still:
207 W Goethe St Fl 5
Chicago, IL , 60610-1809
Phone: 312-266-6262
FAX: 312-266-9568
Does anybody know who I should address my inquiry to? And is there an email address they check over there that anyone knows of that I could use?
Thank you for all of your help. I’m glad to see so many people so passionate about saving this glorious building.
Best,
Caroline
Good Luck.
I saw a re-release of Giant at The Uptown in either 1970 or ‘71. The theater was already in disrepair. The balcony was closed. I was an early teen at the time and really enjoyed seeing movies at the grand old theaters. The manager took me on a tour. He was disheartened that the theater was shabby.
The Kings in New York City is a huge theatre. If they had built a full balcony inside the huge audtitorium it could have easily sat over 4000 seats. The Kings is one of the most beautiful theatres I have ever seen even in its current state. The Kings has been closed longer than the Uptown. Im sure with the current economy things may have slowed down for the time being. The long run potential for the Uptown is huge because of its size. It wouldn’t be used for Broadway but for the modern music acts of today who can’t fill arena’s and stadiums.brucec
The Kings in New York City is a huge theatre. If they had built a full balcony inside the huge audtitorium it could have easily sat over 4000 seats. The Kings is one of the most beautiful theatres I have ever seen even in its current state. The Kings has been closed longer than the Uptown. Im sure with the current economy things may have slowed down for the time being. The long run potential for the Uptown is huge because of its size. It wouldn’t be used for Broadway but for the modern music acts of today who can’t fill arena’s and stadiums.brucec
While it is absolutrly true that NY has destoyed a huge amount of its Movie Palaces, it is also true that it remains the home of the greatest collection of remaining palaces in the country. The losses are huge because NY had a mind numbing amount to begin with (arguably the world’s greatest), but look at what remains: The New Amsterdam, Radio City, The Ziegfeld, The Hollywood, The Beacon, The Paris, The Apollo, Loews 175th St, Loews Paradise, Loews Valencia, Loews Kings (now being restored), Loews Canal, The St George, Brooklyn Paramount, The Ridgewood, The Elmwood, The Jackson, RKO Keiths Richmond Hill and RKO Keiths Flushing, not to mention that many of today’s legit Bway theaters also showed films for significant parts of their past. I’m sure I have forgotten some and I have also omitted several theaters in Brooklyn which have been converted to churches but are still restored and very much with us today. Honorable mention goes to Loews Jersey and The Stanley just acreoss the Hudson in Jersey City which practically counts as NY. So yes, much has been lost, but when many cities have but one of two palaces remaining, NY can still hold its head high for what has been saved; the latest being the Loew’s Kings.
Chicago is justly proud of it’s architectural history and legacy and it truly is a shame that this theater (The Uptown) has not been restored, but what has happened at The Kings gives me hope that Chicago will be able to finally do the right thing. Few people ever though the Kings would be saved, especially in these economic times, but miracles do happen.
Thank you jwballer for your kind words…I hate the Yankees also (Mets fan)..but we do share a common cause,and we will succeed.Actually my visits to Ridgewood as a multi plex were quite pleasant, much of its interior was saved, especially the lobby, and it was just a cozy place..sort of like home..but Uptown must survive as a single screen venue, or performing arts center..its design is a class act!!
I’m form New York ,where our treasured landmark buildings are destroyed mindlessly. Just recently the historic Yankee Stadium was demolished without a trace of a memorial to remember it by, let alone countless movie palaces. My best wishes to save your beautiful Uptown Theater.
Just came across a Reader from Nov. 20, 1981.
It list’s “FRANK ZAPPA BAND. Next Friday, Nov. 27, 8 and 11:30 pm, Uptown Theatre 561-4110.”
So it made it through to at least the end of `81.
Can anyone imagine 2 Zappa sets in one night? Or asking any artist of his stature today to do 2 shows?
I stand corrected, and I signed the petition. Thanks for setting me straight.
Ironically I have always been an advocate for preservation and restoration of the Uptown. As evidenced in all of my previous posts to Cinema Treasures.
I also did freelance work for the city for 10 years. So I’ve experienced a bit of bureaucracy first hand.
Some may also want to search a Tribune series from a few years back. About the city and the preservation of various buildings within Chicago. At the time, all of the ones that had been lost needlessly were listed by address. My previous point was made with that particular series in mind.
I guess I was concerned that any project requiring the city’s help for preservation, would likely receive low priority if any, given current economic conditions and the city’s budget woes.
I believe in JAM, and that they will step up to the plate as things evolve. I believe I read that they were the only buyer to show up at the sale.
To correct David Zornig’s comment above, the City has invested heavily in the stabilization of the Uptown. All of the major work that you can see from the street in the past five years has been done on the City’s dime under the direction of a court-appointed receiver and a licensed structural engineer. Each related City department and official has been incredibly supportive over the years.
Please recall that the building remains privately owned. The impetus to renovate and reuse the Uptown must come from the private owner and what he or she sees the Uptown’s role being in the entertainment market. It will not be saved simply by the city, state or federal government throwing money at it. The Uptown will only come back with a sensible renovation and reuse plan that is funded largely by private enterprise. There will be civic backed support and incentives, no doubt. But the solution will have to come from within.
More recent stabilization and monitoring work continues under the direction of U.T.A. II, LLC, which is related to Jam Productions. They are the most interested owners in some time. They are both responsive and supportive and have retained an architect to investigate options and directions.
To support our efforts and to stay in touch about the Uptown Theatre, Chicago, please go to the Friends of the Uptown web site, www.uptowntheatre.com and do three simple things:
Links for all three things are on our homepage. Thanks for your continuing interest, support and detailed observation.
I am quite certain that JAM’s intentions for the Uptown are and always have been all good. What “evidence suggests otherwise”?
Who in their right mind would spend 3 million or whatever it was, just to prevent competition from spending another 30-40 million, renovating a building with such huge problems that’s been empty for 30 years?
JAM could have NOT bought it and still gotten that result.
My understanding is that JAM owns the Riviera, and only manages the Aragon.
And the simple competition in the music biz, is to book who is most popular for the least amount of money, in the biggest place you have available.
And yes, that would be the Uptown. But there are so many insanely expensive variables to undertake before that could even remotely have been a threat.
Hypothetically, if the Uptown WAS bought and fully renovated/opened by JAM’s competition, it would still come down to who could book the bigger name acts consistently. 3-40 million is a pretty big gamble upfront to prevent competition.
JAM openly claimed it had wanted to buy and renovate the Uptown for years. But the roadblocks and various players invloved were always insurmountable. (Some of which is stated in links in posts above, from around the time they finally purchased it.)
I agree the City of Chicago seems shamefully indifferent to what happens to the Uptown. Or most landmark worthy buildings for that matter. Unless they can get their piece of the action. The City is claiming it’s treading water itself. So incentives are going to be flying out of City Hall any time soon.
It’s a scandal to say the least that the restoration of the Uptown seems always to be in doubt. As good as Loew’s Kings might be (and it’s great that it looks like being restored) it is not in my opinion in quite the same league as the Uptown, one of the top 4 or 5 movie palaces ever built!! The City of Chicago does not seem to understand what a special place this is.
I have much more faith in NY City’s government than Chicago’s. The city has been working for years to find the right buyer and has backed it with lots of tax breaks and grants, I don’t think that Chicago has done the same, so I am very confident that the Kings will come to fruition.
The Loew’s Kings Theatre in Brooklyn has finally been saved! This 3,000+ seat palace has been sitting abandoned for over 30 years, just like the Uptown. It is one of the country’s most ornate, but unrenovated theaters, just like the Uptown, and it is located in a non central city location, again like the Uptown. The renovation will cost about $70MM largely paid for with with city grants and tax breaks. The project will take four years, employ 500 people during restoration and 50 permanent after opening. It is expected to host over 200 events a year, though it is not clear movies will be among them. A new marquee (styled after the original) will be installed in addition to a brand new blade, as it originally had! This is incredible news for all theater lovers across the country and hopeful news for fans of The Uptown. IT CAN BE DONE!
thanks for posting the pictures—-to me it still looks great——even after all the neglict and abuse——thru the years
I’d love to see more interior shots in color. Most I’ve found are B&W. The one above is nice.
Those Pictures Panzer65 are so nice thankx for posting them!!
I have an interior photo of the Uptown, viewing the ornate architecture it is some what peculiar to movie palaces in America. The photographer is standing in the mezzanine, an Italian term that loosely translates into mid way or middle. This section is sandwiched in between the balcony and the orchestra level. Another peculiar design element is that the seats along the side , which are known as Opera Boxes , or Box Seats, usually are independent of the other seats. This design gracefully sweeps into the side walls of the theater.
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I’m from New York City and we are facing the same predicament as you are, we are trying to save a 1916 Thomas Lamb designed theater building named Ridgewood. Although this theater is name an ornate palace like your Uptown, we share the same love for the memories and historic value that these buildings hold. I signed the petition without hesitation and wish you the best of luck saving the Uptown. Please do visit us in New York City, and check out the CT Ridgewood page.
I hope it’s not simply to eliminate possible competition, should Live Nation or someone else get a hold on it. I’ve heard that the hold-up is that some people want the seats to be ripped out on the floor and others want it completely restored.
This recent article doesn’t make the whole thing sound very positive.
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My late mother used to go there as a kid with her cousin and to ALL the B&K theatres for FREE. I am thus related to the KATZ side of B&K. I wish I could one day see the inside. I have been offered but since mom passed away last year, I don’t have much desire to go back to Chicago. :(
i keep checking for news of the uptown’s rescue everyday——when will the compass rose website be updated with if anything is happening———is it possible that the city or state could get stimulas fund’s for a restoration project—-this could create some jobs——what about using it for a olympic games in 2016 if chicago is selected as host city——it might be a cool and comfotable place to watch various events if you can’t get a ticket(s)?