Egyptian Theatre

328 Main Street,
Park City, UT 84060

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Related Websites

Egyptian Theatre Company (Official), Sundance Film Festival

Additional Info

Functions: Live Performances, Live Theater, Movies (Film Festivals)

Styles: Egyptian

Previous Names: Silver Wheel Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 435.649.9371

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News About This Theater

Egyptian Theatre

In the early-1900’s Park City’s social and entertainment needs were served by a number of flourishing theatres and social halls. When the Dewey Theatre, originally on this site, collapsed under a heavy snow load, John Rugar replaced it with the Egyptian Theatre which was opened December 25, 1926. It was designed to accommodate both movies and vaudeville in the 400-seat auditorium. It became the first "sound movie" theatre in Park City.

After being remodeled in 1963, the building opened as the Silver Wheel Theatre, and old fashioned "mellodramas" were performed for the next fifteen years. In 1978 the building’s architectural integrity was threatened by an attempt to change its facade to a western motif. Preservation of its distinctive Egyptian features was achieved, however, when the building became the home of Park City Performances in 1981

The Egyptian Revival style represents a unique period architecture which peaked in America around 1930. Egyptian style theatres are rare, and this is one of only two remaining in Utah. Originally the interior contained replicas of Egyptian artifacts. This is a masonry structure with a false front shielding its hip roof. Tiles at the base of the ticket booth and pilasters in obelisk shape reinforce the Egyptian motif.

(From a historical marker presented by the Park City Centennial Commission)

In 1998, the Egyptian Theatre was underwent a $5 million remodeling and seating was reduced to 266.

Contributed by Grant Smith, Jeff Timmons

Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

JimRankin
JimRankin on April 8, 2004 at 6:15 pm

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 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)

phantomjt
phantomjt on April 13, 2005 at 6:56 pm

The Egyptian Theatre company is a non-profit 501-3-c Organization. It produces High Quality Professional Theatre productions yearly. Broadway and Off-Broadway musical and shows. This Actors Equity House is top of the line! Also the main venue for the famous Sundance Film Festival. The Egyptian Theatre was remodeled in 1998 ($5 Million) and cut their seating to 266. Their new website address is: www.parkcityshows.com Their box office phone number is: 435-649-9371.

shoeshoe14
shoeshoe14 on February 2, 2006 at 7:35 pm

The marquee is on the front page of the New Haven Advocate (New Haven, CT) at www.newhavenadvocate.com

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on March 1, 2007 at 2:32 pm

The weather doesn’t look too hospitable:
http://tinyurl.com/3ydm3u

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 5, 2008 at 12:18 am

Here is another photo. Still too cold for me:
http://tinyurl.com/3y48xj

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on April 11, 2009 at 7:26 pm

Here is a 2006 photo from Life magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/c8bwo2

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on February 19, 2010 at 9:59 pm

From the pictures it looks like the vertical EGYPTIAN sign rotates,pretty cool,nice looking.

rivest266
rivest266 on May 28, 2017 at 3:23 pm

This opened on Christmas day, 1926. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on September 23, 2022 at 3:54 pm

The website lists only live performances for the next six months. No films scheduled.

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