$18M Historic Lansdowne Theater Restoration Project Now Underway

LANSDOWNE, PA — The historic Lansdowne Theater is getting new life through an $18 million restoration project.

On Monday, the Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation along with local elected officials and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (D-5th District) held a ceremony to launch the restoration effort.

The restoration project is expected to take a year, with an anticipated reopening of the theater for the first time in almost 40 years in the fall of 2024.

In partnership with Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Rep. Scanlon secured $1.5 million in Community Project Funding for the theater as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 federal government funding package.

The funding will assist with rehabilitating the theater into a regional concert hall, while also preserving the architectural integrity of the building.

The restoration project and the theater’s subsequent reopening are expected to be an economic driver for Delaware County.

About 50 jobs in theater operations are expected to stem from the theater's reopening.

Additionally, an estimated 100 jobs will be created for the trades during construction, and for multiple businesses in the surrounding area.

"I am proud and excited to support the restoration of the historic Lansdowne Theater, one of the last remaining great theaters from the Golden Age of Hollywood in our region," Scanlon said. "Restoring this local jewel will breathe new life into our arts community and spur local economic growth, which is why I was proud to join Senator Casey in securing much-needed funding to make its reopening a reality. It is so exciting to be here today with everyone who worked so hard to reopen this beloved Delaware County landmark."

The Lansdowne Theater opened in 1927 to host film screenings and live performances.

It remained open until 1987 when an electrical fire caused the theater to close.

That same year, the Lansdowne Theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2007, the Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation purchased the theater and has since dedicated its time to restoring and rehabilitating the facility.

The restoration project will restore a number of historical items in the building - including the theater’s grand chandelier - and complete several facility upgrades, such as constructing a new lobby bar and 1,500 square foot patron lounge, expanding restroom facilities, and replacing the roof, HVAC, and plumbing and electrical systems.

"The non-profit Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation responded to the desire of many residents of Delaware County who wanted The Lansdowne to be preserved and reopened as a venue for public entertainment," said Bob Jara, President of the Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation Board of Directors. "After a long battle to secure funding and approvals from a myriad of regulatory agencies, we are proud to join with our supporters to begin construction."

"We took on this project because we want to preserve this landmark building and recognized the potential of the project to spur economic development throughout the business district. We are excited to partner with the selected concert promoter to bring national and internationally known musicians to enliven not only the building, but the surrounding neighborhood," said Matt Schultz, Executive Director of the Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation. "We don’t want to ever lose local ownership of the building again. The building had fallen into disrepair, and it is our charge to take care of The Lansdowne forever."