There hasn’t been any activity at Upper Darby’s Tower Theater since 2022, even though it’s stood as a cultural icon for 100 years, writes Nick Vadala for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
It hosted vaudeville acts, served as a movie theater, and then as a live concert venue, bringing in some of the biggest names in the music industry, including David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, and Ozzy Osbourne, among many others.
Now it sits empty and dejected on 69th Street.
Its current owners, Live Nation, had no updates on the Tower. Upper Darby Township officials had no comment.
Rita LaRue, Upper Darby’s director of Community and Economic Development, said there’s been some talk between the township and Live Nation to keep the Tower open.
It’s closed now while Live Nation assesses its other properties in the area, LaRue said back in February.
Urban Land Institute experts want to keep the Tower around, according to a study they prepared on developing downtown Upper Darby.
“[The] panel recommended Upper Darby Township prioritize returning the Tower Theater as an entertainment destination long-term, with several short-term activation ideas also offered,” said Urban Land Institute’s executive director, Kevin Moran.
Read more about the Tower’s uses over the decades in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on DELCO Today in July 2025.
