Ada Theatre, 700 Main Street, Boise, Ada County, ID

Significance: Still used as originally planned, this neo-Egyptian Revival Style building, unique to Idaho, is the only survivor of the movie palace and grand cinema era in Boise. The theater was designed by Tourtelleotte and Hummel, Architects, of Boise and was built in 1926-27. Its design was inspired by Egyptian archeological discoveries in the 1920s. The two-story south (Main Street) facade is reminiscent of the main gateway of Egypt's Edfu Temple. The architectural detail, particularly in the Auditorium, is similar to the 1922 Grauman's Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood, California, which is reputed to have been inspired by the Egyptian temples at Karnak.
Survey number: HABS ID-3
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 74000724