Tower Theatre sign removed in first step of 1928 facade restoration

Overview

Updated Sep 18

Crews removed the Tower Theatre's marquee sign on September 17, the most visible step yet in a campaign to return Salt Lake City's oldest movie theater to its original 1928 design. The removal began the facade deconstruction the Salt Lake Film Society filed for in March.

The theater has sat closed since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic and an earthquake shut it down. The nonprofit bought the building outright in December 2022 and plans to restore the Tower of London-inspired facade that was stripped off in 1950.

Why it matters

Salt Lake City's oldest theater reopens with its restored 1928 design, or stays dark past its centennial.

Last Monday's email for Salt Lake City, UT

Sent Nov 9. It carried:

Salt Lake City's west-side newspaper The West View to close The West View, a Salt Lake City outlet that covered only the city's west side, will publish its final issue this...
Utah lawmakers choose new leadership after election shakeup On Nov. 6, Utah lawmakers chose new leaders for the 67th Legislature. Senate Republicans picked Evan Vickers as...
Salt Lake City Democrat Stephen Otterstrom wins Utah House District 21 Stephen Otterstrom lost a Salt Lake City Council race by 118 votes in 2025. A year later, he won an open Utah House...
Antica Roma drops off Salt Lake City's active food license list Antica Roma, at 132 S Main St, was on Salt Lake City's active food establishment license list when it was read on...

Get next Monday's: one short email a week. Free. Unsubscribe in one click.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

Years since theater opened

Opened January 1928; oldest operating movie theater in the Salt Lake Valley.

340

Seat capacity

Single-screen capacity when the theater reopens.

Years theater has been closed

Shuttered since March 2020 by the pandemic and earthquake damage.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Samuel Campbell

Architect of the Tower Theatre (1927-28)

Deceased; original design is the target of the current restoration

Organizations Involved

Salt Lake Film Society

Nonprofit arts organization

Owner and operator of the Tower Theatre; leading the restoration

Nonprofit that owns and operates Salt Lake City's independent and classic film theaters, including the Tower Theatre and Broadway Centre Cinemas.

Timeline

January 1928 September 2026

10 events Latest: September 17th, 2026 · 2 months ago

Tap a bar to jump to that date

September 2026
Marquee sign removed
Latest Construction

Sign comes down as exterior restoration work begins.
September 17th, 2026
March 2026
Facade deconstruction filed
Permitting

SLFS files to begin assessing what remains of the original 1928 facade.
March 24th, 2026
August 2023
Renovation plans announced
Announcement

SLFS announces renovation plans; theater stays closed.
August 5th, 2023
December 2022
SLFS buys the building
Ownership

Salt Lake Film Society purchases the Tower Theatre building outright.
December 23rd, 2022
March 2020
Theater closes again
Closure

Shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic and earthquake damage.
March 18th, 2020
2001
Salt Lake Film Society formed
Organizational

Nonprofit created to save the theater from demolition.
2001
July 1991
Theater reopens
Reopening

Reopens after community effort raised needed funds.
July 26th, 1991
1988
Theater closes
Closure

Closes after six decades of continuous operation.
1988
1950
Original facade removed
Renovation

Tower of London-inspired design replaced with a modern front.
1950
January 1928
Tower Theatre opens
Construction

Opens as Salt Lake City's first air-conditioned movie theater.
January 8th, 1928

Scenarios

Tower Theatre reopens with restored 1928 facade

Likely Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: Salt Lake Tribune; Deseret News renovation coverage

Deconstruction reveals enough of the original 1928 facade survives beneath the 1950s covering. Restoration proceeds on the original design, and the theater reopens to the public around its centennial in January 1928's anniversary—early 2028 or shortly after.

Tower Theatre misses centennial; reopening pushed past 2028

Possible Resolves by Jan 10, 2028

Discussed by: Historical precedent of nonprofit restorations exceeding timelines

Deconstruction uncovers structural problems, permitting costs, or funding gaps that stretch the schedule. The theater remains a construction site through its 100th anniversary in January 2028, with reopening pushed into 2029 or later.

Funding shortfall forces scaled-back Tower Theatre restoration

Possible Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: Patterns in nonprofit arts funding gaps

Fundraising comes up short of the full restoration cost. The project pivots to a phased plan: facade restoration proceeds, but interior work and public reopening are deferred. The theater reopens with temporary facilities or stays closed while phases continue.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1988-1991

Tower Theatre's 1988-1991 Closure

The Tower Theatre closed in 1988 after 60 years of operation and sat vacant for three years. Community members organized to save the theater, and it reopened in July 1991.

Then

The theater reopened under community management, screening classic and independent films.

Now

The rescue effort led to the formation of the Salt Lake Film Society in 2001, which later bought the building.

Why this matters now

This is the theater's second major survival story. The nonprofit structure built during the 1988-2001 rescue is the same one now leading the restoration.

1974-1987

Fox Theatre Atlanta Restoration (1974-1987)

Atlanta's Fox Theatre, a 1929 movie palace with 4,678 seats and elaborate Moorish design, faced demolition in 1974. A grassroots fundraising campaign saved it, and the nonprofit Atlanta Landmarks restored the building over more than a decade, reopening it in 1987.

Then

The Fox reopened to the public after years of phased restoration work.

Now

It became one of the country's most successful restored movie palaces, hosting concerts and events.

Why this matters now

Shows how long nonprofit-led restoration of an aging movie theater takes, and that the payoff can justify the wait.

2010s

Egyptian Theatre, Park City (2010s restoration)

Park City's Egyptian Theatre, built in 1926 and a longtime Sundance Film Festival venue, underwent renovation work in the 2010s to update the building while preserving its historic character.

Then

Renovations modernized the venue with minimal disruption to its Sundance role.

Now

Demonstrated in Utah that a historic single-screen theater can remain financially viable.

Why this matters now

The Egyptian and the Tower are Utah's two historic Sundance theaters; the Egyptian's successful renovation shows a local playbook the Tower can follow.