Tower Theater Tower Coming Down Due To Public Safety Concerns

UPPER DARBY, PA — The iconic tower on top of the Tower Theater in Upper Darby is coming down, according to officials.

Upper Darby Mayor Tom Micozzie said Tuesday that LiveNation, owner of the theater, notified officials that the Tower signage atop the building will be taken down out of public safety concerns.

The removal of the tower will take about two days, according to Micozzie.

"This followed an assessment of the sign's structural integrity by the company's engineering firm that deemed the existing structure unsafe," Micozzie said on Facebook Tuesday morning. "When the company first approached the township to request the necessary permits, I expressed my strong concern about the removal of the sign, which has become a landmark for 69th Street. However, an independent analysis by the township's engineers confirmed that severe deterioration of the metal base and structure could not be corrected and posed a hazard to public safety."

The Tower Theater opened in 1927.

Micozzie said the sphere and letters from the tower will be donated to a music museum.

"In addition, the company has advised me that it plans to evaluate options to replace the iconic sign once the existing structure had been removed and will be releasing a statement to that effect," Micozzie said.