The Lansdowne Theater has awoken to her old — maybe even better — glory.

All 1,280 seats were sold for the performance of Chazz Palminteri’s “A Bronx Tale” Friday night as the 31 N. Lansdowne Ave. venue saw its doors open for the first time in four decades.

The theater initially opened on June 1, 1927, with a showing of the silent film “Knockout Riley,” starring Richard Dix. It was during a showing of “Beverly Hills Cop II” on July 3, 1987, that an electrical fire caused damage resulting in the theater’s closure for nearly 40 years.

“It’s a long time coming,” BRE Presents Vice President Richard Mancinelli said. “It’s amazing to see it fully realized.”

BRE is the Haddonfield, N.J.-based promoter that will be presenting all the theater’s shows from Palminteri’s play to a Dave Koz Christ

See Full Page