Egyptian Theatre
Why it's listed
Completed in 1929, this theatre on North Second Street in downtown DeKalb was designed by Chicago architect Elmer F. Behrens, who had earlier worked with Rapp and Rapp. It cost $300,000, seated 1,600 people and opened on December 10, 1929. The building has a pylon-shaped facade of cream terra cotta tile, a scarab and sun-disk stained glass window, and an interior built around Egyptian themes. The auditorium is treated as an open court with a peristyle of columns, painted murals of sunrise and sunset, statues of Rameses II and pharaoh heads. Research on the motifs was done at the Oriental Institute. The nomination calls it the first Egyptian-motif theatre in Illinois and notes that its design reflects academic study. Mostly a movie house, it also hosted vaudeville, organ concerts, stage productions and rock concerts. It had been unoccupied since November 1977, with roof damage as the main concern.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it was the first theatre of Egyptian motif in Illinois. Its Egyptian design, inside and out, is consistent and reflects academic research rather than the usual eclectic Mideastern style. It also served as a local entertainment venue for decades.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78003100, listed December 1, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 135 N. 2nd St., De Kalb |
|---|---|
| County | DeKalb County |
| Listed | December 1, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78003100 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929 |
| Architect / builder | Elmer F. Behrens, Chicago (architect); Guldbeck-Eckstrom, general contractor |
| Architectural style | Art Deco with Egyptian motif (Egyptian Revival) |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unoccupied since November 1977; the roof is the only part in poor condition, and a preservation group was negotiating to buy it for rehabilitation as a performing arts center. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.93115, -88.75258 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78003100.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5348454
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.