31 Haunted Venues — Day 29-30: Egyptian & Saenger Theatres

Metal Insider is getting into the Halloween spirit this year with something a little different. Throughout October, we’re sharing the history and eerie tales behind venues across the world. Check out our latest column, Halloween Countdown for more, and Enjoy!

Introduction

Today’s countdown includes two in one, for October 29th and 30th with venues Egyptian Theatre in Boise, ID and Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, LA.

Egyptian Theatre

Known as Boise, Idaho’s oldest theater still in operation, The Egyptian Theatre opened its doors on April 19, 1927. Designed by Frederick C. Hummel of Tourtellotte & Hummel, the venue drew inspiration from the Egyptian Revival following the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. The Egyptian Theatre was recognized as one of the most beautiful cinemas in America. Built by entrepreneur Leo Falk, the theatre first opened as a luxurious movie palace for the silent film era, complete with an elaborate Robert Morton organ.

Like many theaters formed during the silent film era, the Egyptian Theatre underwent multiple transformations. It was renamed the Fox in the 1930s, the Ada Theater from 1937 to 1979, and finally restored to its original name and style. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, the venue narrowly escaped demolition during Boise’s downtown redevelopment in the 1970s. After extensive renovations, it reopened in 1979 and again in 1999, evolving from a movie house into a place for live performances, film festivals, and events.

Saenger Theatre

Heading to New Orleans, the home of Crowbar, Eyehategod, and Goatwhore, lies the Saenger Theatre. Opened on February 4, 1927, in downtown New Orleans as a movie palace designed with an Italian Baroque courtyard, complete with a star-studded night sky arrangement with drifting cloud effects. The palace was a place for silent films, live stage acts, and the use of their monumental Robert Morton theatre organ. Saenger later converted the theater to “talkies” in 1933, and by 1964, a second auditorium was created, replacing the balcony.

Recognized as a landmark in 1977 and added to the National Register the same year, it underwent a significant renovation after its 1978 sale. It reopened in 1980 as a performing-arts center hosting a variety of events, including concerts and films. Hurricane Katrina hit the theatre in 2005, and it later received approval for major restorations costing roughly $53 million, reopening on September 27, 2013. The venue remains a hotspot for concerts and events today.

Facts

Egyptian Theatre

Location: 700 W Main St., Boise, Idaho
Venue Type: Historic theatre and performing-arts concert venue
Year Built (and Key Dates): Built in 1927; opened April 19, 1927, renamed “Fox” in 1930; then “Ada” from 1937-1979; restored and returned to Egyptian name in 1979.
Status: Active
Capacity: Varies – approximately 725-749 chairs.

Saenger Theatre

Location: 1111 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA
Venue Type: Performing-arts venue
Year Built (and Key Dates): Built and opened on February 4, 1927, major renovation following Hurricane Katrina, reopened September 27, 2013.
Status: Active.
Capacity: Approximately 2,600 seats

Music Cred

Egyptian Theatre

Not many heavier acts graced the Egyptian Theatre’s stage, but here are a few artists who performed there: Escape the Fate, Witch Mountain, Yob, Holy Fawn, Deafheaven, Buckethead, and Explosions in the Sky.

Saenger Theatre

While these ghosts may be legends or rumors, some legends, including the late Dio, performed at the Saenger Theatre, as well as: Primus, The Flaming Lips, Heilung, Shinedown, Evanescence, Nine Inch Nails, Alice In Chains, Queens of the Stone Age, Uriah Heep, Accept, a-ha, The Cult, Guns N’ Roses, and Motley Crue.

Reported Hauntings

Egyptian Theatre

Haunted Reports claim a ghost named “Joe” resides within Boise’s Egyptian Theatre. Joe was a longtime projectionist who worked during the Fox and Ada eras and died from a heart attack on the stairs to the projection booth in the 1950s. Since his passing, visitors and staff have witnessed unexplained aromas, disembodied laughter, phantom touches, flickering lights, and doors opening or closing. The strange activities tend to take place in the projection booth, the last row of the upper balcony, and sometimes closer to the stage.

Beyond Joe, another ghost remains in the theatre, described as a woman likely from the late 1920s with a cheerful presence, seen roaming the aisles, leaving a unique scent in her path. While the local lore is apparent, there hasn’t been concrete evidence on Joe or the mysterious woman. The legend has persisted since, culminating in a 2016 incident during a Brothers Osborne concert when chunks of the ornate ceiling fell onto the stage. Thankfully, no major injuries occurred, as the debris narrowly missed the performers. People claimed this reactive activity came from Joe. Today, the theatre embraces its lore while welcoming events year-round.

Saenger Theatre

While New Orleans is notoriously known for its haunted tales, the Saenger Theatre doesn’t have too many reports of such paranormal activity. The few that were found claim staff and guests have had odd experiences , such as voices calling their names, footsteps, and whispers on the balcony. One former house manager recalled hearing her name shouted twice across the theater in 2014, only to find no one was there. Other encounters trace the haunting back to the tragic death of a worker who allegedly fell from the rafters during construction or early operations; his spirit is said to be spotted above the stage.

Despite the building’s dark history, particularly its near-destruction during Hurricane Katrina, paranormal reports at the Saenger aren’t widely documented. This is unusual in a city like New Orleans, long regarded as one of America’s most haunted places, home to the LaLaurie Mansion, Hotel Monteleone, and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.