The Uptown Theatre was one of Chicago’s grand movie palaces! Built in 1925, this 4,300 seat theater was one of the country’s great movie palaces. Its history is related in a new coffee table book: “The Uptown: Chicago’s endangered Movie Palace.” Home to silent movies, the first talkies and live shows including the Marx Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, rock legends like Prince, The Grateful Dead and Rod Stewart….an amazing venue. But now, the building has been in limbo having suffered water and other damage through the decades.

Shuttered since 1981, there is a significant need for renovation and restoration. And that is the work of Friends of the Uptown which works to restore this national landmarked building to its grand days.

Here, Paul chats with the book’s co-author Robert Loerzel, a journalist and photographer who relates in great deal the history of this magnificent structure and what needs to happen to save it. Check out this expanded interview here which goes beyond the original WGN+ stream with Mr. Loerzel.