The 1937 Yeadon Theater, pictured here before the fire, has the last Art Moderne interior in the Delaware Valley. (Rob Bender)

Despite previous escapes from the bulldozer, luck has finally run out for the Yeadon Theater, located in the Philadelphia suburb of Yeadon, Pa. After the 69-year-old structure was badly damaged by an arsonist's fire last month, the borough's council has voted to demolish the 69-year-old structure.

The 6-1 vote on Feb. 2 was a sad blow for the Art Moderne building, whose sign, facade, and lobby were scheduled to be restored this year after six years of neglect.

While the Jan. 8 fire did not damage the theater's sign and facade, it destroyed much of what made the building landmark-worthy. "It was the interior features that made the theater eligible for the National Register, and the fire destroyed all those features," says John Pickett, director of planning for Delaware County, Penn. The theater's historic marquee survived the fire "largely intact," he says.

The 750-seat theater went out of business in 2000; a year later, the borough purchased it for $125,000. To revitalize the area, the borough decided to demolish the structure in 2003. The building was saved at the last minute when preservationists discovered that noted architect John Eberson (1875-1964) designed it, but not before an encounter with the wrecking ball left the structure without its back wall. The wall was never repaired.

Whether it still qualifies for the National Register or not, some preservationists think the theater still deserves a chance. "The [remaining] walls are still structurally sound, and the decorative features can be recreated," says Gersil Kay, president of the Philadelphia-based Building Conservation International. She adds that the theater could produce the spark the area needs. "Theaters bring restaurants, shops, and people."

Although there is no set date for demolition, its funding has been approved, and the borough council is currently reviewing interim plans for the empty site. Several proposals have been suggested, including converting the lot into an amphitheater or creating an open garden. Council president Vivian Ford says that while nothing has been decided, the plans will include the theater's sign and bricks. "We intend to save specific parts of the theater so that it will become a landmark."

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