Uptown Theater (Racine, Wisconsin)

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The Uptown Theater, as it appeared in 2012. Uptown Theater, Racine,WI.jpg
The Uptown Theater, as it appeared in 2012.

The Uptown Theater was a movie theater in the Uptown neighborhood of Racine, Wisconsin.

Movie theater venue, usually a building, for viewing films

A movie theater, cinema, or cinema hall, also known as a picture house or the pictures, is a building that contains an auditorium for viewing films for entertainment. Most, but not all, theaters are commercial operations catering to the general public, who attend by purchasing a ticket. Some movie theaters, however, are operated by non-profit organizations or societies that charge members a membership fee to view films.

Racine, Wisconsin City in Wisconsin, United States

Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on the shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Root River. Racine is located 22 miles south of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the city had a population of 78,860, making it the fifth-largest city in Wisconsin. Its median home price of $103,625 makes it one of the most affordable cities in Wisconsin to buy a home. In January 2017, it was rated "the most affordable place to live in the world" by the Demographia International Housing Affordability survey.

Wisconsin A north-central state of the United States of America

Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States, in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin is the 23rd largest state by total area and the 20th most populous. The state capital is Madison, and its largest city is Milwaukee, which is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan. The state is divided into 72 counties.

Contents

Operating history

The building first opened on May 2, 1928, as a live theater. [1] It was known as the Majestic Theater. Its single stage, with 1,292 seats, was built on a hillside, using the natural slope of the land in its design. The building included eight apartments, for actors to stay in during runs. The Majestic Theater closed in 1930, but it was converted into a cinema, and it reopened in 1940, now called the Uptown Theater. It closed once again in 1953, but reopened again the next year, before permanently closing at the end of 1959. [2]

History after closing

After the Uptown Theater closed, its lobby was converted into retail space which became the Avenue Frame Shop. This store remained open for decades, but has recently closed. In 1981, a group called Preservation Racine set out to restore some of the city's former landmarks, including the Uptown, and in 1982, with their support, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

National Register of Historic Places federal list of historic sites in the United States

The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance. A property listed in the National Register, or located within a National Register Historic District, may qualify for tax incentives derived from the total value of expenses incurred preserving the property.

The idea of restoring and reopening the theater was promoted by the non-profit Uptown Theater Group, which was formed in 2001. For Halloween in 2001, the Uptown Theater Group sponsored a haunted house attraction inside the abandoned theater. The haunted house was a fundraising event to promote awareness and support a renovation of the Uptown Theater. In 2002, the Uptown Theater Group planned to hold another haunted house fundraiser at the site, but could not obtain the proper permits from the city of Racine. As a last resort, the organizers rented out a banquet hall adjacent to the theater. Racine police found some of the party goers to be in possession of illegal drugs. Despite the Group's protests, renovation efforts effectively stopped after the incident.

Halloween Holiday celebrated October 31

Halloween or Hallowe'en, also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, is a celebration observed in several countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.

Haunted attraction (simulated) form of entertainment simulating a haunted location

A haunted attraction is a form of live entertainment that simulates the experience of covering haunted locations or envisioning horror fiction. They usually feature fearsome sets and characters, especially ghosts, monsters, demons, witches, serial killers, and/or psychopaths. Humourous characters may also be included.

Fundraising process of gathering voluntary contributions of money or other resources

Fundraising or fund-raising is the process of gathering voluntary contributions of money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. Although fundraising typically refers to efforts to gather money for non-profit organizations, it is sometimes used to refer to the identification and solicitation of investors or other sources of capital for for-profit enterprises.

As of 2015, the Uptown Theater remains abandoned. [2]

See also

National Register of Historic Places listings in Racine County, Wisconsin

National Register of Historic Places listings in Racine County, Wisconsin Wikimedia list article

This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Racine County, Wisconsin. It is intended to provide a comprehensive listing of entries in the National Register of Historic Places that are located in Racine County, Wisconsin. The locations of National Register properties for which the latitude and longitude coordinates are included below may be seen in a map.

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References

  1. ↑ "Cinema Treasures". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 "After the Final Curtain". Matt Lambros. Retrieved 27 March 2015.

Coordinates: 42°42′57″N87°47′54″W / 42.7158°N 87.7983°W / 42.7158; -87.7983

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