The Uptown Theatre - Utica, NY
The Uptown Theatre - ( At the time I took this photo - in 2014 - the theater appeared to still be open). Now a little bit of history: It was opened as a single screen theater in December of 1927 and contained 1,500 seats and 1 screen. It was designed by local architects Herbert D. Rushmer & Albert H. Jennison for the Kallet Theatre Corp. By 2009 it had three screens and was still open as a first run triplex. In 2012, after some renovations, it was turned back into a one screen theater and showed movies for a short time, after which a stage was built for live performances and the screen was removed. The Uptown Theater is built on the site of the old Utica Stadium. The balcony in the theater was built in a stadium style in ode to the old stadium. It became Utica's first 70mm theater in July of 1959 showing Sleeping Beauty. In 1957 there was an 11 day reserved seat showing of Around the World in 80 Days. A 46-foot screen was installed with a sterophonic sound system, but it was not presented in Todd-AO (they suspect it was a Cinestage version of the film). The screen was deeply curved with a beautiful new curtain. Of the nine theaters originally in the City of Utica only The Stanley and The Uptown survived the recession of the late 1960s on through the 1970s. About this time, The Stanley became a performing arts center, leaving The Uptown Theater as the only movie house. The Uptown Theater lost its original marquee due to structural failure and transported a new marquee from NYC to replace it. In 2007 the theater was purchased by Tracey Mills who renovated the lobby and made other improvements. By 2013, Mills was forced to close the theater and put the building up for sale. In May of 2016 a judgement of foreclosure and sale of property was filed in Supreme Court. In July of 2016 an auction of the property was scheduled, but it was later postponed. Mills wanted to donate the building to a non-profit. For the last four years the building has sat vacant. It is located at 2014 Genesee Street in (South) Utica, NY. UPDATE: As of Feb 13, 2018 - The debt on the property has been forgiven by M & T Bank, the mortgage company, which will allow the donation of the building to move forward. It will be taken over by the non-profit, Uptown Theatre for Creative Arts (UTCA), the group plans to revive the theater as a space for live performances and movie screenings, with a new emphasis on community involvement through workshops and classes. Restoration work is expected to begin in the coming months. (U/48)
The Uptown Theatre - Utica, NY
The Uptown Theatre - ( At the time I took this photo - in 2014 - the theater appeared to still be open). Now a little bit of history: It was opened as a single screen theater in December of 1927 and contained 1,500 seats and 1 screen. It was designed by local architects Herbert D. Rushmer & Albert H. Jennison for the Kallet Theatre Corp. By 2009 it had three screens and was still open as a first run triplex. In 2012, after some renovations, it was turned back into a one screen theater and showed movies for a short time, after which a stage was built for live performances and the screen was removed. The Uptown Theater is built on the site of the old Utica Stadium. The balcony in the theater was built in a stadium style in ode to the old stadium. It became Utica's first 70mm theater in July of 1959 showing Sleeping Beauty. In 1957 there was an 11 day reserved seat showing of Around the World in 80 Days. A 46-foot screen was installed with a sterophonic sound system, but it was not presented in Todd-AO (they suspect it was a Cinestage version of the film). The screen was deeply curved with a beautiful new curtain. Of the nine theaters originally in the City of Utica only The Stanley and The Uptown survived the recession of the late 1960s on through the 1970s. About this time, The Stanley became a performing arts center, leaving The Uptown Theater as the only movie house. The Uptown Theater lost its original marquee due to structural failure and transported a new marquee from NYC to replace it. In 2007 the theater was purchased by Tracey Mills who renovated the lobby and made other improvements. By 2013, Mills was forced to close the theater and put the building up for sale. In May of 2016 a judgement of foreclosure and sale of property was filed in Supreme Court. In July of 2016 an auction of the property was scheduled, but it was later postponed. Mills wanted to donate the building to a non-profit. For the last four years the building has sat vacant. It is located at 2014 Genesee Street in (South) Utica, NY. UPDATE: As of Feb 13, 2018 - The debt on the property has been forgiven by M & T Bank, the mortgage company, which will allow the donation of the building to move forward. It will be taken over by the non-profit, Uptown Theatre for Creative Arts (UTCA), the group plans to revive the theater as a space for live performances and movie screenings, with a new emphasis on community involvement through workshops and classes. Restoration work is expected to begin in the coming months. (U/48)