Natural habitats are usually preferable. However, if you are being mauled by lions or the whole ‘hood is going to pot, it’s hard to beat the safe, calm oasis of the Detroit Zoological Park. Most especially if your digs include a fabulous ancient Egyptian-themed backdrop. So you never lived in Egypt – who cares? It’s about the ‘wow’ factor, not accuracy, silly. And when you have such an exotic setting, you get publicity!
Although my collection focuses on American items, a few foreign bits have slipped in because they are so fabulous. Today we’re skipping over to fair Ireland with this early 20th century postcard featuring a monumental Egyptian arch. Thanks to Google, I now know that the structure is a railroad bridge built in 1851. More history is available here.
Egyptianizing design was a popular theme for prisons during the early 1800s. This c. 1900 postcard shows the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, completed in 1836 by John Haviland – a preeminent architect of that time. The building at right blocks the view of the wings stretching out from the central building, with battered walls and cavetto cornice. (You can see better images here.) Although classified as Egyptian Revival, the building exhibits a common, and decades old, practice of blending historical accuracy with culturally unrelated design elements. In any case, the application of this style lends an appropriate sense of cavernous impenetrability to the prison.
To most people, the phrase “Grauman’s Theater” refers to the Chinese-themed movie palace on Hollywood Blvd. And although they are correct, it is unfortunate that this building is the one everyone knows about. Even a Google search for ‘Grauman’s' results in a majority of hits that also include the word ‘Chinese’. As you have probably guessed by the theme of my blog, I am hardly going to write a post about something Asian. No way. I, dear reader, am going to write about Grauman’s other, earlier theater – the Egyptian. Located just down the street from the Chinese Theater, the Egyptian Theater opened in 1922 – before King Tut’s tomb was discovered, but built during the hype of Carter’s search. As was the case with most Egyptianizing buildings of that and other time periods, ancient themes were loosely interpreted in order to accomodate modern tastes and heighten the dramatic atmosphere required for a moving picture palace. These postcards from the 1920s show the various details of the courtyard entrance, and the festively costumed ‘usherettes’.
Pyramids are impressive structures, guaranteed to capture the attention of even the spaciest of space cadets. Maybe that’s why the Hard Rock Cafe chose this form for their Myrtle Beach, SC location. This modern postcard view showcases the groovy main entrance with stepped waterfalls and paired sphinxes – and see that glass pyramidion on top? It lights up at night. How cool is that. As far as their claim that “It’s the first pyramid this side of the ocean” – not true. The Pyramid restaurant in Beaver Dam, WI dates to the 1960s.
