Save Philadelphia's Uptown Theater

Linda Richardson is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hi everyone, we need your help!

The Uptown Theatre is one of the last great movie houses in Philadelphia or in the country for that matter. It also has also been the site for an amazing array of performances of the most talented stars in history!

A Bit of History
The Uptown Theater was born in 1929 during the Great Depression, and provided audiences with a venue to forget their troubles. Vaudeville, Movies, Jazz and R&B each had a role in the Uptown’s fame. During the 1960’s the theater was the HUB of Rhythm and Blues. Anybody and Everybody played there! Over the years, the theater fell into disrepair. The current Owners of the theater, the Non Profit Tax Exempt organization, the Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation, UEDC, has launched a campaign for a New Era in Entertainment. Young people will be able to showcase their talent through the Uptown Youth got Talent contest. The old groups will be able to display their enduring skills. An entire new generation of entertainers and audiences will experience the history, energy and vivacity of the Uptown Theater!

The Plan
The Uptown Theater Development Corporation has developed a strategic plan for the renovation of the theater which includes a series of phases to achieve progress. The first phase is to raise funding to retrofit the lobby which will serve as a temporary performance space to spur fundraising efforts. Although the space will be raw, it will be attractive, and meet all requirements to receive the temporary permits needed for events. The lobby will also house the community radio station.

The funds raised in Phase I will be used for:

1. Lobby retrofit for a performance venue and community radio station
- Lobby retrofit to create a venue to host fundraising events
- Refurbished space for the community radio station
- Installation of glass doors to make the lobby lit at night and create a street presence
- Marquee Retrofit with new letters and lighting

Needed Repairs
- Necessary plumbing repairs
- Sealing of building to prevent water infiltration

2. Radio Station
The radio station is a community sponsored independent radio station located on the ground floor of the Uptown Theater in North Central Philadelphia. It is volunteer run and serves the residents of Philadelphia. Cultural programming, political analysis and community activities are the hallmark of the station. UEDC will redesign and refurbish the radio station’s ground floor, lobby space so that it is more functional, better serving the volunteers, audience and community.

The Lobby stage will look something like this: