Letter from Jerry Mickelson

Editor's Note: We recently received this e-mail from Jerry Mickelson, who, as one of the principles of UTA II, bid on the Uptown Theatre at Tuesday's judicial sale. He asked us to share this message with those who signed the Uptown Theatre Petition and who stood by the Uptown Theatre over the years. If you haven't already signed the petition, we encourage you to do so, as we're still gathering signatures to show both elected officials and potential donors the importance of restoring this magnificent theatre. To stay up to date on the most recent news regarding the Uptown Theatre, sign up for the Uptown Adviser newsletter here.

Thank you for your support of the Uptown Theatre. I was hoping you could get our message out to the people who signed your petition as well as those who have supported the Uptown Theatre through thick and thin. Here is what I would like people to know.

As a fellow theatre lover, words can’t properly express my feelings of gratitude for the incredible efforts that all of you who have put forth on behalf of saving the Uptown Theatre. As all of you know, this is not just a theatre but a work of art that will never be built again which must be preserved. This masterpiece of Rapp & Rapp should live on and never ever be allowed to deteriorate to the pitiful condition it is in today.

I immediately fell in love with the Uptown Theatre the very first time I set foot in the lobby in 1974. I knew then there was something very special about this building and have felt that way ever since. It took some time for me to convince Plitt Theatres to let Jam use the Uptown Theatre for concerts but I did succeed in 1975 when we presented the Tubes on Halloween. Some of the acts that Jam brought to the Uptown included Genesis, Bob Marley, Steve Miller, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Leon Russell, Foreigner, Boston, the Grateful Dead, Hall & Oates, Lou Reed, the Electric Light Orchestra, the Kinks, Supertramp, Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, Frank Zappa, Peter Gabriel, Rod Stewart, the Allman Brothers, Dire Straits, Rick James and Santana. The last concert that Jam presented was with the J. Geils Band on December 19, 1981 since the owner did not pay the heating bill, the washrooms were barely working and there were other issues which we felt made the theatre no longer safe for anyone to use.

As we all know, since that date the theatre began to slowly deteriorate. The Uptown fell into the hands of some very onerous owners during this chapter in time who did nothing but continue to let the Uptown waste away. I met with Muldaur and Terzakis and also with the not-for-profits run by Michael Morrison and then by Paul Warshauer to try to strike a deal for Jam to become involved with the theatre but all of them were impossible to deal with and ultimately each one of them helped contribute to the sad state of the Uptown as it sits today. It wasn’t until Bob Lunn took control that things for the Uptown started to move in the right direction.

Over this period of time Alderman Mary Ann Smith was there to protect the Uptown Theatre through this very dark phase of ownership. Without her a developer would have torn down this treasure but thankfully Alderman Smith stood up to defend this landmark time and time again. Through her efforts the City came to understand the importance and significance of the Uptown Theatre.

It’s only been one day (now going on two) since the foreclosure sale occurred. You should know there was only one bidder who showed up on July 29th to purchase the Uptown Theatre and that was UTA II, a company whose members include but are not limited to Arny Granat and myself. While initially being surprised that we were the lone bidders, we fully understand why others did not show up. The fact of the matter is that the Uptown Theatre is a daunting project that faces many challenges for it to re-open. Not only will this be a very expensive project, it will take an incredible amount of time and effort to put the pieces of this intricate puzzle together in order to insure the Uptown Theatre’s future.

We don’t have all the answers today about how all of this will come together but we do know a couple of things; (1) the Uptown Theatre now has owners who truly care about saving and preserving this architectural gem; and (2) we will reach out to all of you at the proper time to have you hopefully join with us in our effort. The Uptown Theatre would not still be here today if it wasn’t for you and Alderman Smith and probably won’t be here in the future without you and the Alderman.

Fine Lines About the Uptown Sale

From Time Out Chicago.

Fine lines about the Uptown sale
by Scott Smith

I walked in the office all ready to pontificate about the Uptown theater sale and What It All Means, but most of the relevant reporting and speculation has already been done. There’s also some context for the city’s plans that goes all the way back to the creation of Chicago’s downtown theater district...

For complete article and commentary, go to Time Out Chicago.

More Video Coverage of Uptown Theatre Sale

Uptown Theatre Bought by Local Rock Promoters from WBBM
CHICAGO (CBS) ― It's been nearly 30 years, but neon lights may soon be on at the Uptown Theatre. On Tuesday, local promoters bought the former movie palace and they said they plan to bring live rock concerts back. But it may take tens of millions of dollars in state and city tax dollars to get it done...

See video at: WBBM

Uptown Theatre on Fox News

Uptown Theater to be Restored

Chicago -- In its day, the Uptown Theater was a showplace. But most people see it as an abandoned relic. Now, a veteran Chicago promoter is ready to raise the curtain on a new plan. Darian Trotter reports from Uptown with what could be next.

For video, go to Fox News.

More Uptown Theatre Coverage from Crains

Uptown Theatre buyer calls city requirements ‘onerous’

By Eddie Baeb
July 30, 2008

(Crain’s) — The foreclosure sale of the Uptown Theatre to a venture led by Jam Productions Ltd. doesn’t mean tickets will be going on sale at the historic concert hall any time soon — or even any time in the next few years.

The restoration of the long-vacant theater could cost about $40 million and take five years or more to complete, says Jerry Mickelson, a founder and principal with Jam, a Chicago-based concert promoter...

For complete article and commentary, go to Crains

Update from Chicago Public Radio

Uptown Theatre Sold

Ownership of the historic Uptown Theatre changed hands this morning. Once the jewel of Uptown, the theatre closed its doors in 1981 and fell into disrepair while interested parties haggled over ownership. In a procedure that took less than five minutes attorneys representing Chicago-based concert promoters Jam Productions purchased the Chicago landmark for just over $3.2 million.The theatre was purchased for the amount of the first and second mortgages on the property. The interior and exterior of the building are subject to Chicago's Landmark ordinance. That means the new owners have to restore the theatre to its original opulent state. The new owner was unwilling to comment on future uses for the building.

Go to WBEZ for continuing coverage.

Update on Sale of Uptown Theatre

Jam Productions Will solicit city, state help for renovations
By Chris Jones
Chicago Tribune critic

Chicago-based Jam Productions bought the historic Uptown Theatre at a forced judicial sale Tuesday, but it says tens of millions of dollars are needed to reopen the venerable entertainment venue.

Jam said after the sale that the long-suffering theater won't reopen without a major infusion of public money.

"Buying the Uptown is one thing, rehabbing it is another," said Jam principal Jerry Mickelson, whose UTII entity paid $3.2 million for the theater, at 4814 N. Broadway. "This will have to be a partnership between the city, the state and ourselves."

Mickelson said he expects restoration to cost between $30 million and $40 million. "No private entity could afford to put that amount of money into a theater," he said. "The Uptown can only reopen with the necessary funding from the city..."

For complete article and ongoing coverage, go here.

Chicago Reader Coverage of Sale of Uptown Theatre

The rest of the story behind the Uptown Theater purchase
by Ben Joravsky

In a quieter-than-predicted foreclosure sale, Jam Productions bought the Uptown Theater today for $3.2 million.

But that's only the latest step in the restoration of the historic property at Broadway and Lawrence. Jam owner Jerry Mickelson is telling reporters that he's going to need major financial assistance from the city.

And if you haven't figured it out by now, that probably means TIF money . . .

For complete article and commentary, go here.

More from the Chicago Tribune on Uptown Theatre

Jam Productions buys the Uptown Theatre
by Chris Jones

Chicago-based Jam Productions bought the historic Uptown Theatre at a forced judicial sale Tuesday, but its new owner says tens of millions of dollars are needed to reopen the venerable entertainment venue. Jam said after the sale that the long-suffering theater won’t reopen without a major infusion of public money. “Buying the Uptown is one thing, rehabbing it is another,” said Jam principal Jerry Mickelson, whose UTII entity paid $3.23 million for the Uptown, at 4814 N. Broadway. “This will have to be a partnership between the city, the state and ourselves.”

Mickelson said he expects any restoration to cost between $30 million and $40 million. “No private entity could afford to put that amount of money into a theater,” he said. “The Uptown can only reopen with the necessary funding from the city.”

The Uptown is coming into a play at an ill-timed economic moment. Mayor Richard M. Daley has ordered staff furloughs to try and fight a major budget deficit, and the state is hardly awash in surplus cash. Nonetheless, the city has expressed enthusiasm for a rehabbing of the Uptown Theatre, a high-profile building at the core of its neighborhood...

Read complete article here.

Uptown Theatre Auction News

Uptown Theatre Bidders Take the Stage; Sale to end landmark theater's ownership struggle

by Chris Jones, Tribune critic

Want to buy Chicago's historic Uptown Theatre on Tuesday? It's relatively easy.

Head to the Judicial Sales Corp., 1 S. Wacker Drive, with a certified check for 25 percent of your likely maximum bid. If you are the highest bidder, the gorgeous, 4,300-seat, 46,000-square-foot entertainment palace designed by the legendary architectural team of Rapp and Rapp and located at 4814 N. Broadway will be yours.

You'll only need at least $40 million -- the precise figures depend on who you ask -- to bring the long-shuttered, 1925 venue back to life...

For complete article and continuing coverage, go here.

Sun Times Coverage of Uptown Theatre Auction

The Uptown Theater: Could things finally be resolved on Tuesday?
By Jim DeRogatison July 28, 2008

A public auction has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday that may -- or may not -- finally decide which of two Chicago concert promoters will play a role in redeveloping the landmark Uptown Theater and steering its future as the jewel pin of a new Uptown music district that also will include the Riviera Theater, the Aragon Ballroom and the Green Mill.

The catch: The sale, which is due to take place at the offices of the Judicial Sales Corporation at 1 South Wacker Drive, has already been scheduled several times in recent months. Each time, it's been postponed at the last minute in what seems to be an effort by the first mortgage holder, real estate investor David Husman and the as-yet largely inactive group Broadway for Uptown, to block the second mortgage holder, a group that includes Jam Productions, from taking control of the building and moving forward with the redevelopment

Why would anyone do this? Well, Jam's arch-competitor, the national concert giant Live Nation, is also eager to control the future of the theater, it's been working with Broadway for Uptown and the city seems to favor this team over the Jam-led group. Stay tuned -- and in the mean time, for more background, check my earlier column here.

For complete article and continuing coverage, go here.