The Gray Old Lady is Ready--An Article on the Uptown Theatre

Uptown Theatre image courtesy Compass Rose Cultural Crossroads.

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Ted Calhoun, a director at Compass Rose Cultural Crossroads (the host of this history blog) and a Friend of the Uptown (he appeared in the documentary "Uptown: Portrait of a Palace") was recently interviewed by Lorraine Swanson for this article on the Uptown Theatre.

The gray old lady is ready
Is a makeover for the Uptown Theatre waiting in the wings?

By LORRAINE SWANSON
Editor


For decades, the Uptown Theatre's loudest champions have watched a succession of owners mishandle the once "palace of enchantment" as if it were a shabby clown painting on velvet. They remember the bad times, when sheens of ice covered the winding staircases in the Grand Lobby, of burst water pipes and investors that raised their hopes for building's restoration, only to walk away broke and defeated.

Since the announced sale of the Uptown Theatre to Jerry Mickelson of Jam Productions, the Uptown's champions are cautiously optimistic that the architectural landmark will finally get the makeover they've been waiting and fighting for. Mickelson's limited liability company, UTAII, purchased the theater in a court auction for $3.2 million last month...

For complete article, go here.

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.

Jam Productions Seeks Renovation Funds

Now that Chicago-based Jam Productions has won the bid for the Uptown Theater, the search for renovation funding begins.

It'll take about $35 million to make building renovations. That's on top of the $3 million Jam Productions is already paying to buy the theater. The company is looking to get help from the city and state to meet those costs.

Jam founder Jerry Mickelson hopes to get the building back in shape for big concerts it was once known for.

MICKELSON: Obviously, you've got to be able to have the lights working and you've got to be able to have all the mechanics working. Yeah, we'll return all of those to what it needs to be. The stage will be redone so it can handle what it needs to produce on that stage.

Before Jam can get started on repairs, the company needs to acquire the proper permits and must deposit $5 million in an escrow account. It also needs to submit a compliance and rehabilitation plan for city approval. Mickelson says it could be more than five years before the theater opens.

To hear audio and read commentary, go to Chicago Public Radio.

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

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.

Uptown Theatre Sale Coverage from Chicago Neighborhoods

Historic Uptown Theatre sold

Shuttered since 1981, the 83-year-old Uptown Theatre has finally found a buyer. And thankfully it's one that plans to restore the building to the quality venue it was in its heydey. The legendary Balaban and Katz company constructed the building at 4816 N. Broadway to serve as a movie theater, the largest in the United States with 4,381seats, from 1925 through the 1960s. Then it became a music venue and stayed that way throughout the 70s, until it was shut down due to a series of maintenance problems. And if the new owners are any indication, the newly restored Uptown Theatre will once again pack in music fans rather than movie buffs.

Jam Productions, the same company that owns Lincoln Park's Park West, Lakeview's Vic and Uptown's Riveria music venues, bought the historic theater on Tuesday for $3.2 million, following a forced foreclosure sale of the property. Though some suspected that there would be multiple bidders battling for the theater, Jam ended up putting the only offer on the table...

For article and commentary, 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.