Egyptian Theatre

135 N. 2nd Street,
DeKalb, IL 60115

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Showing 1 - 25 of 29 comments

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on October 14, 2022 at 3:59 am

Facebook page for the Egyptian Theatre. Shows films listed for October.

https://www.facebook.com/dekalbegyptiantheatre

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on January 3, 2022 at 3:38 pm

The website is showing all performing arts attractions. No movies listed at all, current or classic.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 19, 2018 at 3:15 pm

Short piece about the Egyptian with photos.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/egyptian-theatre

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on December 2, 2017 at 9:39 pm

According to the website the 35mm projection system has been restored.

rivest266
rivest266 on August 29, 2016 at 5:17 pm

December 7th, 1929 grand opening ad in the photo section.

Scott
Scott on December 18, 2014 at 5:38 pm

Bobby, unfortunately I won’t be in town this weekend. I’m about 5 hours away so it’s a problem attending events there.

BobbyS
BobbyS on December 17, 2014 at 5:51 pm

I am looking forward visiting & seeing the Christmas show this saturday night at 7:30pm. 12/20/14. Are you going Scott?

vintagevenicetours
vintagevenicetours on March 21, 2013 at 5:03 pm

The Egyptian is alive and kicking. Check out this new article. http://blog.preservationnation.org/2013/03/18/dekalbs-historic-egyptian-theatre-a-pharaoh-inspired-space-gets-a-lively-afterlife/#.UUs7GRyKKuK

Scott
Scott on January 16, 2012 at 3:58 am

darrelmw, I was there in 1985-1986. I mainly worked concessions, but was also in the ticket booth at times. I have many fond memories of volunteering there. I was in Dekalb this past summer and couldn’t resist checking to see if I could get into the theatre. Well, I did get in and met the manager, who talked about what they’ve been doing to the theatre lately. I’m happy to report that the theatre looks great.

Darrel Wood
Darrel Wood on January 16, 2012 at 2:49 am

Hey Paradise….when were you a volunteer there? I was a volunteer in 79/80. Ran the box office for part of the time.

Scott
Scott on January 6, 2011 at 11:10 pm

The article about the Wurlitzer is from March 17, 2009, so perhaps the organ has already been installed. I used to do volunteer work at the Egyptian but have lost touch with the happenings there.

Regarding the notion that the Egyptian is haunted, I’ve been in all areas of the theatre on many occasions and never encountered anything ghost-like. But if such nonsense will sell tickets, so be it.

Bruce C.
Bruce C. on November 16, 2009 at 6:50 pm

The Egyptian Theatre is used as a Haunted House each October. My picture (posted above by Chuck) shows the theatre with the haunted house decorations still on the front of the building. I also have one interior picture that I took earlier in October. Here’s the link:

View link

Broan
Broan on January 24, 2008 at 1:23 am

Never realized that was a scarab in the window. Cool.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on July 12, 2007 at 1:27 am

Given that there are so many Egyptian theaters from the 1920s (Hollywood and Long Beach CA come to mind), I’m wondering if the whole King Tut mania of the teens had anything to do with this. Why would an architect say out of the blue “I think I will make my theater look like something out of ancient Egypt”.

Broan
Broan on January 15, 2007 at 11:50 pm

Do you have a list of the theaters he designed? I have a feeling the list here is incomplete. Do you know what work he did during his time with Rapp and Rapp (1917-1923)? Also, do you have anything on the Echo in Des Plaines?

heidifagan
heidifagan on January 15, 2007 at 11:06 pm

It’s a marvelous theater; hidden on a little sidestreet. I was a student at NIU and saw live productions as well as movies there; the murals are worth the trip alone (and the lobby is breathtaking.)

Elmerskin
Elmerskin on January 15, 2007 at 10:05 pm

It’s so good to see people interested in some of the buildings my Great Grandfather designed.If anyone has obscure questions they think I may be able to drum up answers to feel free to ask. Thank you for preserving my families history.

HDTVdesignteam
HDTVdesignteam on July 21, 2006 at 10:01 pm

Is Gene Liberty still involved with the theater? I remember him hosting Jazz sessions there in the early ‘80’s.
George Thompson
Former NIU Television Services Chief Engineer

SpikeSpiegel6262044
SpikeSpiegel6262044 on June 9, 2006 at 11:59 pm

It’s so pretty! I wish CT would have something like this.

JakeM
JakeM on December 7, 2005 at 9:04 pm

Here is the official website, http://www.egyptiantheatre.org
According to the website, this theatre opened with 1600 seats and now has 1449 with 905 on the floor and 544 in the balcony. There are some nice pictures on the site and a good history.

Broan
Broan on December 7, 2005 at 8:25 pm

A January 13, 1985 Chicago Tribune letter to the editor from a gentleman who worked with Behrns, responding to some photos that had recently appeared, notes that the main designer of the Egyptian’s interior decor was a man named John Halama who did extensive research on Egypt for the design.

atmos
atmos on August 24, 2005 at 12:29 pm

According to David Naylor this is also an atmospheric.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on December 21, 2004 at 10:48 pm

The Egyptian Theatre opened on 10th December 1929 with a given seating capacity of 1,200.