UPTOWN THEATER

The Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, appointed Holsten as Receiver in December, 2004 to preserve this National Landmark theater. Originally built in 1924-1925 by operators Balaban and Katz, this 4,381 seat theater was designed by architects Rapp and Rapp. Successfully active as a performing arts center until the mid 1950's, the theater then began its decline as a series of owners tried different types of entertainment, none of which paid the bills to maintain the physical structure.

In an effort to "mothball" the building, Holsten was asked to fix dangerous and hazardous exterior conditions, stop water infiltration from deteriorating the interior ornamental plasterwork, and seal the interior of the building from Chicago's destructive freeze-thaw cycles. A total of $1,400,000 was spent during the course of this work, and the theater is now safe from further deterioration, while the City looks for a responsible party with a realistic plan for its future.