Events › The Uptown: Chicago’s Endangered Movie Palace

Join us for an illustrated talk followed by a question and answer period featuring local journalists Robert Loerzel and James A. Pierce discussing their new book on the history of the legendary Uptown Theatre, its past decades of disrepair, and its potential future. The Uptown: Chicago’s Endangered Movie Palace is published by CityFiles Press and includes exhaustively researched photos, historical programs, and architectural drawings of the languishing movie palace.

For all ages.

Robert Loerzel, author of Alchemy of Bones: Chicago's Luetgert Murder Case of 1897 and Walking Chicago: 35 Tours of the Windy City's Dynamic Neighborhoods and Lakeshore, is a freelance journalist, photographer, and music critic who has written for many of Chicago's publications including The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Chicago Reader, Newcity, Chicago Magazine, Playbill as well as national publications such as The Huffington Post and the now defunct Punk Planet.

James (Andy) Pierce, has worked more than 30 years in Chicago media, government, nonprofits, and historic preservation. You may recognize his voice from WDCB 90.9 FM “Chicago’s Home for Jazz” and his volunteer advocacy work as one of the founders of Friends of the Uptown Theatre. This summer, he led the staging of his third “Uptown Community Portrait” – this time to recognize the endangered historic theatre’s 100th anniversary. 
Pierce began his career in Chicago in 1995, as a reporter, photographer, and editor for the Lerner neighborhood newspaper chain. Beginning in 2001, he served eight years in the City of Chicago Department of Buildings and for three years as Chief of Staff for the 2nd Ward. He serves as the executive director of Friends of Historic Second Church in the South Loop. He is a longtime member of Landmarks Illinois, Preservation Chicago, and Theatre Historical Society of America. His wife Beth and he restored their 1925 home in Hegewisch, winning two Chicago Bungalow Association Richard M. Driehaus Awards. Recently, Pierce was named the Executive Director of the Friends of Historic Second Church.

Accessibility
Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event.

James A. Pierce

Robert Loerzel