Egyptian Theatre
135 North Second Street,
DeKalb,
IL
60115
135 North Second Street,
DeKalb,
IL
60115
17 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 36 comments found
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
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.
Hey Paradise….when were you a volunteer there? I was a volunteer in 79/80. Ran the box office for part of the time.
Here are Some photos
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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.
Great news! The egyptian will soon get a mighty wurlitzer.
http://www.bunnweb.org/dekalb/3-17-09.htm
My bad.
This should be the right link to the auditorium photo.
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Exterior
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Auditorium
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1983 Photo
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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:
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Recent photo of the Egyptian Theatre.
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Exterior Photo
Interior Photo
the theatre opened in 1929
this place is looking GREAT i went there yesterday
Here’s a 2008 black and white view: http://www.boxsetgallery.com/stein/index.html
Never realized that was a scarab in the window. Cool.
Here is a recent night view.
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”.
This is a recent photo of the Egyptian Theater.
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?
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.)
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.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978
Egyptian Theatre ** (added 1978 – Building – #78003100)
135 N. 2nd St., De Kalb
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Behrens,Elmer F.
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Vacant/Not In Use
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