A new petition seeking signatures from Chicagoans aims to restore the Uptown Theatre, a historically and architecturally significant music venue that hasn’t hosted a concert since 1981.
The petition, created by Preservation Chicago and Friends of the Uptown, is addressed to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, planning and development commissioner David Reifman, and Jam Productions founder Jerry Mickelson. The movement aims to gain 5,000 signatures by August 18, the 92nd anniversary of the theater.
While any regular concertgoer can get on board with a new venue, it’s the theater’s incredible history that truly makes this cause worthy of your time.
History
The Uptown Theatre was opened in 1925 at 4816 N. Broadway, with a 4,381 seating capacity leading it to be billed as the “largest movie palace in the United States.” Its eight-story façade and five-story entrance lobby gave the theater a majestic, ornate design that immediately made it a desired destination for locals and visitors.
The theater initially hosted movies, but would include elaborate stage shows with a 34-piece orchestra to accompany the films. When the popularity of movies dwindled in the late 60s, the owners reimaged the theater as a music venue, where it found incredible success.
Throughout the 70s, the theater hosted a number of important musicians, including multiple Grateful Dead shows, The Kinks, Frank Zappa, Lou Reed, Roxy Music, Count Basie, The Ramones, Bruce Springsteen and the Allman Brothers Band, amongst many more.
The Uptown Theatre closed unexpectedly in the winter of 1981, when a water pipe exploded due to the owners turning off the heat. This caused extensive damage to the interior and was never repaired. Vandalism has plagued the interior and exterior since, leaving the theater in need of serious restoration.
Uptown Theatre’s Current State
Though the theater has been used to film movies and the lobby has hosted events, the venue has remained largely dormant since 1981.
JAM Productions purchased the building in 2008 for $3.2 million, but has yet to begin restoring the venue, which would require an estimated $70 million to bring back to a functional state. The promotional company also owns the Riviera Theatre, The Vic Theatre and Park West.
View photos of the building’s gorgeous interior below, and sign the petition here.
