In 1922, a team led by British Egyptologist Howard Carter excavated the tomb of Tutankhamun (aka “Tut”) from the Valley of the Kings. The discovery received worldwide press coverage; with over 5,000 artifacts, it generated a frenzy of public interest in ancient Egypt that spilled over into American Architecture, as witnessed by today’s post. The first shot is from the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego and shows a detail from what was once known as the Egyptian Garage. Built in 1923 at the end of the old East San Diego trolley line, it was one of three Egyptian Revival streetcar electrical substations. It was sold two years later, remodeled, and from 1926 to 1932 was known as the Egyptian Garage, complete with gas pumps in front. I wonder if the attendants dressed as Tut?
Since 1957 it has been the home of Big City Liquor.
A few neighborhoods away is Hillcrest, which also has a number of Egyptian Revival remnants that have survived the years. On Park Boulevard you’ll find the Nile Apartments, complete with stained-glass doors that carry out the Egyptian theme.
Maybe the Pharaoh's Court Apartments from 1928 are more your style.
Across the street is the Egyptian Court Apartment complex, built in 1926 by Paul Carle. Two small shops and two apartment entrances face the street. The building is classic Egyptian Revival Art Deco, with the courtyard pond and garden designed and installed by Milton P. Sessions, nephew of San Diego horticulturist Kate Sessions, the “Mother of Balboa Park.”
The Bush Egyptian Movie Theater opened on June 30, 1926 and was one of San Diego’s original luxury movie houses. Patrons entered past huge columns in an open courtyard lobby. Today, only a portion of the original entrance remains, with a huge condominium now surrounding it. This was one of the theatres that my father went to as a little boy.
No Tut post would be complete without the Steve Martin song from 1978 that addressed the second wave of fame the “Boy King” experienced when his possessions toured around the world.
See more San Diego photos at my main website.
I'm grateful you keep these alive by talking about them. Today's architecture seems to be aiming for making the exterior look like the interior of an Ikea. Prefabricated angular panels, both clear and solid. Our building methods today allow for the creation of buildings like these more than ever, and yet they appear less than ever. Seeing the touring Tut exhibit in the late 70's will always live fresh in my mind. We even have a ( rather pricey ) souvenir from their gift shop in display in my living room. As far as I know it's a replica, but if it were real and were cursed, it would explain a lot about my life from 1979 until now.
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