Tower Theatre (Salt Lake City)

Apr 19, 2026 - 14:18
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Tower Theatre (Salt Lake City)

Added info about on-going renovations.

← Previous revision Revision as of 08:47, 19 April 2026
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The theater (with the Broadway Centre Cinemas, also owned by the society) screens classic and [[independent film]]s, and hosts a movie-rental library.{{cite web |url= https://utahtheaters.info/Theater/History/22/Tower-Theatre |title= Salt Lake Film Society Tower Theatre |website= utahtheaters.info |publisher= Utah Theaters |access-date= 8 Oct 2023}} The theater became a venue for the [[Sundance Film Festival]] in 1992.{{cite web |url= https://www.globeslcc.com/2022/12/23/tower-theatre-closure-redesign-future-plans/ |title= Planning a revamp, the Tower Theatre will skip the 2023 Sundance film fest |author= Giovanni Radtke |date= 23 Dec 2022 |website= globeslcc.com |publisher= The Globe |access-date= 9 Oct 2023}}
The theater (with the Broadway Centre Cinemas, also owned by the society) screens classic and [[independent film]]s, and hosts a movie-rental library.{{cite web |url= https://utahtheaters.info/Theater/History/22/Tower-Theatre |title= Salt Lake Film Society Tower Theatre |website= utahtheaters.info |publisher= Utah Theaters |access-date= 8 Oct 2023}} The theater became a venue for the [[Sundance Film Festival]] in 1992.{{cite web |url= https://www.globeslcc.com/2022/12/23/tower-theatre-closure-redesign-future-plans/ |title= Planning a revamp, the Tower Theatre will skip the 2023 Sundance film fest |author= Giovanni Radtke |date= 23 Dec 2022 |website= globeslcc.com |publisher= The Globe |access-date= 9 Oct 2023}}


Since 2020, the theater has been closed and undergoing renovations.{{cite news |last= Means |first= Sean P. |date= 24 March 2026 |title=The Tower Theatre’s long-awaited reconstruction is about to begin in 9th and 9th. Here’s what’s planned. |url= https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/2026/03/24/tower-theatres-reconstruction-9th/ |work=Salt Lake Tribune |location=Salt Lake City |access-date=19 April 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20260325093741/https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/2026/03/24/tower-theatres-reconstruction-9th/ |archive-date=2026-03-25}}
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The theater closed in March 2020 during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The Salt Lake Film Society purchased the Tower Theater building in December 2022, and plans to renovate it.


==History==
==History==
The theater was built by Samuel Campbell in late 1927{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} and opened January 8 or 10, 1928. The Tower Theater is the oldest movie theater in the [[Salt Lake Valley]] that still operates today, and was the first air-conditioned movie theater in the city. Its original façade resembled the [[Tower of London]], but this was removed in 1950.{{cite web |url= https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1112 |title= Tower Theatre |website= cinematreasures.org |publisher= Cinema Treasures |access-date= 9 Oct 2023}} It was equipped with a [[Kilgen]] organ during the [[silent film]] era. The theater converted to [[sound film]]s in 1930 and became known as "Tower Talkies."
The theater was built by Samuel Campbell in late 1927{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} and opened January 8 or 10, 1928. The Tower Theater is the oldest movie theater in the [[Salt Lake Valley]] that still operates today, and was the first air-conditioned movie theater in the city.

Its original façade resembled the [[Tower of London]], but this was removed in 1950.{{cite web |url= https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1112 |title= Tower Theatre |website= cinematreasures.org |publisher= Cinema Treasures |access-date= 9 Oct 2023}} It was equipped with a [[Kilgen]] organ during the [[silent film]] era. The theater converted to [[sound film]]s in 1930 and became known as "Tower Talkies." It was the first to screen "[[Sound film|talkies]]."{{cite news |last=Klopfenstein |first=Jacob |date=5 August 2023 |title= Salt Lake's Tower Theatre won't reopen this year, but owners have big plans for its future |url= https://www.ksl.com/article/50700754/salt-lakes-tower-theatre-wont-reopen-this-year-but-owners-have-big-plans-for-its-future |work= KSL.com |location= Salt Lake City |access-date=19 April 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325002253/https://www.ksl.com/article/50700754/salt-lakes-tower-theatre-wont-reopen-this-year-but-owners-have-big-plans-for-its-future |archive-date=2026-03-25}}


The theater closed in 1988 and remained vacant until it reopened on July 26, 1991. In 2001, the Tower Theater was saved from demolition, and the nonprofit Salt Lake Film Society was established to manage the theater.
The theater closed in 1988 and remained vacant until it reopened on July 26, 1991. In 2001, the Tower Theater was saved from demolition, and the nonprofit Salt Lake Film Society was established to manage the theater.

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The theater closed in March 2020 during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and in the aftermath of an earthquake the same month.
The Salt Lake Film Society purchased the Tower Theater building in December 2022. In August 2023, they announced plans to renovate the building.
In March 2026, the Salt Lake Film Society filed paperwork to begin a "preliminary facade deconstruction," with the aim "to better understand what’s left of its original 1928 facade."
{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Carter |date=25 March 2026 |title=Historic Tower Theatre to be partially deconstructed — but it'll help restore its 1920s design |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/historic-tower-theatre-partially-deconstructed-213055896.html |work=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City |access-date=19 April 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260419082415/https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/historic-tower-theatre-partially-deconstructed-213055896.html |archive-date=2026-04-19}}


==References==
==References==
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