All of you know that the 2700 block of market recently went up in flames. Fortunately, the Uptown Theater building was not damaged. The bar building adjacent, the old Viking Lounge, sustained some damage.
The theater recently changed hands and the new owner was on site securing the building. He was a very cool guy and is trying to figure out plans for the building. He let myself and another photographer go through the whole theater and take some photos. I did not have my equipment on me, so all I have are some iphone shots.
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What was the purpose of the room with the fireplace?
There were two rooms with fireplaces. These were in the apartments above the theater, which sit behind the balcony and projector room.
Thanks so much for the photos Nick. From that bottom picture it looks like the theater had water damage. Was there smoke damage as well?
That last photo is from the Viking lounge next door. Sorry, I shoulda captioned that. Only place I noticed water in the theater was the basement, and i think it was just the fire hose runoff. No smoke smell was present in the theater.
If a team of volunteers could be put together to clean up the theater and give it a fresh coat of paint, it could be brought back as a live venue and community theater that could occassionally show art films (Note art films are not porn) and film festivals such as Cleveland's Ceder Lee.
New owner is open to the idea of a non profit, crowdfunding, or some kind of community action.
Nick, mention Oakland Cener For The Arts Theater that use to be downtown. The Uptown Theater might be the venue to help them get back open. I don't know who would be the contact person for Oakland. Here's the link to its facebook page that might help.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Oakland-Center-for-the-Arts/55601898362 (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Oakland-Center-for-the-Arts/55601898362)
I heard they already found a new space? Maybe not.
When the buildings that burned are demolished, there will be ample parking next to the theater.
What is the name of the group of super intelligent people, because you and I should belong to it Jay. you hit the nail on the head about theater parking.
Quote from: jay on August 19, 2015, 09:22:16 PM
When the buildings that burned are demolished, there will be ample parking next to the theater.
I imagine that might cost money though, right? Unless the city gave them the land for revitalization.
I want to throw my hat in, just like on Facebook, as being able to volunteer to shape the building up, etc, if and when, the building might see work done. I've been sort of obsessed with the theater for a good couple years. I always drove past it and was amazed to think that the area once housed a working movie theater. I'm too young to have attended a show there. I was maybe 10 when Easy Street stopped playing there. I grew up about two blocks away. I'd love to see movies shown there again but I realize the cost may stop that. I guess just having community theater or something there would still be good, and I would be very happy to support it in many ways.
Land bank would give them the land. And if they didn't, it would be very very cheap. Can't give away vacant lots in this town hah.
If you are a certain friend of mine, they wouldn't even give you the land even if you wanted to build a church there.
Easy Street Productions performed at Rocky Ridge this evening. Members of the cast mentioned Easy Street's days at the Uptown Theater and named several of their successful shows that were performed there.
Don't just talk about it, go out and do it!!! :)
Quote from: jay on August 19, 2015, 12:49:21 PM
What was the purpose of the room with the fireplace?
For many buildings of this era, it was very commonplace to have apartments on
the upper floors over the store or small business on the ground level.
I like the brick arches in the windows - would be nice if the new owner tore off
that awful looking "cage" covering the original brick exterior underneath. If the
owner were able to get the vacant lot next door after the demolition, he could
have some gravel or crushed rock put down for parking - it's cheap and would
do the job until he could afford to have it paved.
Considering the conditions in most of Youngstown's neighborhoods, will any theater be successful at this point in time?
Just speaking for Youngstown, the answer is no. Even if someone were to open a theater, even on the West Side, they would struggle to get any first run movies for the simple reason that the large chains always have first crack at new movies without exception. There of course exceptions such as the theater in my hometown which is a twin theater in a town of 8000, but the advantage there is that it's near Penn State and the town itself has a branch campus of another university, but here in Youngstown we already have first run theaters in Boardman and Austintown, so film distributers would choose them to get the new movies. The best that any independent local theater could hope for would be art films by independent film producers and third run movies that have run their course at the chain theaters.
Doesn't look in to bad of shape...Hope after all 8)
Again, if the new owner can get it open, it could very well be a Youngstown version of the Cedar-Lee Theatre in Cleveland and that wouldn't be a bad thing and the theatre could tie in with Boom Boom Mancini who has a film production Co. here in town. With his connections the Uptown could be able to bring in some really good Indy-pictures.
I'd like to see it as a music venue like they did with the Newport in Columbus
It could be a blend of live shows and movies. How large is the stage? Did you get the chance to see it?
Yeah, here's a shot from the balcony showing stage size.
(http://nickserra.com/stuff/web/mahoningvalley/uptown/Photo%20Aug%2016,%204%2052%2054%20PMbalcony.jpg)
I would like to see the entire stage and the back stage area. There were stage shows for several years at the Uptown which tells me that there was plenty of room, and that the fly was sufficient to have lighting and such.
Most certainly it isn't as large as Powers or the Stambaugh stage, but for small bands it would be plenty large enough.
Again, what facilities are there back stage -- ie dressing rooms. Powers has 10 dressing rooms back stage, and more under the stage.
If again the Uptown has 4, 2 left and 2 right that too would be plenty since most bands consist of no more than 6 members.
If it was also used as a comedy club, it would be perfect.
Now there comes the question of the balcony. What condition is it in? I really couldn't tell from the picture. The balcony would be a perfect spot to locate a soundboard.
One of the features of a live theater is that a screen is located at the back wall of the stage where scenes can be projected. These scenes are computer generated and the equipment is also back stage, along with a light board because the images are seen behind the performers and can not be projected from the projection booth.
If all this sounds complicated it really is but fortunately we have folks right here in Youngstown who the theater owner could call on to help him, and one of them is Boom Boom Mancini. His headquarters I believe is in the Ohio One building downtown.
I also wondered about the back stage area while I was walking through. I didn't see any doors for rooms, so i'm not sure if a backstage exists.
The rest of the stage would have been behind the screen. In the center behind the screen is a floor model consel of speakers that lead up to the amplifier in the projection booth. If it was set up for cinemascope there would be three and maby auxiliary speakers on the walls on either side of the auditorium.
I attended Easy Street's production of "Pump Boys" many years ago. As I recall, there was only one set and it was on that small stage.
I drove past this area today. The debris from the burned buildings has been removed and fill has been added. I'm not sure of the composition of the cover layer but it sure looks like a parking lot already.
Go figure. What's there that would need a parking lot?