Uptown Theater

The Uptown Theater is a theater in Kansas City, Missouri. Its original design was carried out by Kansas City architect Robert Gornall, with construction beginning on the office and retail portion along Broadway, completed in November 1926. Work on the theater was halted until the Universal Film Company acquired the unfinished building in 1927, and the theater was completed in 1928, opening as Kansas City's premier entertainment spot showcasing first-run movies. The venue today presents upcoming shows and offers wedding and corporate event spaces, with multiple room capacities.

The original design for the Uptown was carried out by Kansas City architect Robert Gornall. Construction first began on the portion of the Uptown that would house offices and shops along Broadway; this office and retail portion was completed in November 1926. Work on the theater was halted until the Universal Film Company acquired the unfinished building in 1927. Completed in 1928, the Uptown Theater was Kansas City's premier entertainment spot showcasing first-run movies. "The Irresistible Lover" starring Norman Carey and Lois Moran opened to a sold out crowd at the Uptown on January 7th 1928. Australian born John Eberson created Kansas City's only "atmospheric" theater, designed to replicate a romantic, outdoor Mediterranean courtyard, with a nighttime-sky ceiling complete with twinkling stars, clouds and mechanical flying birds. In 1928, an unknown comedian in his early twenties named Bob Hope performed his comedy act for a week long run of shows. In the thirties, movies starring Will Rogers, Claudette Colbert and Shirley Temple were featured at the Uptown, and movie stars like Joe E. Brown, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and Tom Mix along with his horse Tony made personal appearances on the Uptown stage. As purchasing vehicles became more common, the Uptown began offering free parking across Broadway Boulevard, with a white-gloved, uniformed attendant helping people to and from their cars.

Kansas City's premier entertainment spot showcasing first-run movies (at opening in 1928)

1. 1Uptown Theater – Kansas City, Missouriuptowntheater.com
2. 2History – Uptown Theateruptowntheater.com
3. 3Uptown Theaterwikidata.org