Landmark Uptown Theater Corp. – An Illinois Nonprofit 501(c)3

The Definitive History of this Endangered Chicago Landmark,
On the 100th Anniversary of its Grand Opening,
Presented in a Hardcover Book with Beautiful Photography

Available Summer 2025 from

CityFiles Press

Support “The UPTOWN” book project with
a tax-deductible donation:

Donate Via Zelle to:
Landmark Uptown Theater Corp.

foralltime1925 [at]
gmail [dot] com

Find Out More About the Book!

Portrait of a Palace

A peek at the Uptown’s history through a student documentary film! What happens when a building slips through a crack in time? This film explores the history of the Uptown and why the biggest and arguably most elaborate movie theatre in the country has been left vacant for more than 40 years. The 2006 documentary “Uptown: Portrait of a Palace” explores the history of the theatre with old and recent film footage and interviews with historians, neighbors and key players in the restoration effort. It won “Best Documentary” at the 11th annual Flicker Fest.
― Michael Bisberg & John Pappas

Uptown Square

During the first two decades of the 20th century, real estate development transformed the intersection of Lawrence and Broadway from a rural crossroads to one of the region’s most vibrant entertainment, business, and shopping districts. “Jazz Age” musicians and artists performed at numerous theaters and nightclubs, while luxury hotels and retail development further defined the area’s distinctive character. Today, Uptown Square is one of the city’s finest surviving examples of an early 20th century neighborhood commercial and entertainment district, one rivaling the size of the downtowns of many smaller cities.
― Commission on Chicago Landmarks