With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LAistory: Walk Like an Egyptian
()
Photo by Jacy/LAist
Unlike its unsubtle brother, the Grauman's Chinese, The Egyptian is set back from the street. You just might miss it if you aren't paying attention. It's a delicate place, a secret from the roar of Hollywood. Instead of being taken over by some mall, it has been carefully restored. It was designed by architects Meyer & Holler for Sid Grauman. It was example of the Egyptian Revival Style. The original emergence of the style was in the 1850s but it became a fad in the 20s, inspired by the discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1922. In fact, originally, the plans were for a Spanish style theater, but the plans were changed, to keep up with the cultural zeitgeist.
The Theater cost $800k and took 18 months to build. The first movie shown there was Robin Hood, starring Douglas Fairbanks. It opened on October 18, 1922 and the movie wasn't shown anywhere else. Grauman abandoned the theater for the more famous Grauman's Chinese in 1927.
Support for LAist comes from
()
The Egyptian in 1936 | image courtesy the Pomona Public Library
In 1996, The American Cinematheque purchased the Egyptian from the city of Los Angeles, for $1 and a promise to restore it to it's original glory. Because the theater had been built in the silent era, changes to the interior done in later decades marred the original design. In fact, the stage and proscenium were completely demolished when Cinemascope came into vogue in the 1960s. As part of the restoration the acoustic tiles from that remodel were stripped away and the original plaster walls beneath were carefully repainted. The National Trust for Historic Preservation explains the theater's restoration:
Badly damaged in the Northridge Earthquake, the Egyptian Theatre has been stabilized, repaired and structurally strengthened adequately to survive major earthquakes. The project demonstrates application of structural strengthening techniques for historic concrete frames with infill materials. The Egyptian Theatre's forecourt has been restored to its historic state through the removal of inappropriate alterations, restoration of extant original elements, and replication of missing elements, providing a window into Hollywood history for visitors to Hollywood Boulevard.
The Egyptian Theatre's auditorium has been rehabilitated, uncovering and retaining all extant original materials and elements.
The American Cinematheque has provided an affordable, state-of-the-art venue for the exhibition of good film in a building, which was built for and famous for film in Hollywood.
6712 Hollywood Blvd LA, CA 90028
LAistory is our series that takes us on a journey to what came before to help us understand where we are today. So far we've been to Val Verde, Thelma Todd's Roadside Cafe, a house in Beverly Hills, Echo Park's Bonnie Brae House, Marineland of the Pacific, and Grand Central Air Terminal, Wrigley Field, the moment LA got its name, the wreck of the Dominator, 1925 "Hollywood Subway." the Pink Lady of Malibu, the Lions Drag Strip, to Disneyland (when it was cheap to get in!), what might be the ugliest building in the city,Union Station--and back again to check out the Fred Harvey Room, and to another train station...and its mystery.
Lindsay William-Ross contributed to this article
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead.
Best of LAist