Egyptian Theatre, Park City facts for kids
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The Egyptian Theatre on the eve of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
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| Address | 328 Main Street Park City, Utah U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 40°38′33″N 111°29′42″W / 40.6425°N 111.495°W |
| Capacity | 266 |
| Opened | December 25, 1926 |
The Egyptian Theatre is a famous building in Park City, Utah, in the United States. It is also called the Mary J. Steiner Egyptian Theatre. This theatre was built in the 1920s. Its design was inspired by ancient Egypt. This style became very popular after the discovery of King Tut's tomb.
Contents
History of the Egyptian Theatre
Building the Theatre
The Egyptian Theatre was built where an older theatre once stood. That theatre, called the Dewey Theatre, fell down in January 1916 because of heavy snow. Building the new Egyptian Theatre started in 1926. Its first show opened on Christmas Day in 1926. A man named John Alphonso Rugar put on this first performance.
The theatre was designed to look like another Egyptian-themed theatre. This one was in East Pasadena, California. An expert on ancient Egypt, C.R. Berg, helped with the theatre's look. He made sure the decorations were correct.
Early Years and Changes
The first show on opening day was called "A Wonderful Sign of a Magical Time." For many years, the theatre was used in different ways. It was a movie house and a place for live shows. It even served as a saloon during tough times like the Great Depression and Second World War.
In 1963, the theatre's name changed to the Silver Wheel Theatre. This happened as Park City started to become a popular ski resort town. Live shows continued to be a big part of the theatre.
Renovation and Reopening
In 1981, the theatre was renovated. After this, it became the home for Park City Performances. This brought many different kinds of shows to the theatre. It helped the theatre stay active through the 1990s.
A community group called "Save our Stage" worked hard to help the theatre. Thanks to their efforts, the Egyptian Theatre reopened on February 14, 1998. It had gone through a big reconstruction and update. This renovation cost about $1.5 million.
Why the Egyptian Theatre is Special
Egyptian Style and Design
The Egyptian Theatre was built during a time when people all over the world were fascinated by ancient Egypt. This was because King Tut's tomb had just been discovered. Many theatres across the country were built or updated with an Egyptian theme.
An Egyptologist, an expert on ancient Egypt, helped design the theatre. This made sure the historical details were accurate. The theatre is beautiful and has many famous Egyptian symbols. You can see lotus leaves, scarabs, and hieroglyphics. There are also symbols for life and happiness.
First Sound Movies and Sundance
The Egyptian Theatre was the first place in Park City, Utah, to show movies with sound. This was a big deal at the time.
The Sundance Film Festival has used the Egyptian Theatre for many years. It is one of the oldest and most recognized places where the festival shows movies.
Unique Utah Landmark
This theatre is one of only two Egyptian-style theatres in Utah. The other one is Peery's Egyptian Theatre in Ogden, Utah. Besides these two theatres, the Salt Lake Masonic Temple is the only other building in Utah with this special Egyptian Revival style.
See also
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