The Iconic Egyptian Theatre turns 100
Hollywood’s first major premiere theatre, the Egyptian, turned 100 this week. It also marked the 100 year anniversary of the beginning of the tradition of the red carpet at Hollywood film premieres.
On October 18th, 1922, Douglas Fairbanks’s ROBIN HOOD opened to much fanfare. A glamorous red carpet led guests from their limousines to the grand entrance of Hollywood’s newly minted Egyptian-themed theatre.
Sid Grauman was the man behind the vision for this movie palace. He started out operating vaudeville theatres but quickly saw the money to be made screening motion pictures, and added them to his programs. By the time Sid came to Los Angeles, his resume included theatres in San Francisco and San Jose. He created the extravagant Million Dollar in downtown Los Angeles before teaming up with developer C.E Toberman to bring his unique talents to Hollywood for the development of the Egyptian. The prologues, live shows before the films, were his idea, as was the sentry in Bedouin dress pacing the length of the ochre-tiled roof.
A mania of all things Egyptian gripped the nation in the wake of the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, just a few weeks after the Egyptian Theatre opened. This happy coincidence made the theatre even more fascinating to the public.
The theatre also hosted elaborate displays on theme with the movie it was showing in its enormous courtyard. An Arabian display for THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD, a real steam engine for THE IRON HORSE, and so on!
There’s a story floating around that Marilyn Monroe attended movies at the Egyptian while living as a young girl in Hollywood, and there are rumors that she was particularly entertained by monkeys in cages out front, although there are no photos I’m aware of to confirm this.
Over the years, the Egyptian has had several owners and renovations, both exterior and interior.
Most recently the American Cinematheque owned the theatre from 1996 until 2020. The Egyptian was one of the few remaining grand classic movie houses where you could go to see a classic film in Hollywood. It hosted festivals like the TCMFF, Noir City, AFI, and Beyond Fest. Bordered by the Hollywood Pig & Whistle (with a door between the courtyard and the restaurant) this little corner of Hollywood felt like it belonged to fans of Hollywood that celebrated what made Hollywood famous. Film fans loved to dress up and meet up for a classic film and perhaps a pre or post-show dinner or drink at the Hollywood Pig & Whistle, which also dates from the early 1920s. Both venues are now gone; at least as we remember them.
In May of 2020 Netflix purchased the theatre. Work has begun, and we are all anticipating the day when the theatre will re-open. If you have any special memories of the Egyptian, please share them in the comments below!
