I fell in love with the Uptown Theatre upon walking into that amazing lobby in 1975 and was able to truly come to appreciate it even more over the next six years when Jam Productions produced all of the many outstanding concerts on its stage. I could not put my finger on it back then, but when it closed at the end of 1981 I always had this feeling that I would at some point cross paths with the Uptown Theatre again. It was my fate to be part of this theater’s preservation.
From 1978 until 2008 there was a line of nefarious owners who had no plan on how to resuscitate the theater, which ended up drowning in financial trouble, burdened with multiple mortgages and unpaid debts. The only reason the Uptown Theatre survived during that 30-year period was due to the tireless efforts of Bob Boin, Dave Syfczak, Jimmy Wiggins, Curt Mangel, former 48th Ward Ald. Mary Ann Smith and Friends of the Uptown.
In 2007, I met with the first mortgage holder, who revealed his plan to turn the Uptown into an indoor go-kart track. That conversation lit a fire in me to start piecing together this distressed property’s future in order to bring it back to life.
In 2008, I was the only bidder who showed up at the foreclosure auction — and I became the Uptown’s new owner. On that day, I had no clear plan for how I was going to save it, only a deep conviction that it needed my help. The one thing I did know was that Jam Productions had the content, programming and management expertise to support the theater once it opened.
But this quest is about more than saving the Uptown Theatre. As the Urban Land Institute (ULI) report pointed out, this theater could be the catalyst for the economic development of the Uptown community.
The ULI report provided a road map on how to get this project completed: “The challenging opportunities facing Uptown cannot be met with limited resources. A wide array of both private and public sector resources will need to be tapped. Assistance from all levels of government — local, state and federal — will be needed to achieve the panel’s strategy outlined in the Uptown plan.”
In addition, tax increment financing for Uptown needs a special provision for new and special taxes. Since an ordinary TIF district will not generate sufficient funds to cover all the needs of Uptown, the panel suggests new TIF taxes, including the allocation of taxes generated by parking, amusement, utilities and any other tax generators to which a connection to the Uptown Theatre can be shown.
The Uptown Theatre turns 100 on Aug. 18. That is incredible — and a reminder of both its storied past and the challenges ahead. As Chicago’s grandest movie palace — even larger than Radio City Music Hall — its 100-year mark underscores its cultural importance to our city and state, but most importantly, the Uptown community.
I completely understand the skepticism surrounding this project. People have heard about the Uptown’s potential comeback for a long time, only to see the doors remain shut. But here’s why this time is different: We’re not chasing a dream; we’re building a plan. The conversations now taking place with the city are serious, strategic and grounded in reality. Hopefully there’s alignment between public and private interests that hasn’t existed before, and a clear recognition of the Uptown Theatre’s value — not just as a historic gem, but as an economic engine for the entire Uptown neighborhood as well as the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois.
That said, confidence comes from progress, and the single most important step right now is securing the city’s financial commitment. Once that piece is in place, everything else will fall in line. Private investors, philanthropic partners, and cultural institutions will, with any luck, follow — but they need to see that the city believes in this project first.
Saving the Uptown isn’t just about preserving bricks, plaster, and history — it’s about creating real jobs and opportunities at the theater for our youth, drawing talent from After School Matters, Chicago Public Schools, Merit School, ChiArts, and the People’s Music School that will ignite opportunities for Chicago’s young people. It’s about honoring Chicago’s legacy as the birthplace of the movie palace. And above all, it’s about choosing hope over cynicism.
The time is now.
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The Uptown Theatre must be saved because it is one of the most extraordinary and historically significant movie palaces ever built — not just in Chicago, but anywhere in the United States. Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime. The Uptown has waited decades for its second act. Now it’s our turn to make it happen in order to restore a legacy, uplift a community, and leave a lasting mark on Chicago’s cultural history.
We are at a rare and powerful moment when timing, vision and talent have all aligned. We have an extraordinary lineup of professionals, each a leader in their field, working to bring the Uptown Theatre back to life. With their collective expertise, there can be no doubt we have the right team in place.
This project needs the support of people who see the Uptown for what it truly is: a living, breathing work of art and a rare cultural jewel that can once again inspire millions. We need those who have the wherewithal to help, who understand that giving isn’t just about money, but about preserving beauty, culture, and community for generations to come. We need people who fall in love with masterpieces of architecture not just for their grandeur, but for the stories they hold, the history they safeguard, and the inspiration they spark. The Uptown is more than a building — it is a stage for human connection, a monument to creativity, and a beacon of what can be achieved when vision meets commitment.
Preserving the theater calls to those who understand that true legacy is built not just through wealth, but through what that wealth makes possible. Let’s not stand by while time takes it from us. The Uptown’s story can end in silence — or rise again in brilliance.
Jerry Mickelson has been producing and promoting concerts, theatrical productions, special events and a wide variety of live entertainment programming for over 53 years, since co-founding Jam Productions. He owns the Uptown Theatre.
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