DeKalb Theater
145 N. Third Street,
DeKalb,
IL
60115
145 N. Third Street,
DeKalb,
IL
60115
8 people
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In 1929 the Egyptian Theatre replaced an earlier DeKalb Theatre that was located southwest about a block and a half away at First Street and Lincoln Highway. At some point it became a Montgomery Ward until the 70s when that moved out onto Sycamore Road (past the DeVal Drive in, also here on Cinema Treasures). It was remodeled into retail and office space in the 1970s (I recall my dentist having the most psychedelic foil wallpaper throughout his office there).
Tonny, if you look closely a the front of the marquee in tinseltoes link you can see it says Dekalb Egyptian Theatre.
Interesting Movie related link Tinseltoes. However, I need to set this 80-odd year old error straight. The 1930 ad piece has misidentified the photo as being of THE DEKALB theater on 3rd Street. The photo is actually of THE EGYPTIAN one block over on 2nd street. THE EGYPTIAN is also featured on this site. I was likewise confused when I first moved to the area. I used the theater as a landmark to find places near down-town. I kept getting lost until I realized there were TWO theater buildings in downtown DeKalb!
This 1930 photo suggests that there was an earlier DeKalb or that this DeKalb is older than thought: archive
The DeKalb’s auditorium was featured in this 1950 trade ad: boxofficemagazine
Nice virtual tour.
Check out the virtual tour on the school site. Some good interior photos there.
Here is another photo. Function should be changed to school or beauty school.
http://tinyurl.com/ycow9qj
1980 Photo
View link
The marquee and vertical sign are still intact but the DeKalb Theatre is now being used by Debutantes School of Cosmetology and Nail Technology. If you look closely at my picture listed above (posted by Chuck), the poster boxes have signs for Debutantes. Here is the link to the school:
http://www.debschool.com/careerinfo/
Recent photo of the DeKalb Theatre.
View link
1980 Night Photo
1983 Photo
And a 2008 black and white view: http://www.boxsetgallery.com/stein/index.html
This is a 2008 photo.
Here is a recent photo of the DeKalb Theater.
http://www.beerme.com/breweries/us/il/503.shtml
not sure if Mr. Rybinski owned the building or just the business.
Business operated from 1994 to 1998 at this theater.
Does anyone know how to get in contact with the owners to see if the Theatre is for sale?
I think this opened around 1939. It was owned by Kerasotes in the 70s and 80s. It was twinned in the early 1980s, and became a brew & view after Kerasotes closed it.
It was a long, narrow auditorium. I recall it having an unusual shaped cove lighting along each side wall, with a somewhat abstract/deco mural. When the curtain opened, it curved around the corners of the auditorium and partly slid into the wall…very interesting. In later years the curtain was alway open, and I think they painted over the murals. I recall seeing a movie in the late 70s and the balcony was open…the late deco furniture and carpet was still in the balcony lobby. A bit threadbare. When I went back after it was twinned (a wall was raised right about the front edge of the balcony, so the main auditorium was mostly intact), the furniture was gone.