The Egyptian Theatre is located in Park City, Utah, and is a staple of Historic Main Street in Old Town. The theatre has a rich, long history. The theatre was built after a fire burned down the original Dewey Theatre in 1898, and opened on Christmas day in 1926. The Egyptian Theatre was home to comedians, comedy acts, traveling bands, local performances, movies, etc. However, it closed for a time following the 1950s before reopening as the Silver Wheel Theatre in 1963, when Park City became a destination location for skiers and tourists. It wasn’t until the Save our Stage group worked to raise funds to establish the theatre as the Mary G. Steinger Egyptian Theatre on February 14, 1998. The Egyptian Theatre was built with an art deco style, popular for theatres built in that time period, but was known for its inspiration taken from Egyptian culture, as the discovery of King Tut’s tomb occurred shortly before it opened. The theatre has been an important home for the arts, and the first Sundance Film Festival was held there.
The Egyptian Theatre is also known for its paranormal activity. Park City is known for its long appreciation of the arts, but soon after the theatre opened in 1926 reports of hauntings began to circulate. People have been said to hear footsteps on the wooden floor when no one is on stage, as well as screams emanating from inside the building. Doors have a tendency to slam shut on their own, and some people have been shoved to the ground by invisible hands. Visitors and workers in the theatre have also reported seeing a male apparition. It is thought to be the ghost of Johnnie Mclaughlin, who died in the mine accident of 1902 when he was attempting to rescue miners and supposedly was burned alive. Johnnie McLaughlin worked at the Dewey Theatre prior to his death, and was an aspiring actor with a love for theatre. His presence in the Egyptian Theatre is threatening, and it is said that he haunts the theatre as his final act.
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