Rehabilitation of the Egyptian Theatre.
CaliforniaThe rehabilitation of the Egyptian Theatre has been accomplished through the combined efforts of: City of Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency; American Cinematheque, a non-profit arts organization; Hodgetts & Fung Design Associates, architect; Englekirk & Sabol, structural engineer; Historic Resources Group, preservation consultant; Tatyana Thompson & Associates, decorative arts consultant; and Turner Construction Company, contractor. The cooperation of a City agency and non-profit arts organization resulted in saving a nationally significant landmark of architecture, Hollywood and cinema history while providing another important anchor for the economic revitalization of an internationally recognized historic entertainment district.
Badly damaged in the Northridge Earthquake, the Egyptian Theatre has been stabilized, repaired and structurally strengthened adequately to survive major earthquakes. The project demonstrates application of structural strengthening techniques for historic concrete frames with infill materials.
The Egyptian Theatre's forecourt has been restored to its historic state through the removal of inappropriate alterations, restoration of extant original elements, and replication of missing elements, providing a window into Hollywood history for visitors to Hollywood Boulevard.
The Egyptian Theatre's auditorium has been rehabilitated, uncovering and retaining all extant original materials and elements.
The American Cinematheque has provided an affordable, state-of-the-art venue for the exhibition of good film in a building, which was built for and famous for film in Hollywood. Significance of the Property
The Egyptian Theatre was built in 1922 by architects Meyer & Holler in the heart of Hollywood. Though it, was closed prior to severe earthquake damage in 1994, the Egyptian has remained one of the most important historic buildings on Hollywood Boulevard. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The still-extant work of Meyer & Holler in Hollywood includes Grauman's Chinese Theater (1927). The Egyptian in Hollywood was among the first of many Egyptian Revival style theaters across the country, inspired by contemporary archaeological discoveries in Egypt. Hollywood's first "premiere" movie palace, it was designed to showcase the product of a new industry (motion pictures) which would play a major role in shaping American culture in the 20th century.
Project Work
The Egyptian Theatre was built during the era of silent film, and suffered through decades of insensitive alterations and neglect. The current project has transformed it into a state-of-the-art facility which meets the technical standards required to present both contemporary and rarely-screened historic film. The building's two major spaces are the forecourt, which has undergone extensive restoration and replication of missing features, and the auditorium, which has been adaptively re-used. A screening room and interior lobby have been adapted within the auditorium space fabric.
The forecourt serves as an outdoor lobby to draw pedestrians off the street in a procession to the auditorium entrance and ticket windows. Restoration required the restoration and recreation of the painted and paved surfaces, fountain and pool, the replication of the Egyptian-style colonnade, which had been removed when the portico was enclosed in glass, the decorative metal light fixtures, the ticket windows, and the storefronts of the retail structure.
The auditorium had undergone more removal and alteration than any other part of the facility. An elaborate painted plaster proscenium, was removed three decades ago. While most of the auditorium's decoratively painted plaster side walls survived under acoustical panels, they did not absorb enough sound to accommodate contemporary digital sound effects. The plan allows contemporary functions to be placed within the historic plaster ceilings and walls, without removing or substantially cutting or removing any remaining historic material. The solution is a large, steel 'armature' which is mounted on the floor and does not touch the walls or ceiling. New electrical, mechanical, sound, lighting and acoustical systems are all supported by the armature. Acoustical panels attached to the armature are retracted into the stage house space when the audience enters, leaving the original side walls of the theater visible. As the house lights dim, the panels mechanically slide along the side walls to provide an absorptive box.
Condition and Challenges
The first challenge to the Egyptian Theatre's survival was economic. Over the years, the character of the Egyptian eroded as it underwent changes in management, ownership and use. The Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles rescued the site by purchasing it from a private owner, securing the building, and completing an engineering assessment. The building was then sold to The American Cinematheque. Funds for the S 13 million project were provided in part by earthquake insurance, grants from Historic Preservation Partners (HHP; an earthquake recovery consortium which included the National Trust for Historic Preservation) and the Hazard Mitigation Program of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), and private fundraising.
The historic proscenium and the stage of the theater, which had been its most characteristic features, were demolished in the 1960s to make way for Cinemascope. Gypsum acoustical tile had been glued to the original plaster walls in order to improve sound quality. The tiles were removed, uncovering the original painted plaster walls, with only surface damage. The ceiling plaster and paint, which suffered minor blanching and structural damage, was repaired where necessary.
The building suffered serious damage during the Northridge Earthquake on January 17, 1994. Large holes were left in the auditorium and stagehouse when the unreinforced masonry wall panels (hollow clay tile) cracked and in some cases and fell out of the concrete frame. The supporting concrete frame actually failed on the west wall.
The new owner's technical needs for state-of-the-art cinema viewing and sound were exacting, requiring careful placement of projection and audio components, as well as control of the acoustic environment. No less challenging were the demands of compliance with Section 106 review, the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, as well as building, accessibility and life-safety codes. The project applied the California State Historic Building Code and the Standards, retaining the vast majority of extant historic fabric, and providing a state of the art facility in the heart of Hollywood.
The public/private partnership of the redevelopment agency and American Cinematheque is a model for other communities. The venue is a catalyst in the revitalization of Hollywood Boulevard, providing entertainment, cultural tourism, and economic benefits to the area.
For more information contact:
Peyton Hall
Principal
Historic Resources Group
1728 Whitley Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90028
323-469-3349
Email: peyton@historicla.com
Website: www.historicla.com/hrg/index.html
