King Tut exhibit at Dallas Museum of Art didn’t come close to drawing the 1 million it forecast

Christin Richard, says:

I was impressed by the attention to small detail and almost oracular presence of the exhibit itself, and was glad that it came through Dallas rather than my feeling an urgent obligation to visit another city for a viewing. And while I’m not certain how it was promoted in other markets throughout the U.S., I might wager that Dallas may have come closer to the 1-Million mark had the promotions and advertisements been a little less conservative in their approach; they seemed to laud "that place that I would like to go, someday" than "that place that I've got to go, now". In this, I never felt that Dallas was swept by "Tut-Fever", which was a potential opportunity for our local PBS station to have engaged in documentaries on Archaeology, Egyptology, and King Tut himself (instead of Doo-Wop pledge drive reruns). Now I'm concerned that exhibits of this calibre will bypass DFW in the future, when it is assumed that modern times have tarnished Dallas' love affair with ancient history. Was it the poor economic times, perhaps?

Rawlins Gilliland, says:

No interest here in bashing this tour or the exhibit but here’s my reviw take, having rushed last minute Friday eve to see it.

Two things up front: I saw the real tour in 1977 in New Orleans that was ALL King Tut tomb items, including the now-never-to-leave-Cairo full funeral mask/casket whatever. And yes, I went to Egypt three years ago. So yes, there’s plenty to compare but that’s not my point.

This exhibit was beautifully laid out, the signage Excellent on all 4 sides of any case, readable from a distance large and then smaller up close. This was a huge help when dealing with crowds. The room layouts were also very good indeed. So were the excellent photos/ graphics and video random montage throughout.

That said, the first 2/3rds of the items were not Tut’s at all. In fact they were items from other tombs that predated Tut. There was certainly worth in these items, but by and large, few felt that ‘important’, and I was already getting restless and (yes) somewhat irritated when I FINALLY saw some of the boy king’s tomb’s actual bounty. The chairs and scepter, etc. were very moving as they were clearly used by him before and then during his 10 year reign. But it felt like too little too late for the $30 entrance fee plus parking ($10 after I shunned the $30 ‘valet’. Ye Gods!)

This tour vs. the Tut tour in the 70s was the difference between Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole. I am not sorry I went at all. But I was very specifically interested in seeing Tut items (duh) as they are in the Cairo Musuem. Meaning where they have a single area that is ONLY Tut’s tomb items. And then the specifics about what it was and where it was found in the tomb etc. As it was, this was largely a touring exhibit of 3000 plus year old Egyptian tomb items. Which is worth seeing on that note. But not billed as a historical Tut blockbuster.

PS: The disappointing attendance might in part be the current economy. Certainly the absence of the funeral mask which was expected by those seeing the publicity. But it was the larger word-of-mouth as I described. A fine tour but not actually altogether what was described or expected. It pains me to say so.

But if you have not seen it, I'd still rush to catch it before sunset today. Egyptian items of this ilk are not readily seen often or easily.

alexander troup, says:

On my way to work at the theatre today, Sunday a lady, with family in car, offered me 3 free tickets,her daughter was sick, and it was nice of them,the crowd is pretty good and it is a beautful day, while I was one of Tut bashers...it was an ethical thing...besides...

The king was not in tow or in town...sorry folks...I like the real thing....A/T

Pavel Lishin, says:

Rawlins: I complained about their crappy advertisement; when I see KING TUT splattered all over town, it'd be nice to see King Tut, not just the contents of his medicine cabinet and clutter drawer. I didn't realize that they further padded the exhibit with other people's junk.

History is fascinating; being inches away from something that was used when our civilization was still in its infancy is amazing; but the DMA did just about everything to make me not want to go.

Scott Doyle, says:

Concur with Pavel - cost involved isn't worth simply viewing his belongings, imo.

Howard Wen, says:

I thought it was pretty pricey for what I felt was an "okay" exhibit. (I think $25 for an adult ticket would have been the most fair price.)

I wonder what the ticket prices were in the other cities where the show was held. Perhaps a lower ticket price was a factor in hitting 1 million visitors in those cities.

Rawlins Gilliland, says:

Well, I still think seeing things that were Egyptian royalty dating back 3,300 years ago that were not seen by any human for 3000 plus years is worth a drive.
And $30. The chance to do so was neither possible for 32 centuries even in Egypt nor is it common anytime, anywhere.

Yep, it was better in 1977 and in Cairo itself for me in 2006. Betcha life. But not everyone was able or around to see that last 'tour' and most people will never see the British Museum's collection in London or the Egyptian relics including Nefertiti's bust in Berlin, let alone make it to Cairo. So in my eyes this was not a chance to have blown off.

I stand by my earlier 'review'. But to be inches away, staring intimately (for instance) at the inlaid ivory chair the boy king first used for his throne at 9, and his sceptors he held at his coronation....the jeweled breast plate featuring a remarkable jewel 'stone' made of polished Saharan glass created (they later realized) when an ancient asteroid had plunged into the western African prehistoric desert....all being just down the street? You'd have to be a bit jaded to not let your imagination take flight, however briefly, to whatever extent.

Chris Kidd, says:

I had a chance to see the exhibit, as someone gave me a free ticket a few months back. I went, but I felt it was really the "B-sides" we got to see. I agree the highlight were the throne and the breast plate, but the rest felt like things they pulled out of storage to air out accordingly. I think the Ramses exhibit around 20 years ago was much more exciting both in objects and detail. That, and they had mummies with 'em as well ;)

Jon Ostrowski, says:

I took the family a few months ago. Very over priced and not that great of an exhibit. I thought it was a ripoff.

Shawn Williams, says:

DMA whiffed on this one, there's no way around it.