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Few Touches<br />
Necessary<br />
In Brightening The<br />
F<br />
Famous Egyptian Theatre<br />
RECONCILING<br />
THE<br />
PHARAOHS TO '50<br />
Inside the lobby of the remodeled Egyptian<br />
Theatre is the world's largest theatre mural,<br />
measuring 20x24. Done in primary colors it<br />
depicts the glory of ancient Igypt.<br />
BEFORE<br />
AFTER<br />
X HE ENDURING QUALITY of true beauty is proved by the<br />
alterations recently made on the famous Egyptian Theatre in<br />
Hollywood designed almost three decades ago for Sid Grauman,<br />
and now a key house in the United Artists Theatre Circuit on<br />
the west coast.<br />
The changing concept of theatre accommodations is reflected<br />
in vastly enlarged refreshment service facilities. The modern<br />
trend to simplicity is accented by the exchange of ornate decoration<br />
around the theatre entrance and outdoor lobby for a<br />
modem vertical concrete and steel sign tower carrying the theatre's<br />
name in gold neon script.<br />
A practice of "opening up" the front of an indoor theatre by<br />
the use of large expanses of plate glass doors and partitions was<br />
followed in remodeling the Egyptian by moving the boxoffice<br />
from the center of the entrance to the left side of the lobby,<br />
giving a clear sweep down the promenade area to the Herculite<br />
doors which give access to the foyer.<br />
Outstanding among the additions of decorator John Vassos<br />
are two murals. One, measuring 20x24 feet, is said to be the<br />
largest theatre mural in the world. Placed just within the entrance<br />
doors, this mural depicts the glory of ancient Egypt in<br />
symbols of modem art.<br />
Refreshment faciUties have been enlarged from a simple candy<br />
display case in the foyer to an exotic area containing a 24-foot<br />
curved counter set in an alcove with walls decorated in a gay<br />
circus panorama of trained animals, clowns, trapeze artists and<br />
other specialty acts.<br />
As in the outdoor lobby, seating in the refreshment area is<br />
provided by free form chairs and settees resembling seated<br />
human figures.<br />
Designed by one of California's outstanding landscape artists, the preentry<br />
court of the Egyptian is vivid with the beauty of California's flowers.<br />
Interest in the area is highlighted at night by dramatic spotlighting<br />
thrown on colorful backgrounds.<br />
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION
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