A new book from CityFiles Press celebrates the 100th anniversary of Chicago’s Uptown Theatre in August, 2025.

The UPTOWN takes readers back to the theater’s ballyhooed opening in 1925. It was a magical place created by architects Rapp & Rapp—renowned as “the Michelangelos of movie palace design”—for Balaban & Katz, one of the nation’s leading theater chains of the time. Then the book follows the building through its five decades as a theater and its four decades of darkness. From its early days of silent movies, theatre organ, orchestras, and stage shows to the hazy memories of the hottest rock acts of the 1970s and ’80s, The UPTOWN has many stories to tell.

With its selection of breathtaking photos, the book reveals the majesty of this architectural masterpiece, which has been closed since 1981. Efforts to restore and reopen the theater are ongoing, and financial support from this project will help support the Uptown itself.

The authors of this deeply researched book are Robert Loerzel, an award-winning journalist who specializes in Chicago history, and Andy Pierce, journalist, radio host, and longtime volunteer with Friends of the Uptown (Landmark Uptown Theatre Corp.). The book is produced in collaboration with CityFiles editors Richard Cahan and Michael Williams, whose beautifully illustrated and designed books about Chicago and other topics have been called “glorious” by the Chicago Tribune and “extraordinary” by the Chicago Reader.

Fans of Chicago architecture and lovers of history can support the creation of this 170-page, richly illustrated book which will be published on the Uptown’s 100th anniversary in August.

About – The Landmark Uptown Theatre Corporation is an Illinois non-profit corporation whose mission is to promote awareness of the Uptown Theatre’s history and restoration efforts, and to preserve the building and its priceless chandeliers and fixtures. The organization is led by longtime volunteers who have worked tirelessly to achieve this mission. “Friends of the Uptown” is our public outreach activity. Landmark Uptown Theatre Corp. is accepting donations to cover the costs for research and writing and for reproduction rights for photographs and drawings. To become a sponsor, please see their website.