You Can Help Make This Happen:
The First Book of Its Kind
A new book from CityFiles Press celebrates the 100th anniversary of Chicago’s Uptown Theatre, one of the largest and most lavish movie palaces ever built.
The UPTOWN takes readers back to the theater’s ballyhooed opening in 1925. It was a magical place created by architects Rapp & Rapp—renowned as “the Michelangelos of movie palace design”—for Balaban & Katz, one of the nation’s leading theater chains of the time. Then the book follows the building through its five decades as a theater and its four decades of darkness. From its early days of silent movies, theatre organ, orchestras, and stage shows to the hazy memories of the hottest rock acts of the 1970s and ’80s, The UPTOWN has many stories to tell.
With its selection of breathtaking photos, the book reveals the majesty of this architectural masterpiece, which has been closed since 1981. Efforts to restore and reopen the theater continue to this day. This book should help that cause.
The authors of this deeply researched book are Robert Loerzel, an award-winning journalist who specializes in Chicago history, and Andy Pierce, journalist, radio host, and longtime volunteer with Friends of the Uptown (Landmark Uptown Theatre Corp.). The book is produced in collaboration with CityFiles editors Richard Cahan and Michael Williams, whose beautifully illustrated and designed books about Chicago and other topics have been called “glorious” by the Chicago Tribune and “extraordinary” by the Chicago Reader.
Fans of Chicago architecture and lovers of history can support the creation of this 170-page, profusely illustrated book—which will be published on the Uptown’s 100th anniversary in August. The nonprofit Landmark Uptown Theatre Corp. is accepting donations to cover the costs for research and writing and for reproduction rights for photographs and drawings. To become a sponsor, please make your donation* via Zelle through the clickable link below.
* Donors will receive a letter to use for their tax purposes.
Donate Via Zelle to:
Landmark Uptown Theater Corp.
foralltime1925 [at]
gmail [dot] com
Zelle is preferred. However, you may send a check via U.S. Mail to:
Landmark Uptown Theater Corp.
1953 N. Clybourn Ave. #297
Chicago, IL 60614
About This Effort:
The Landmark Uptown Theatre Corporation is an Illinois non-profit corporation whose mission is to promote awareness of the Uptown Theatre’s history and restoration efforts, and to preserve the building and its priceless chandeliers and fixtures. The organization is led by longtime volunteers who have worked tirelessly to achieve this mission. “Friends of the Uptown” is our public outreach activity.
We are raising funds to support the production and publication of a book commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Uptown Theatre: The UPTOWN. The book will include archival photography of the Uptown Theatre, and written narrative discussing the theater’s history and the ongoing efforts to restore and reopen this historic Chicago venue. 100% of donations made to this effort will be used to support the production and publication of this book, and as a 501(c)(3) organization, donations to this effort are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Why Restore It?
“‘…Given how much economic activity the Loop sees in comparison with Uptown, and given the historic lack of investment in Uptown, and given Uptown’s well-documented problems of poverty and crime, it is hard to argue that this transference is anything but a far-sighted investment from an administration that has been right to focus less on the Loop.”
— Chicago Tribune
For All Time!
The theater was built at a cost of $4 million between 1924 and 1925 by the local, family-owned company of Balaban & Katz, following the success of their Central Park, Riviera, Tivoli and Chicago theaters. “Built For All Time,” its over-the-top, neo-Spanish Baroque design by the Chicago architectural firm of C.W. and George L. Rapp was touted as “An Acre of Seats in a Magic City.”
— Architecture Chicago PLUS
In memory of Bob Boin, who gave more than 30 years of service as caretaker, tour guide and friend of the Uptown. Read more about Bob and more Uptown heroes. Bob was also instrumental in helping to save the Chicago Theatre.