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Egyptian Theatre Hard Hat Tours Showcase Renovations

Northern Public Radio | By Vani Subramony

Published January 22, 2020 at 5:36 PM CST

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The interior of the theatre in the Egyptian style motif popular in the 1920s and 1930s

Jenna Dooley

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One of the biggest customer complaints was about the theatre's lack of bathrooms. Additonal bathrooms are planned for both levels

Jenna Dooley

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The tile will remain in the lobby, but carpet from 1983 will be replaced

Jenna Dooley

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One of the largest expenses is installation of air conditioning. The building was not constructed with air conditioning.

Jenna Dooley

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The lobby of the Egyptian Theatre in the motif popular in the 1920s and 1930s

Jenna Dooley

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Jenna Dooley

The discovery of King Tut’s tomb in the 1920s sparked pharaoh fever in architecture across the country.

One of the nation’s few remaining “Egyptian Theatres” is housed in downtown DeKalb. When it was built during the stock market crash, air conditioning wasn’t included. That’s been a problem ever since, says Executive Director Alex Nerad. He says there was an attempt to turn the building into a parking lot in the 1970s.

Alex Nerad, Executive Director of the Egyptian Theatre, shows some of the original foundation under the building.

“We talk about this a lot -- being the jewel of DeKalb -- but really this is a national treasure,” said Nerad during a tour. “We are so thankful that the community stepped up and saved this in 1978 and that it’s still here.”

Renovations include installing an air conditioning system, adding more bathrooms, and updating concession stands.

Renovations are expected to be completed in May.

The Egyptian Theatre is offering Hard Hat tours to the public every Tuesday.