Peery's Egyptian Theatre
Ogden, UT
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Peery's Egyptian Theatre opened its doors on July 3, 1924 and has been one of Ogden's most recognizable landmarks ever since. Built during the wave of interest in Egyptian architecture that swept the country after the discovery of King Tut's tomb, the theater brought a little bit of ancient Egypt to Washington Boulevard.

With seating for 1,200 people, the theater was one of the premier entertainment destinations in northern Utah. Generations of moviegoers passed beneath its marquee to enjoy the latest films, and the building quickly became a fixture of downtown Ogden. The theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, helping ensure that this unique piece of architecture would be preserved for future generations. 09-06

UPDATE: The theater closed in 1984 due to health code violations, but local preservation efforts helped save it from demolition. After an extensive restoration, Peery's Egyptian Theatre reopened in 1997 and continues to host concerts, plays, films, and community events. Today it remains one of the best-known historic theaters in Utah and a centerpiece of downtown Ogden. 06-26

Nuart Theatre
Blackfoot, ID
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Nuart Theatre of Blackfoot is one of those classic downtown theaters that immediately catches your eye. Built in 1929 and opening just as talking pictures were arriving, the theater became a centerpiece of downtown Blackfoot and a destination for moviegoers throughout the region.

Designed by architect Walter DeMordaunt, the theater is one of Idaho's better examples of Art Deco and Moderne design. The building's distinctive facade, marquee, and interior details helped earn it a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. More than just a movie house, the Nuart has been a longtime gathering place for the community and remains one of Blackfoot's most recognizable landmarks. 09-06

UPDATE: The Nuart Theatre is still very much a part of downtown Blackfoot. Today the building is operated by the Blackfoot Community Players, who have worked to preserve and maintain the historic theater while keeping it active as a performing arts venue. Recent restoration efforts have helped ensure that this downtown landmark will continue serving the community for years to come. 06-26

Main Theatre
Smithfield, UT
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Here's a shot of the old Main Theatre located in the town of Smithfield, UT. While the theater's movie-going days began in the 1930s, the building itself has been part of the community much longer. Originally built in 1899 as a social hall, it hosted everything from dances and vaudeville performances to community events before being remodeled into a movie theater in 1939.

For decades, the Main Theatre brought Hollywood to Cache Valley and served as a gathering place for generations of local residents. Even after the crowds stopped lining up for movie tickets, the building remained one of the most recognizable landmarks along Smithfield's Main Street. By the looks of the exterior, it was still holding up quite well when this photo was taken. 09-06

UPDATE: After spending years as a theater and later hosting live productions, the building has found new life as an event and performance venue known simply as The Main. The historic structure remains standing in downtown Smithfield and continues to serve as a community gathering place. 06-26

Caine Lyric Theatre
Logan, UT
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Check out the Caine Lyric Theatre in Logan, UT. Originally opened as the Lyric Theatre in 1913, this downtown landmark has been entertaining Cache Valley audiences for more than a century. Over the years the theater hosted everything from vaudeville performances and silent movies to live stage productions, making it one of Logan's longest-running entertainment venues.

Located right in the heart of downtown, the theater remains an important part of the community and a reminder of a time when nearly every town had a local theater lighting up Main Street. The historic brick building still looks much as it did decades ago and continues to be one of the most recognizable buildings in downtown Logan. 09-06

UPDATE: After undergoing a major restoration in 2001, the theater was renamed the Caine Lyric Theatre and continues to operate today as a live performance venue. Managed by Utah State University, it serves as the home of the Lyric Repertory Company and hosts a variety of theatrical productions and community events throughout the year. 06-26

Wyoming Theatre
Torrington, WY
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

This classic theatre sporting a large blade sign is the Wyoming Theatre, located in Torrington, WY. Opened in 1937, the theater has been a fixture of downtown Torrington for generations. Like many small-town theaters across the West, it gave local residents a place to catch the latest movies without having to travel to a larger city.

The real star of the show is the towering vertical sign out front. Rising above the street, the WYOMING blade sign has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in town and is hard to miss when passing through downtown. It's a great example of the kind of theater signage that once lit up main streets all across America. 11-07

UPDATE: The Wyoming Theatre continues to operate today, showing first-run movies and serving the Torrington community. The historic blade sign remains in place and continues to be one of the standout neon landmarks in eastern Wyoming. 06-26

Capitol Theatre
Salt Lake City, UT
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Capitol Theatre is one of Salt Lake City's grand old downtown theaters. Originally opened in 1913 as the Orpheum Theatre, the building was designed to host vaudeville acts and live performances during the heyday of downtown entertainment. In 1927, the theater was remodeled and renamed the Capitol Theatre as movies became increasingly popular.

More than a century later, the building remains one of the architectural highlights of downtown Salt Lake City. Its ornate facade and prominent location have made it a familiar sight for generations of theatergoers and visitors exploring the city center. 09-06

UPDATE: The Capitol Theatre remains an active performing arts venue and serves as the home of the Utah Opera and Ballet West. After several restoration projects over the years, the historic theater continues to host performances while preserving one of Salt Lake City's most important entertainment landmarks. 06-26