Egyptian Theatre (Delta, Colorado)
The Egyptian Theatre in Delta, Colorado is an Egyptian Revival movie house. The 750-seat theater opened in 1928 at the height of the fashion for thematically-designed cinemas. It was designed by Montana Fallis, who designed the Mayan Theatre in Denver.
Egyptian Theater | |
Location | 452 Main St., Delta, Colorado |
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Coordinates | 38°44′27″N 108°4′11″W |
Built | 1933 |
Architect | M.S. Fallis Architect Co.; Art M. Moore |
Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Egyptian Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 93000575 |
CSRHP No. | 5DT.431 |
Added to NRHP | July 12, 1993[1] |
The Egyptian is notable as one of the first locations for a promotion devised by 20th Century Fox regional manager, Charles Yeager, during the 1930s when business was poor in the small Colorado theaters he managed. "Bank Night" awarded $30 to a random patron once a week. The promotion improved attendance and kept theaters in business. Yeager's pilot program in Colorado was expanded so that by 1936 the promotion was in use at 4000 cinemas in the United States.[2]
After years of decline and neglect the theater was restored in the 1990s, reopening in 1997 as a community theater. It was then renovated again in 2009 to accommodate for new groundbreaking 3D technology.
See also
- Egyptian Theatre for other Egyptian Theatres and a discussion of the style
References
- "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
- "Egyptian Theatre:Project Description". High Stakes Preservation. Colorado Historical Society. 2008-10-31.