Egyptian Theatre (Delta, Colorado) Explained

Egyptian Theater
Designated Other1:Colorado
Designated Other1 Number:5DT.431
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Coordinates:38.7408°N -108.0697°W
Built:1928
Architect:M.S. Fallis Architect Co.; Art M. Moore
Architecture:Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Egyptian Revival
Added:July 12, 1993
Refnum:93000575

The Egyptian Theatre in Delta, Colorado, United States, is an Egyptian Revival movie house. The 425-seat theater opened in 1928 at the height of the fashion for thematically-designed cinemas. It was designed by Montana Fallis, who also designed the Mayan Theatre in Denver.

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.[1]

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.

It came under new, nonprofit ownership in 2022.[2]

In film

In September 2023 the film Cinemortal (2024) was shot at the Delta Egyptian Theater. [3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Egyptian Theatre:Project Description. 2008-10-31. High Stakes Preservation. Colorado Historical Society.
  2. News: Delta's Egyptian Theatre Has New Owners. Western Slope Now. 2022 . May 12, 2023.
  3. News: 'Cinemortal' movie filmed at Egyptian Theatre to be released next year. Delta County Independent. September 25, 2023.