Uptown Theater (Kansas City, Missouri) facts for kids
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| Address | 3700 Broadway Blvd Kansas City, MO 64111-2506 |
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| Location | Valentine |
| Owner | UGA |
| Operator | Mammoth |
| Capacity | 2,400 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | November 1926 |
| Opened | January 6, 1928 |
| Renovated | 1941, 1994-98 |
| Closed | 1989-98 |
| Reopened | 1998 |
| Architect |
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| General contractor | Fleming-Gilchrist Construction |
| Main contractors | Valentine Realty Company |
| Website | |
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Uptown Building and Theater
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| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001374 |
| Added to NRHP | June 27, 1979 |
The Uptown Theater is a very old and important building in Kansas City, Missouri. It's a special kind of theater that has been around for a long time. In 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's officially recognized as a historic landmark.
Contents
A Look Back: The Uptown's Story
The idea for the Uptown Theater first came from an architect named Robert Gornall. Work began on the parts of the building that would hold offices and shops. These parts were finished in November 1926.
Building a Dream Theater
Gornall also planned for a theater to be built behind the offices. However, work on the theater stopped for a while. Later, a company called Universal Film Company took over the project in 1927. They hired a famous designer named John Eberson to finish the theater. Eberson was known for creating amazing "atmospheric theaters."
An Outdoor Feel Indoors
John Eberson designed the Uptown to look like an outdoor Mediterranean courtyard. Imagine sitting inside a theater, but it feels like you're outside on a warm night! The ceiling was painted to look like a nighttime sky with twinkling stars and clouds. There were even mechanical birds that seemed to fly around! The Uptown Theater was one of the very few theaters like this in Missouri.
Opening Night and Special Scents
The Uptown Theater officially opened its doors on January 6, 1928. The first movie shown was The Irresistible Lover. It was the first theater outside of downtown Kansas City to show brand-new movies. In 1939, the Uptown even had a special "Fragratone" system. This system could send different smells into the theater through the air vents during a movie!
From Movies to Concerts
For many years, the Uptown showed movies and hosted live shows like vaudeville (a type of variety show). By the late 1970s, it mostly became a place for concerts. Sadly, the theater closed in 1989 because the owner couldn't pay the building's taxes. During this time, the inside of the theater became run down, and many of its beautiful original details were painted over.
Bringing the Uptown Back to Life
After the Uptown Theater closed, it was taken over by a group that helps sell properties when taxes aren't paid. For a few years, they tried to sell the empty theater, but it was difficult.
A New Beginning
In 1994, a person named Larry Sells bought the Uptown Theater for himself. He had a big plan to fix up the theater and the whole area around it. He created a company called UGA, LLC to buy the building.
Restoration and Modern Updates
Larry Sells spent about $15 million to completely fix up the theater. They worked hard to bring back the original beauty and colors that John Eberson had designed. They also added a lot of new space, including 33,000 sq ft (3,100 m2) for lobbies, bars, offices, and banquet rooms.
Thanks to this big renovation, the Uptown is still one of the few "atmospheric theaters" that are still open today. Some of the seats in the balcony and the back of the main floor are still there. However, the front part of the main floor is now open. This allows for tables or standing room during concerts, making it a flexible space for different events.
