Uptown Theatre

No secret. The owners are listed on this lawsuit filed in 2005:
http://tinyurl.com/2vlw3f

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I see I was mistaken. I do apologize.No hard feelings?

was it cohan or ziegfeld?

I currently own a copy of Continuous Performances. The life of A. J. Balaban.Since I have seen how Mayor Daley likes to do one up on New York. I can picture the Uptown restored and the rivalry continuing with New York vs. Chicago. After all Chicago is the home of the old Harris theatre and that was the partner of George M. Cohan of New York! The Harris theatre is now part of the new Goodman Theatre. And Mayor Daley was involved with that. Imagine the ball being dropped in Times Square vs. Uptown Square?

Hey guys, I am new to this site. I am a history buff even though I am a little young. (41) I do know that there was a lot of rivalry between New York and Chicago. Example Time Square vs. Uptown Square. I also am very familiar with many exploits of Paul Warshauer. Since I was one of his victims. I met him at one of the UTCA consortium meetings. A friend also met him and from day one did not like him. I will be a new member now. Hope to hear from you all real soon.

Hi Cam,

It’s hard to imagine how large the Uptown really is (aside from its inner decor and beauty). One way to glimpse its size is to view the front of the theater from Braodaway avenue, where we can see the building going up about four stories, and disappearing back as far as we can see in the pic you provided; then realize that this entire structure is only its lobby!! The Uptown lobby has been used in recent movies (as described earlier in this thread), such as in “Home Alone 2,” where it was the toy store.

As a child I was dazzled as I sat in the lower orchestra area, engulfed by the immensity of the theater, and gazed up about 5-6 stories to the “stars” twinkling at me in the ceiling, as if from the starry skies themselves. It saddens me to think of the kids of recent generations going to the little boxes we call multiplex theaters, not knowing what they’re missing. Hopefully, the Uptown can be reborn so they can glimpse an age of cinema treasures otherwise lost to them in time.

Cam,

I regularly went to movies at the Granada and Uptown in the ‘50s, and early '60s; and although the Granada was quite beautiful, there was no comparison to the Uptown. The Uptown is the largest freestanding theater in the entire country (larger even than Radio City Music Hall), and if/when restored will be a wonderful showcase for Chicago to the World.

Let’s keep working to see the Uptown returned to her old glory. It will be a wonderful day for me, and for those of more recent generations, to walk into a restored Uptown and marvel at, arguably,
the greatest cinema palace of all time.

Cam, great photos.

On October 14, 1927, Clara Bow was starring in “Hula” at the Uptown:

That Clara Bow now occupies the coveted position of attracting more people to the theaters in which her pictures unreel than any other young woman star of 1927 is again being demonstrated with the release of “Hula,” her latest picture. “Hula” comes next Monday to the Uptown Theater, and Balaban & Katz are expecting a rush
of customers, therefore.

“Hula” exhibits the peppy Miss Bow as a wild little child of some
Hawaiian island. She is wild just because she grew that way, having
a dissolute old father and no mother to guide her. Only the kindly natives take good care of Clara, teaching her to be a good girl if a tomboy. And also teaching her the native dance that gives the picture a title.

Thus when love, in the form of Clive Brook, is made known to Miss
Bow she has a hard time of it. Miss Bow has “it,” in the various stages of dress and undress that her role calls for.

On the stage at the Uptown Bennie Krueger and his band will offer “Tokio Blues.” “Tokio Blues” is one of the most novel revues
ever seen at the Uptown. These artists combine their native charm
and grace with the Yankee pep of jazz performers. And the oriental
beauty of the Japanese girls is a pleasant change from the typical
North American beauty. Willie Solar, the featured comedian of
“Tokio Blues,” is a well-known comic from vaudeville and revues.

Anyone who cares about the Uptown should buy a copy of “Uptown Portrait Of A Palace” just so you can “visit” the Uptown as often as you like and hopefully the dvd will raise awareness of how fragile the building is, and that sooner rather than later restoration can be started. it is good to know that the building is secure and guarded against intruders we all owe a great dept to those volunteers who selflessly continue to look after the building.
Is the equipment still in the projection booth, and are there any photos of the booth that you can share with us at the Cinema treasures site?
with kind regards,
AndyGarner U.K.

I saw the documentary last night on WTTW Channel 11. It was on a show called “Image Union.” Was I watching an “edited version”? It was ½ hour long. I would have liked to learn more about the history of the theatre.

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I believe PBS channel 11 in Chicago is airing this program tonight (10/6/2006) at 10:30 pm.