Comments on: The Abandoned Uptown Theatre http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/ The Neat Side of the Web Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:48:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bart http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-1847364 Bart Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:09:36 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/#comment-1847364 Wow, what a great place! Would love to walk around there to make some pics. Wow, what a great place!

Would love to walk around there to make some pics.

]]> By: uptownjen http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-1843050 uptownjen Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:49:12 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/#comment-1843050 The Uptown was built for movies...Eliott was built for music. It is, size-wise, bigger than Radio City Music Hall! The Uptown was built for movies…Eliott was built for music. It is, size-wise, bigger than Radio City Music Hall!

]]> By: arfies http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-1405257 arfies Fri, 23 Jan 2009 06:32:04 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/#comment-1405257 Cleveland's similarly grand Playhouse Square went through decades of deterioration and closings in the 1960s and 1970s, when the formerly beautiful Beaux Arts theaters (used for movies) were to be razed and turned into a parking lot. In the 1970s, Cleveland truly was a dump (hence the "burning river" jokes). Fortunately, the 1980s and 1990s saw incredible fund-raising and subsequent renovation, and the place is GORGEOUS now, showing touring plays instead of movies (though the occasional special film is shown) and concerts. It was one of my favorite field trip destinations as a child, and the nonprofit (!) project revitalized the downtown area. If Cleveland can do it, Chicago certainly can. Cleveland’s similarly grand Playhouse Square went through decades of deterioration and closings in the 1960s and 1970s, when the formerly beautiful Beaux Arts theaters (used for movies) were to be razed and turned into a parking lot. In the 1970s, Cleveland truly was a dump (hence the “burning river” jokes). Fortunately, the 1980s and 1990s saw incredible fund-raising and subsequent renovation, and the place is GORGEOUS now, showing touring plays instead of movies (though the occasional special film is shown) and concerts. It was one of my favorite field trip destinations as a child, and the nonprofit (!) project revitalized the downtown area. If Cleveland can do it, Chicago certainly can.

]]> By: gregory http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-1405071 gregory Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:07:08 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/#comment-1405071 theater de los vampires anyone? theater de los vampires anyone?

]]> By: Jomark Osabel http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-1398516 Jomark Osabel Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:09:35 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/#comment-1398516 It looks grand and at the same time spooky. It looks grand and at the same time spooky.

]]> By: lir http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-1392397 lir Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:42:14 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/#comment-1392397 Hillary, The Elliot Hall of Music is larger (and I'd imagine that there are larger theatres then both the Uptown and Radio out there). However, the difference is in the classification/original use between the theatres. The Uptown and Radio were built as movie palaces, i.e. to show films in outrageously ornate buildings, whereas Elliot wasn't originally built for movies. And if the Uptown was haunted...that would be awesome. Hillary,

The Elliot Hall of Music is larger (and I’d imagine that there are larger theatres then both the Uptown and Radio out there). However, the difference is in the classification/original use between the theatres.

The Uptown and Radio were built as movie palaces, i.e. to show films in outrageously ornate buildings, whereas Elliot wasn’t originally built for movies.

And if the Uptown was haunted…that would be awesome.

]]> By: Hillary http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-1391788 Hillary Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:55:37 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/#comment-1391788 Purdue University's Elliot Hall of Music is larger than both the Uptown Theatre and Radio City Music Hall. It has 6,025 seats. I'm not sure if that makes it the largest in the country, but it definitely makes the Uptown Theatre at most third largest. Fascinating article, regardless! I wonder if it's haunted... Purdue University’s Elliot Hall of Music is larger than both the Uptown Theatre and Radio City Music Hall. It has 6,025 seats.
I’m not sure if that makes it the largest in the country, but it definitely makes the Uptown Theatre at most third largest.
Fascinating article, regardless! I wonder if it’s haunted…

]]> By: HollywoodBob http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-1391571 HollywoodBob Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:06:35 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/#comment-1391571 I've always had an affinity for theatres, and seeing a place as beautiful as this abandoned makes my heart ache. I’ve always had an affinity for theatres, and seeing a place as beautiful as this abandoned makes my heart ache.

]]> By: Rocky Rook http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-1391489 Rocky Rook Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:16:52 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/#comment-1391489 So beautiful and mysterious. So beautiful and mysterious.

]]> By: ThrowoutBearing http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-1390972 ThrowoutBearing Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:10:47 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/#comment-1390972 I hope they have hobo stab insurance. I hope they have hobo stab insurance.

]]> By: ZoSo http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-1390908 ZoSo Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:35:11 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/#comment-1390908 That looks like the theater from the ending of 'The Prestige'. That looks like the theater from the ending of ‘The Prestige’.

]]> By: SparkS http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-1389810 SparkS Sun, 18 Jan 2009 08:45:46 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/#comment-1389810 I second that WOW! I hope it can be saved. Maybe even turned into a place that can earn a decent profit. I am a huge fan of saving landmarks. They are a part of our nations history. Once they are destroyed so a parking lot can take their place they are gone forever. What a fabulous setting for the Phantom of the Opera movie to be shown there. The one from 1925, same year this theater was built. Give me goose bumps thinking about it. I second that WOW! I hope it can be saved. Maybe even turned into a place that can earn a decent profit. I am a huge fan of saving landmarks. They are a part of our nations history. Once they are destroyed so a parking lot can take their place they are gone forever.

What a fabulous setting for the Phantom of the Opera movie to be shown there. The one from 1925, same year this theater was built. Give me goose bumps thinking about it.

]]> By: lir http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-1389773 lir Sun, 18 Jan 2009 08:25:17 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/#comment-1389773 Alex, I'm glad you posted this up here! It's Jam Productions, who owns the Riviera, that's just bought it now. If only I had about 40 million... I really hope this place is fixed up and opened for business at some point in the near future - at least next ten years or so. I'd love to work there in some capacity, even if it's just as an usher (which I do right now at the Chicago Theatre). There's also a documentary from 2006 on the place called Uptown: Portrait of a Palace, if anyone is interested. Alex, I’m glad you posted this up here!

It’s Jam Productions, who owns the Riviera, that’s just bought it now. If only I had about 40 million…

I really hope this place is fixed up and opened for business at some point in the near future – at least next ten years or so. I’d love to work there in some capacity, even if it’s just as an usher (which I do right now at the Chicago Theatre).

There’s also a documentary from 2006 on the place called Uptown: Portrait of a Palace, if anyone is interested.

]]> By: erin http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/comment-page-1/#comment-1389616 erin Sun, 18 Jan 2009 06:50:08 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/18/the-abandoned-uptown-theatre/#comment-1389616 WOW. I live within walking distance of the Uptown Theater, knew it's rich history,and never had a chance to see the inside. It is a treasure. Over the years several companies have tried to open it up again (one is trying to now, not so successfully)--it always comes down to money. Not nearly enough of it. Maybe this forgotten shrine to Hollywood should ask for a little help from the gods of celluloid? Good publicity AND a tax break? Hollywood eats that stuff up! WOW. I live within walking distance of the Uptown Theater, knew it’s rich history,and never had a chance to see the inside. It is a treasure. Over the years several companies have tried to open it up again (one is trying to now, not so successfully)–it always comes down to money. Not nearly enough of it. Maybe this forgotten shrine to Hollywood should ask for a little help from the gods of celluloid? Good publicity AND a tax break? Hollywood eats that stuff up!

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