Egyptian Theatre to host horror film screenings

By ZAK QUIGGLE

There’s a new place in DeKalb to frequently catch movies. It’s been here since 1929.

The Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St., recently began screening movies on a frequent basis for the first time in five years.

“This theater has a long history of showing movies,” said Alex Nerad, operations director at the Egyptian Theatre. “People were asking when the movies were going to come back.”

Nerad described the theater as one of the “jewels of DeKalb.”

“It’s an unique experience to see movies here,” Nerad said. “I’ve heard stories about plenty of first kisses in the balconies in years past.”

Nocturne Productions, one of the largest concert video production companies in the world, is lending the theatre a $10,000 projector to show movies on their 35’x22′ screen, touted as the largest in DeKalb County.

Nocturne works with artists such as Paul McCartney, Madonna, Bon Jovi, Velvet Revolver, Beck and Nine Inch Nails providing video screens, projection, cameras and recording for their tours.

“We’re lending the projector to them whenever they want it,” said Bob Brigham, co-CEO of Nocturne Productions. “They’re nice people there and it’s our way of helping them to bring in revenue.”

The theatre has several movies scheduled for the remainder of 2007, including a Horror Movie Series from Oct. 10-12, featuring the original “Psycho,” “The Shining” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

“We hope to permanently install a projector within a year,” Nerad said. “We want to utilize it not only for movies but for university film festivals and its use as a business conference tool for presentations.”

Nerad encouraged DeKalb residents to make use of the theater.

“It can be a great DeKalb experience,” Nerad said. “We’ve also got what’s been called the best popcorn in DeKalb County.”