Lansdowne Theatre
31 N. Lansdowne Avenue,
Lansdowne Borough,
PA
19050
31 N. Lansdowne Avenue,
Lansdowne Borough,
PA
19050
7 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 48 of 48 comments found
The mayor of Lansdowne told me!
Where is this “fact” from?
It is a fact that it has been sold, but I still have not heard any concrete plans or info about next steps! I had the chance to enter the theater a few months ago (I noticed that the front door was open,so I went inside.) The place is absolutely beautiful, but totally trashed. There is mouldy carpet, and bits of fallen plaster everywhere. It will take enormous work to bring it back to life.
I went religiously to this theater and the Waverly in Drexel Hill as a kid and a young adult….very fond memories…
Hopefully this will be reopened for it’s original purpose….
Closed as the Intro says, no current use pending consideration of how to reopen. That’s been the status since closure.
The entry at Cinematour.com indicates the the theatre is open – even lists a phone number. No info on what it’s current use is.
Moi did you hear anything more?
I heard this weekend that the theater has been sold. Does anyone have any information— who, what are the plans, etc.?
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987
Lansdowne Theatre (added 1987 – Building – #86003575)
29 N. Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Lee,William H.
Architectural Style: Mission/Spanish Revival
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater
oh yeah, those fun “blue laws”. You also couldn’t buy some types of food, like pizza and hand-made sandwiches.
lol
I think people from Florida are coming up to do a recount. It could end up in the Supreme Court. :)
how did the vote go
November 2, 1955
“Lansdowne will vote on Sunday movies question
Whether Lansdowne Borough will continue to ban movies on Sunday will be up to the voters when they go to the polls Tuesday.
The Lansdowne Theater is closed on Sundays by borough ordinance. A petition was circulated earlier this fall under the encouragement of the Stanley-Warner Theater chain, urging a referendum on Sunday movies. The legality of the petition was challenged by the Lansdowne Council of Churches, but County Court ruled, instead, that the churches' appeal didn’t conform to legal requirements.
Neither borough political party is taking any stand on the question. The GOP has maintained a strict “hands off” attitude, and the Democrats this week came out with a denial of Republican charges that only Democrats signed the petition.
In a press statement by the Lansdowne Democratic Committee this week, the minority party called the charge “absolutely not true,” and said, “Politics was not the issue here. The American way of allowing a community to vote for a measure was the issue.”
Spearheading opposition to the Sunday movies is the Council of Churches. Other groups have joined the opposition – the Woman’s Club, Junior Woman’s Club and Mothers-in-Council. No organization in the borough has come out for Sunday movies, but most have remained uncommitted".
This link will give you the history and pictures of the Lansdowne Theater Organ
View link
It is my understanding the original 3 manual 8 rank Kimball organ was broken up for parts. We heard the organ played by the late Lowell Ayers at the 1976 ATOS Convention. Gads, that’s 30 years ago!
The theater interior was in really bad shape in the early ‘80s. There were big holes in the theater
roof that let light and rain in. Buckets were underneath portions of the holes to catch rain,
and some seating areas were roped off because of plaster that looked like it would fall.
After years of second-run movies and $1 special days, the wear on the seats and floor was
really high with a lot of leftover bubble gum and dirt.
Despite all that, I still have fond memories of matinees and the organ playing in this theater.
The Greater Lansdowne Civic Association has announced that it has procured 900000 to assist a developer in renovating the space. So if any body has any good ideas contact them.
SEEMS LIKE SUCH A NICE THEATER
I hope that I’m not confusing this theater with another Lansdowne Theatre. The above address doesn’t map correctly. There is a listing for a Lansdowne Theater located at 31 N Lansdowne Ave, Lansdowne, PA 19050. This theater is listed as a live theater and it is open.
Also, I found some old photo’s of this theater but they are thumbnails. To view the larger photo’s you must be a paying member.
View link
Wasn’t this the theater that was the home of “Moron Movies?” They were a series of very short comedy films made by a guy named Len Cella, in his basement more or less…he strung them together and made a midnight-show feature out of them. Eventually he got some of them shown on the Tonight Show.
I grew up in Clifton Hgts and would love to have follow up information on this theater.
anyone on this theatre/ looking for info