Lansdowne Theatre

anyone on this theatre/ looking for info

I grew up in Clifton Hgts and would love to have follow up information on this theater.

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 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.
http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/image_gallery.cfm?RecordId=NR-86003575

The actual address for the theatre is 31 North Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne, Pa. That will map also.

Built in 1927 and designed by William Lee, the Lansdowne Theater seats 1400, is two stories and was built in "Hollywood Moorish" (Spanish Revivial) style. It is a frame structure and has a pink stucco over brick facade. The theatre has ornate decorative features on the second floor including a pair of balconies (NW&SW corners), inlaid marble, Doric pilasters, terra cotta carvings, quions, and double hung sash windows. There is a single, centered entrance with four stores on ground level and office space on the second floor. There is a ornate interior glass chandelier, murals, star patterns on the ceiling, and extensive decorative plaster work. The Theatre is located in the heart of the Lansdowne Business District and is key to the revival of the downtown area. Located along a regional rail commuter line, Lansdowne is a leafy first generation suburb of Philadelphia with many stately Victorian homes, and two National Register Historic Districts.
Closed since 1987, a new owner tried to renovate, but a small electrical fire forced the owner to reconcile the ensuing code violations and as a result, went bankrupt. The current owner purchased the building at a sheriffs sale and currently rents out the street level commercial spaces. The Theatre has not been in use since 1987.

SEEMS LIKE SUCH A NICE 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.

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.

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!

This link will give you the history and pictures of the Lansdowne Theater Organ
http://theatreorgans.com/mississippi/jacksonkimball/index.html

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".

how did the vote go

I think people from Florida are coming up to do a recount. It could end up in the Supreme Court. :)

lol

oh yeah, those fun "blue laws". You also couldn't buy some types of food, like pizza and hand-made sandwiches.

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

I heard this weekend that the theater has been sold. Does anyone have any information-- who, what are the plans, etc.?

Moi did you hear anything more?

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.

Closed as the Intro says, no current use pending consideration of how to reopen. That's been the status since closure.

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....

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.

Where is this "fact" from?

The mayor of Lansdowne told me!

From the Lansdowne Borough Council minutes, June 6 2007:

"Mr. Lee mentioned that the Lansdowne Theater sign is in disrepair and action is necessary. Mr. Travers stated that several citations have been issued and the building has been sold to the LEDC/GLCA partnership."

here is info on the LEDC:

http://www.lansdownesfuture.org/ledc/history/

Here are a couple of photos. The first is undated, maye circa 1920s. The second is an expansion of a thumbnail posted by Lost Memory on 11/10/04:
http://tinyurl.com/35dqee
http://tinyurl.com/2qftzh

The movie title in the second photo is The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry which was released in August of 1945.

A web site. Very little info so far, but stay tuned!

http://www.lansdownetheater.org/

Thanks to Barry Goodkin for sharing his exterior photo of June 23, 1985 during run of "Witness" (filmed in Philadelphia area)during annual Conclave visit to Philadelphia area by Theatre Historical Society of America:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/howardbhaas/2261971784/

June, 2008



Dear Friends of Film in Lansdowne:



At long last, after more than 20 years, movies have come back to Lansdowne! Our wonderful arts community now has its own intimate, 30-seat microcinema/screening room right in the heart of the central business district. You are invited to join us for the Lansdowne Sofa Cinema Premiere this Saturday, 6/14 as follows:



6:45: Cry of the Snow Lion—a breathtakingly beautiful and engaging film about Tibet and its people, featuring the Dalai Lama.

8:45: Reception with Tsering Wangdi, President of the Tibetan Association of Philadelphia who is working on the July appearance of the Dalai Lama in Philadelphia;

9:115 Cry of the Snow Lion, 2nd showing.



For one $ 5 fee, you may attend either screening and head Mr. Wangdi. Refreshments are also available.



The showing will take place at our first home, the Lansdowne Baptist Church, corner of Lansdowne and LaCrosse. There is free parking in the church lot.



We are delighted to present Lansdowne’s first film venture in two decades in a fun and engaging way. Advance tickets may be purchased this Saturday at the Sofa Cinema booth at the Lansdowne Farmers Market or at the door. For further information, please call: (215) 601-1138. For future features, please visit our website at: lansdownesofacinema.com. If you or your organization would like to work with the Sofa Cinema Committee or sponsor a particular film for your group, we would be happy to work with you.



Come and support film and fun in Lansdowne! See you at the movies!!



Gary Chilutti, Manager

Main Street Lansdowne

Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation





Lansdowne Sofa Cinema is a project of the Lansdowne Main Street Program under sponsorship of the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit corporation under Section 501 c 3 of the IRS Code. The LEDC receives support from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, the Borough of Lansdowne and numerous local businesses, philanthropic foundations and corporations. For more information, visit our website at: www.lansdownesfuture.com

Today's exterior photo by Rob Bender:

http://www.futurenostalgia.org/archive.php/336/Lansdowne_Theatre

I loved this theater as a kid I remember seeing snow white here when was about 4 or 5 in 1984 or 85.

Good things are happening! The Regency Cafe just moved into one theater storefront, and an independent video store, with a screening room, will open soon in the other!

http://www.regencycafe.com/

http://www.cinema169.com/

http://www.lansdownetheater.org/

1963 photo of the Lansdowne theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c38%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=27&catpagesize=10&ProductID=33029
1967 photo of the Lansdowne Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c38%2c3%2c-1&catpagesize=10&ProductID=33030
1983 photo of the Lansdowne Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c38%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=27&catpagesize=10&ProductID=33031

This is another expanded view of a thumbnail posted on 11/10/04. Photo is from the Irvin Glazer theater collection:
http://tinyurl.com/pcz5qd

Looking for your Lansdowne Theater Stories


The Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation is looking for your Lansdowne Theater story. Share memories of meeting friends at the theater. Was there a movie that you saw at the theater that changed your life? Did you work at the theater? Did you patronize or work at one of the businesses that occupied the retail or office spaces? If you have photographs of the theater we would love to see them. The best stories and photos will appear on the soon to be expanded www.LansdowneTheater.org

Send your stories to info@LansdowneTheater.org

Look for updates on the theater later this fall.

What happened to the original marquee?

The original marquee lasted only 4 or 5 years. We have located photographs from the early 30s that show the current marquee in place. We suspect that the original was removed because it did not allow for the name of the films to be displayed.

SAVE THE LANSDOWNE RALLY OCTOBER 3 AT 10:30 a.m.


Join Lansdowne for a rally in front of the historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation on Saturday October 3rd at 10:30 a.m. Attendees will pose in a group photograph to demonstrate their desire to see the theater restored and reopened.

Immediately following the photograph you will be able to sign up to become a volunteer and help to make the reopening of the theater a reality. You are invited to participate in a public briefing to be held in Cinema 16:9 immediately following the recording of the photograph.