Egyptian Theater
326 Washington Street,
Brighton,
MA
02135
326 Washington Street,
Brighton,
MA
02135
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At the time the Egyptian in Brighton was under construction an article about it appeared in a movie industry trade magazine (title and date unknown). It says that the theater was being built for Netoco, New England Theatres Operating Company. The design was by “Eisenberg and Feer, Boston architects”, and it was based partly on the Great Temple of Karnak at Thebes on the Upper Nile River. From the sidewalk there is a long lobby, 22 feet wide and 100 feet long, leading to the foyer which is 56 feet long and 40 feet wide. Beyond that is the promenade, 70 feet long and 20 feet wide. The auditorium was to have been of the stadium style (but that did not happen). There was to have been an orchestra lift in the pit, plus a seperate lift for the organ console. The building measures 160 feet from the rear stage wall to the front foyer wall, and the auditorium is 100 feet wide. This article, with no date and no mention of what publication it came from, was reprinted in the 1983 souvenir booklet for the Boston convention of the THSA.
In the souvenir booklet for the 1983 convention in Boston of the Theatre Historical Society there is a set of 6 old photos of the Egyptian Th. probably made when the theater was new. There is one exterior view and 5 interior views of the lobby, what appears to be the inner foyer, and the auditorium. It was a very fancy and expensively decorated theater, with an Egyptian theme. All of the spaces were very spacious.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Egyptian has an exterior photo dated April 1941. The theatre had an elaborate rectangular marquee with some sort of crest at the top and lots of what were probably “chase” lights. On the front, under the name, is posted “Friday Nights – Hollywood Party”. On either side of the entrance are very elaborate poster frames. To the left is the Puritan restaurant. The Report states that the Egyptian is at 326 Washington St. in Brighton, that it has been playing MGM product for over 10 years; that it’s less than 15 years old (as of 1941), is in Fair condition, has 2,054 seats, and is a “Neighborhood” house.
I live not far from Brighton Center, and I can say, that Elks Lodge is a sorry eyesore. I think there are some pics in their lobby of the old Egyptian. Also, there’s a restaurant near by with a few pics of the exterior hanging up. I think the exterior was redone at least once before the place was demolished-perhaps there was a renovation in the 40’s?
I never went into this Nabe, although I could have. I have a seating capacity of 2054, all on one floor. I understand that it had a large inner foyer, decorated in a hokey faux-Egyptian style.
Yeah, and saying I’m only 10 years old, I don’t even know who Bruce Tut is!
That is funny story about Bruce Tut in Egypt I like if you got more of them.
And if it’s just ‘closed’ is there still hope that this theatre will rise from any Egyptian ashes?
This Eygptian theatre is the first one I’ve seen listed as art deco so which is it?
Was this converted into the Elks Lodge, or demolished and replaced by that lodge?