Entry No. 6 — the Boise file — filed under: haunted
Egyptian Theatre
This 1927 movie palace was built in full Egyptian Revival style riding the King Tut craze, complete with an original Robert-Morton pipe organ, and it still screens films and hosts live shows today. The resident ghost is said to be Joe, a projectionist who worked here from the 1920s until he died of a heart attack on the stairs to the booth. Staff and patrons report flickering lights, doors opening on their own, and phantom touches concentrated in the projection booth and the last row of the upper balcony.
The story
When Howard Carter unsealed King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, Egyptomania swept the globe—and Boise took it surprisingly seriously. In April 1927, architect Fritz Hummel of Tourtellotte & Hummel opened this full-blown Egyptian Revival cinema palace on the corner of Capitol and Main. Opening night featured John Barrymore in the silent film Don Juan, set inside an auditorium framed by lotus-topped columns, hand-painted pharaonic murals, and a 1927 Robert-Morton pipe organ built right into the walls. Over the decades, it survived name changes, urban neglect, and even a proposed 1970s conversion into a pizza parlor before philanthropist Earl Hardy stepped in to fund its restoration.
The architecture is preserved, but so is one of the original staff members. Joe served as the theater’s projectionist for roughly 35 years until 1950, when he suffered a fatal heart attack while climbing the steep stairs to the booth. He never really checked out. Staff and moviegoers routinely report unexplainable electrical flickering, heavy doors swinging open on silent hinges, phantom footsteps, and sudden cold drafts. You didn't hear it from us, but if you want to test the rumors yourself, skip the main floor and angle for a seat in the back row of the upper balcony directly below the booth.
What it's like
Arriving at Capitol and Main is straightforward, with several public parking garages located on the exact same block and low-key watering holes like Tap House right next door for pre-show drinks. The venue feels intimate compared to massive modern auditoriums, so entry lines move fast and sightlines remain crisp from almost anywhere in the house. If you attend a silent film screening, you will hear the original 1927 Robert-Morton organ in action. For the best ghost-hunting vantage point, grab general admission balcony seats early and aim for the back wall.
The move: Catch a classic film or a live show and quietly angle for seats in the upper balcony where Joe is said to linger.
- 📍 Downtown Boise
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 700 W Main St, Boise, ID 83702
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- US Ghost Adventures - Boise Ghost Tour — Pair the venue's internal phantom projectionist with a guided night walk that stops right outside while detailing the rest of downtown Boise's haunted past.
- Thick as Thieves — Trade 1920s cinema drama for hidden cocktails just a minute away, where entry requires finding a side door and dialing 102 on a vintage rotary phone.
- Pengilly's Saloon — Keep your historic nightlife route going one block over at an 1892 saloon featuring a century-old hardwood Brunswick backbar.
Good to know
When did the Egyptian Theatre open, and why is it Egyptian-themed?
It opened on April 19, 1927, screening the silent film Don Juan. Architect Fritz Hummel designed it in the Egyptian Revival style following the massive wave of public interest sparked by the 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb.
Who is the resident ghost, and where are sightings reported?
The ghost is believed to be Joe, a projectionist who worked at the theater from the 1920s until dying of a heart attack on the booth stairs in 1950. Reports of flickering lights, self-opening doors, and phantom touches focus around the projection booth and the upper balcony's back row.
Is the original pipe organ still inside the theatre?
Yes, the theater retains its original 1927 Robert-Morton pipe organ (Opus 2298), which was installed to provide musical accompaniment for silent films and is still played for special screenings today.
What types of events are held at the theater now?
The theater operates as an active performing arts venue hosting classic film screenings, touring music acts, comedy shows, and live theatrical performances.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · Official site · idahohauntedhouses.com · atos.org
last checked: 2026-06-24