Goodbye, Uptown Theatre

Goodbye, Uptown Theatre
(Joseph Larsen, 2012)



The first screening I ever attended at the Uptown Theatre was a midnight show of Omega Man on August 12, 2004. I began working there nine days later.

The pre-renovated Uptown was my favorite place in the world. The feel, the atmosphere, the personality - all simply unmatched. The above video was shot during the final week before its 2012 closure, with the auditorium camera shot placed right next to my favorite chair (ground-level, left side, furthest-back aisle seat). The music is "Liu Lien" by Yao Lee, from Tsai Ming Liang's Goodbye, Dragon Inn, a film that best expresses my thoughts of the old Uptown.

It was the theater's renovation and subsequent loss of film projection that motivated me to pursue a career in film & video archiving. During my tenth anniversary of employment, I created this blog as a side project to document the rich history of the building. So much was scattered around the Twin Cities in a number of archives, not to mention unorganized boxes and file cabinets in the Uptown itself. On the eve of my departure, however, it was all put together for a 100-year anniversary. I can't think of a better sendoff than this history being brought back to the Uptown and its moviegoing community.

And now, for the heck of it, my five favorite screenings during my twelve years at the Uptown:

Aliens (08.29.09)
A routine midnight screening made special by the legendary Rock & Roll Ray. The pre-show revealed that he had an actual alien to show the crowd but had unfortunately escaped, and then, about 30 minutes into the film during its first major action sequence, Ray emerged dressed as an alien and battled his cohorts on stage. It was something straight out of a William Castle experience, and it was glorious.

Che (01.16.09)
This special cinematic experience put together both parts of Steven Soderbergh's epic into a combined roadshow release. There were no ads, trailers, or credits, just a five-minute musical overture over a map of Cuba before the film and a souvenir program listing cast and crew information for each audience member. A rare moment where attending a film felt like a true event.

Fantasia (08.12.11)
Screenings of Disney repertory films are quite rare, as steep prices and strict regulations tend to keep bookers at bay. I took it upon myself, however, to convince Landmark higher-ups that Fantasia would indeed make its money back, which it accomplished with the added help of weekend matinee shows. Few films look more spectacular on the big screen.

Spooktacular! (01.28.06)
My favorite midnight selection. While its centerpiece was the public domain classic Night of the Living Dead, Spooktacular! was preceded by over a half hour of old horror movie trailers and animated shorts. Wildly entertaining and everything that a good midnight movie experience should provide.

Zatoichi 5 (08.28.04)
While Omega Man was my first film at the Uptown, it was my third - Zatoichi 5 - that first made it sink in that I was now surrounded in a movie screening paradise. Who would think to play the 5th Zatoichi film? I never found out if it was the only title available or was chosen at random, but sitting in the darkness with a scant few others, I knew that this place was somewhere special.

I wish those who never experienced the Uptown before its 2012 renovation could've seen it, and I hope those who did hold on to its memory. It sure was a beauty.

Ultimate Destruction of the Uptown Theatre



After the Uptown Theatre closed for renovations on 01.31.12, plans were for construction to lay waste and clear out the lobby and auditorium. On 02.05.12, the night before the crew would be starting, employees past and present gathered to help in the proceedings.

2012 Renovation

Uptown Re-Opening Advertisement

09/14/12

Proposed Redesign

If I recall correctly, this was the original proposed design for the Uptown renovation that eventually occurred in 2012. Details of note: the bar was originally on the ground level (another storefront would ultimately take this place), stairs to the mezzanine were still in the lobby instead of the auditorium, and ticket cash registers were placed peculiarly close to concession cash registers.

Uptown Short Film

Ned Abdul Needs More Retail Space, or; How to Say Goodbye to an Old Friend
(Dan S., 2012)



Filmed after the Uptown Theatre's closure in February 2012.

Uptown Music Video

Complexes - "Doublemint" 
(2012)



Filmed a week before the Uptown Theatre's 2012 closure.

Uptown Around the Interwebs

dirty exterior pre-renovation

 

 photo by nehemiahnesheim

during renovation, 2012

photo by Craig VanDerSchaegen

Rocky Horror Picture Show, October 1986

photo by STUDIOZ7 

photo by decopix

Screening In a Lonely Place, 1980s

photo by decopix

photo by urbanNATURES

 

2001: A Space Odysset in 70mm, 1982

photo by Lake Street Council