We received this very cool announcement and never-before-published picture from the Uptown Adviser, the newsletter of Friends of the Uptown:'For All Time'
83 candles for Chicago's UPTOWN THEATRE
Friends of the Uptown will celebrate the 83rd anniversary of the opening of the UPTOWN THEATRE, Chicago, with a free screening of the documentary film "Uptown: Portrait of a Palace" on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008, at the Kinetic Playground nightclub at 1113 W. Lawrence Ave. in historic Uptown Square.
The club will be open for socializing and a cash bar at 5:30 p.m. The program will begin at 6 p.m. and last approximately one hour. This event is open to all "friends" of the Uptown who are 21 and over. Participation is limited to the first 500 people.
Preceding the dvd film by John Pappas and Michael Bisberg will be a brief 35mm slide presentation to help orient new friends to the UPTOWN THEATRE building.
- Venue: http://www.thekineticplayground.com/
- Synopses: www.compassrose.org/dvds/uptown-portrait.html and
audience.withoutabox.com/films/uptown - Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU8VjEwuSgU
- Dining in Uptown: www.uptownbusinesspartners.com/uptown_business_directory.php
(Photo courtesy of Friends of the Uptown)
Good thing this historic landmark isn't in the 46th ward or it would of been bull dozed years ago. This is what TIF money should be used for renovating a classic that would bring life to the area. A shinny new face on the Riv would just be a huge plus.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about that, UPTOWNPITS.
ReplyDeleteIf it was in Helen's ward?.....it would be a methadone
clinic.
Does anyone have a copy of that video? I can't attend, but I'd really like to see whats actually inside that landmark.
ReplyDeleteSomeone posted this up on the Chicagoist. I believe this is the documentary that's being shown.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title
=1119132540
You might have to cut and paste a little to get the link to work.
"I can't attend, but I'd really like to see whats actually inside that landmark."
ReplyDeleteThis is something that Uptown Update could use to approach Jerry Mickelson at Jam Productions. Put up some capital. Invest in a website. Show us what's so great about Uptown Theater. I know it has deep history and is certainly worth sharing the rehab costs. Does anyone not want to draw people into Uptown?
Here's a easier to use link.
ReplyDeleteThanks, whirlofagirl
Uptown Potrait Of A Palace
The video throws out the number 35 million. Thats quite a bit of money for one theatre, and way beyond our fundraising capacity here in Uptown.
ReplyDeleteClearly Jam is going to try and pry money out of the city for the restoration as doing it themselves doesn't really make sense.
And finally, the movie raises an interesting question, what the heck are we gonna do with a 4500 seat theatre? Its enormous. Assuming that the restoration was done and paid for, what would we do with it at that point?
I don't know what UT is capable of supporting, but I imagine it would have to be booked solid for concerts, live theater, and perhaps movie nights.
ReplyDeleteAragon Ballroom seats 4300. The Vic seats 1200. The Riviera seats 2300.
UT seems like a more upscale venue from the few pictures I have seen.
Quick Math: Assume you book 52 shows that perform Fri/Sat for 26 weeks and you fill the house at $25 a seat. That's 5.59 million gross per year.
The bigger problem with the theater is the distance between it and the Kennedy Expressway. That's just over 5 miles and Irving Park Road is the only two lane throughway in the vicinity and it reduces to one lane at Ashland.
Brennan
ReplyDelete290-LSD-Lawrence. Metra downtown-redline-Lawrence. It seems to work alright for WRIGLEY.
The Uptown was a Grand palace for a child to see a movie back in the day. I hope it is restored and made even better with the technology available today.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have a copy of that video? I can't attend, but I'd really like to see whats actually inside that landmark.
ReplyDeleteSome snippets of the video and the inside of the theater.... and a Bob Marley Concert held inside the theater!
God bless Youtube!
Documentary
Inside
Bob Marley
Man on the Street,
ReplyDeleteThe clip marked "Inside" is of a theatre in Detroit, it's not the Uptown.
There are some current images here, here, and here.
ReplyDeleteDang, sorry about that Watchdog.
ReplyDeleteLooks like they have been doing work to the roof lately. Not sure what they are doing but they did board up the doors on Lawrence and the tarp is now gone. Can't wait till they fix the rear entrance area and get rid of that silly fence. One day we will be able to use the West side of Magnolia north of Lawrence again. One day :)
ReplyDelete