Egyptian Theatre
229 S. Broadway,
Coos Bay,
OR
97420
229 S. Broadway,
Coos Bay,
OR
97420
9 people
favorited this theater
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The Egyptian Theater main floor is no longer the place where the biggest movies open in Oregon’s Bay Area. The company which owns it recently opened an 11 theater multiplex at the Pony Village Mall where they showcase the more popular movies. The Egyptian has been showing art and foreign movies among others lately. There has been talk by the Little Theater on the Bay group of the City of Coos Bay buying the Egyptian and then leasing it to the theater group. The Egyptian would then be a live concert venue rather than a movie theater.
“…..this classic Egyptian theater still has its original 10-rank Wurlitzer organ…..” Now that quote is really saying something!
The Egyptian Theatre opened on 19th November 1925. It was designed by architect Lee Arden Thomas and had a seating capacity of 1,450.
This is one of the quirkiest and coolest theatres I have had the pleasure of visiting. Although the Egyptian motif is understandably 1920s (when the theatre was built), the look has a 1950s retro feel. I’m sure they have repainted over the years. Both stairwells in the lobby feature large seated pharaohs staring out to all the patrons entering, and above the lobby is a banner stating (I believe) “Through these doors pass the most wonderful people”. Colorful Egyptian decorations are placed about the concession stand. The auditorium continues the theme with two large columns forming the proscenium on either side of the stage, with hieroglyphic type illustrations along the walls. The original (main) auditorium features a nice, large screen. The upstairs “balcony” theaters are somewhat smaller, and plainer.
The is definately one of the nicer, more charming neighborhood theatres I’ve seen, and it carries a really great, warm feel to it. The marquee outside is massive, and it has one of the most impressive vertical/roof signs, with the profile of a pharaoh. It’s a fantastic example of neon, and looks wonderful when lit at night.
For those who love the Egyptian style, there are a number of theatres that have had that theme, and an entire special issue of “Marquee” magazine was devoted to them in their issue of: Vol. 29, #3; Third Qtr. 1997, and the issue features wonderful color covers of the EGYPTIANS in Milwaukee (in the form of a wonderful color painting by artist Mark Hylton of Columbus, OH) and Ogden Ut. The table of such themed theatres includes 45 examples of those now, or at one time, with us. An introduction and Prologue carry one to those ancient days, and individual articles on the Ogden and Hollywood help detail the existing examples. Many other photos are included.
PHOTOS AVAILABLE:
To obtain any available Back Issue of either “Marquee” or of its ANNUALS, simply go to the web site of the THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA at:
www.HistoricTheatres.org
and notice on their first page the link “PUBLICATIONS: Back Issues List” and click on that and you will be taken to their listing where they also give ordering details. The “Marquee” magazine is 8-1/2x11 inches tall (‘portrait’) format, and the ANNUALS are also soft cover in the same size, but in the long (‘landscape’) format, and are anywhere from 26 to 40 pages. Should they indicate that a publication is Out Of Print, then it may still be possible to view it via Inter-Library Loan where you go to the librarian at any public or school library and ask them to locate which library has the item by using the Union List of Serials, and your library can then ask the other library to loan it to them for you to read or photocopy. [Photocopies of most THSA publications are available from University Microforms International (UMI), but their prices are exorbitant.]
Note: Most any photo in any of their publications may be had in large size by purchase; see their ARCHIVE link. You should realize that there was no color still photography in the 1920s, so few theatres were seen in color at that time except by means of hand tinted renderings or post cards, thus all the antique photos from the Society will be in black and white, but it is quite possible that the Society has later color images available; it is best to inquire of them.
Should you not be able to contact them via their web site, you may also contact their Executive Director via E-mail at:
Or you may reach them via phone or snail mail at:
Theatre Historical Soc. of America
152 N. York, 2nd Floor York Theatre Bldg.
Elmhurst, ILL. 60126-2806 (they are about 15 miles west of Chicago)
Phone: 630-782-1800 or via FAX at: 630-782-1802 (Monday through Friday, 9AM—4PM, CT)