S.J.R. 10 Enrolled

RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING PEERY'S
EGYPTIAN THEATER
2001 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Scott K. Jenkins
This joint resolution of the Legislature recognizes Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden City
for its distinctive place in Utah's film history and the efforts made to restore the theater.
Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
WHEREAS, Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden City is one of only 30 Egyptian-themed
Movie Theaters to still exist in the United States;
WHEREAS, in 1923 Harmon W. and Louis H. Peery hired two of Utah's premier
architects, Leslie S. Hodgson and Myrl A. McClenahan, to design a movie palace that would be
the showplace of the West;
WHEREAS, Peery's Egyptian Theater, built on the same ground where the Peery family's
pioneer home once stood, opened in 1924;
WHEREAS, Peery's Egyptian Theater seated its audience in an Egyptian courtyard under
twinkling stars in a desert sky;
WHEREAS, Peery's Egyptian Theater featured seating on one level in a steeply raked
auditorium which provided excellent sight lines from anywhere in the house;
WHEREAS, built entirely of poured, reinforced concrete, the theater was proclaimed upon
opening as Ogden's only fireproof theater;
WHEREAS, in 1935 Peery's Egyptian Theater was leased to the fledgling 20th
Century-Fox studio;
WHEREAS, in 1951 Peery's Egyptian Theater reopened after being beautifully remodeled
and redecorated and updated with the finest sound and projection equipment;
WHEREAS, in 1961 the theater was refurbished, but many of the remaining historic
Egyptian designs and colors were gone;
WHEREAS, after three more owners, the theater was leased to a small independent chain
which eventually turned it into a second-run, dollar movie house before being closed in 1984;

WHEREAS, in 1985 the Friends of the Egyptian Theater, the forerunner of the Egyptian
Theatre Foundation, organized to save the Egyptian Movie Palace;
WHEREAS, the Egyptian Theater was eventually purchased by the Weber County Heritage
Foundation, turned over to the Egyptian Theater Foundation, and through a five-way partnership
consisting of Weber County, Ogden City, Weber State University, the Egyptian Theater Foundation,
and the Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce, Peery's Egyptian Theater was saved and restored;
WHEREAS, the restoration was meticulous, complete, and features the original color palette;
WHEREAS, Peery's Egyptian Theater is one of four restored Egyptian Theaters in the West
and the lone "atmospheric" theater believed to exist in the region;
WHEREAS, the restored theater became part of a spectacular new conference center complex
which opened in 1997; and
WHEREAS, Peery's Egyptian Theater remains one of Utah's most treasured houses of
entertainment:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah recognize
the restored Peery's Egyptian Theater and the great effort undertaken to return one of cinema's most
impressive venues to its original condition for future generations to enjoy.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Egyptian Theatre
Foundation, Weber County, Ogden City, Weber State University, and the Ogden/Weber Chamber
of Commerce.

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