Chicago's Uptown Theater at 100

On August 18, 1925, the biggest, most sumptuous movie palace ever conceived opened in Chicago. With more than 4000 seats and a five story high proscenium, the Uptown Theater, in all its Spanish Renaissance opulence was a wonder to behold. It was the "last word" in a string of movie palaces built by Chicago's Balaban and Katz Theater Corporation. Together with the architectural firm of Rapp and Rapp, B&K spared no expense in what was sure to be the ultimate paean to the ever growing movie industry and the live acts that still toured the country performing in between movie showings. But 4 years later, the stock market crashed and eventually small neighborhood theaters replaced movie palaces. After a run of big name concert acts in the 1970s, the Uptown Theater closed in 1981. Against all odds, it still stands, albeit in a fragile state. Its owner is determined to restore it to its original glory but the astronomical cost for that undertaking is still out of reach. As it celebrates its centennial, the theater is the subject of a new book, "The Uptown: Chicago’s Endangered Movie Palace" published by cityfilespress.com. And the vibrant community it's named after continues to support the grand dame of movie palaces in the hopes it will once again become an entertainment showplace like no other.