Egyptian Theatre, DeKalb

The Egyptian Theatre is a historic theatre in DeKalb, Illinois, whose Egyptian-style design was inspired by the 1922 discovery of King Tut's tomb. It was built by the DeKalb Theatre Company and opened on December 10, 1929. Today it hosts a range of events and programming and is supported by sponsors and grants.

The Egyptian Theatre traces its roots to the 1922 discovery of King Tut's tomb, which sparked nationwide interest in all things Egyptian. In 1928, the DeKalb Theatre Company sought a design for a combination motion picture house and vaudeville theatre, needing a larger facility than its theatre at the corner of First Street and Lincoln Highway. The firm consulted Chicago theatre architect Elmer F. Behrns. Contracts were awarded in 1928, but construction, aside from a foundation excavation, did not begin until Spring 1929. Dale Leifheit was president of the DeKalb Theatre Company and served as the building's first manager when it opened on December 10, 1929. Initial construction cost is believed to have been roughly $250,000. The theatre served a population of approximately 8,545 in DeKalb and 32,644 in DeKalb County. By the 1930s, it was one of over 100 theatres across the country decorated in Egyptian style; of those, the DeKalb theatre is one of only 7 remaining in the United States and the only Egyptian Theatre east of the Rocky Mountains. Other remaining Egyptian Theatres are located in Los Angeles, CA; Delta, CO; Boise, ID; Coos Bay, OR; Ogden, UT; and Park City, UT. Original plans included additional attached buildings, such as a hotel on the north side of the main entrance, but they were never built due to the stock market crash in late 1929. The crash changed some building plans but did not dampen the opening celebration.

A beloved and highly visible community treasure and historic preservation venue.

1. 1The Historic Egyptian Theatre - Downtown DeKalb, ILegyptiantheatre.org
2. 2The Historic Egyptian Theatre - Historyegyptiantheatre.org
3. 3Corporate Giving & Sponsorship - Egyptian Theatreegyptiantheatre.org