Egyptian Theatre

Live theatrical performances have long been a centerpiece of Park City's culture. In the late 1800s, the ornate Park City Opera House was located near our current site. On a warm June night in 1898, the fire roared downhill from the American Hotel and quickly consumed most of the town, including the Opera House. In a Determined effort to restore live theatre to the town, the Dewey Theatre soon opened its doors in 1899 on the site of what is now the Egyptian Theatre. The Dewey remained a popular cultural center until its roof collapsed under a record-breaking snowload in 1916. In 1922 new construction began on the site of the old Dewey Theatre. Influenced by the recent discovery of King Tut's tomb, The Egyptian Theatre opened on Christmas Day, 1926. Supervised by an Egyptologist, The Egyptian Theatre was adorned with lotus leaf motifs, scarabs, hieroglyphics, and symbols of life and happiness. Park City was once again flush with a first-class showplace, this time for films and live performances. The Theatre operated as a community gathering place from that day forward. The Theatre changed names multiple times and had minor modifications made each time. The Theatre continued to anchor live performances and film screenings on historic Main Street.