No photograph
on file
Est. 1927
Photo: P. Hughes · CC BY-SA 4.0
Theater / Performance Venue

The Egyptian Theatre

1927 Egyptian Revival movie palace at Capitol and Main in downtown Boise, still operating; haunted by Joe, a projectionist who died on the stairs to the booth.

700 W Main St, Boise, ID 83702

Wheelchair Accessible Research-Backed · 6 sources

Research updated October 2026

Age

All Ages

Cost

$$

Ticket prices vary by event - promoters control ticket prices, ticketing fees, seating and show times.

Access

Wheelchair OK

Historic theater with main level access; balcony reached by stairs.

Equipment

No Photos

Lights cycling on and offDoors opening and closing on their ownDisembodied laughterPhantom touchesUnexplained aromasUnexplained sounds in the projection boothApparitions in the aisles

The Egyptian Theatre's named-entity case is Joe, a projectionist who according to ghost-directory and walking-tour retellings worked at the theater from the 1920s into the 1950s and died of a heart attack while climbing the stairs to the projection booth. The story is repeated consistently across Idaho Haunted Houses, the Haunted Places listing, US Ghost Adventures' Boise top-ten roundup, and on-stage tour narration, though contemporary newspaper documentation of the death has not been independently located in publicly accessible archives.

Reports attributed to Joe cluster in three areas of the building: the stairs and projection booth, the upper balcony, and the area near the stage. Staff and patrons describe lights turning on and off, doors opening and closing on their own, disembodied laughter, phantom touches, and unexplained shifts in aroma. A widely-told retelling notes a 2016 incident during a Brothers Osborne concert when sections of the ornate plaster ceiling fell to the stage; in the room's narrative tradition this was attributed to Joe expressing displeasure.

A second, separate apparition is described as a cheerful female figure thought to date to the late 1920s. She is reported in the aisles and is sometimes accompanied by a distinctive scent, according to the local ghost-directory and walking-tour narratives.

As an active, well-attended performing-arts venue, the Egyptian's paranormal lore is delivered primarily through ghost-walk narration and seasonal coverage rather than through staff-led ghost-hunt programming. Boise rock station 1035 KISS FM has published the projectionist legend as part of its Boise haunted-places coverage.

Notable Entities

Joe the projectionist

Plan Your Visit

2 ways to experience
Live Performance

Programmed Performance or Film Screening

Attend a programmed performance or film screening in a fully restored 1927 Egyptian Revival auditorium with lotus-bud pillars and pharaonic frescoes inspired by King Tutankhamun's tomb.

Get directions
Walking Tour

Boise Ghost Walk Stop

The Egyptian is a primary stop on the US Ghost Adventures Boise Ghost Tour and Lizzie Borden Ghost Tours Boise. Guides discuss the Joe-the-projectionist legend from the public sidewalk at Capitol and Main.

Duration:
25 min
Year-round· verified September 2026 Book this experience

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Featured on these tours

US Ghost Adventures Boise

This Boise tour includes The Egyptian Theatre on its route.

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Sources & Further Reading

Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.

  1. 1.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Egyptian_Theatre_(Boise,_Idaho)
  2. 2.egyptiantheatre.net/about
  3. 3.cinematreasures.org/theaters/332
  4. 4.idahohauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/egyptian-theatre.html
  5. 5.1035kissfmboise.com/haunted-idaho-ghost-inside-the-egyptian-theater
  6. 6.ghost.hauntedhouses.com/idaho_boise_egyptian_theatre

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Egyptian Theatre family-friendly?
Active performing-arts venue. Most programming is family-friendly; verify content of specific screenings. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit The Egyptian Theatre?
Ticket prices vary by event - promoters control ticket prices, ticketing fees, seating and show times.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, reservations are required. Reserve through the official website linked above.
Is The Egyptian Theatre wheelchair accessible?
Yes, The Egyptian Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Historic theater with main level access; balcony reached by stairs..