Landmark Uptown Theater Corp.

“The captivating images and stories in this book impel us all to support the efforts that will allow the UPTOWN to hold its place in Chicago’s architectural firmament.”

BILL KURTIS
Journalist

###

This is the Definitive History
On the 100th Anniversary
Presented in a Hardcover Book
With Beautiful Photography,
Written by Robert Loerzel,
Introduction by James A. Pierce.

Available Now!

Buddy @ Chicago Cultural Center

You may support “The UPTOWN” book project and preservation of the Uptown’s chandeliers with a tax-deductible donation. Please give via Zelle to: Landmark Uptown Theater Corp.

foralltime1925 [at]
gmail [dot] com

Find Out More About the Book!

Upcoming Events

SAT Oct. 11, 2025 at the Sanfilippo Foundation

WED Nov. 5, 2025 at the Cliff Dwellers Club

See “The UPTOWN” at Chicago History Museum

Learn & See More

This is a peek at the Uptown’s history through the only film dedicated to the Uptown’s story. 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 story of the theatre with vintage and more 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

About 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